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| Citrus County Speedway Roars Into 2002 Racing | 
Teddy Nelson celebrated a return to Late Models with a Win at Citrus County
by Larry MacMillan
New faces, new winners and new strategies kicked off the 47th stock car racing season at Citrus County Speedway Saturday night. It didnt take long for the word to get out that the new configuration to the racetrack, more racing room, higher speeds and the new attitudes by management keeping the racers in mind by offering special races for all six major divisions throughout the extended season made the trip to Citrus worthwhile. Most of the drivers really feel its going to be a fun place to race.
One Hundred twenty six cars were on hand to open up the 2002 racing season with 25 Mini Stocks getting first crack at the a 40 lap special with $600 waiting in the winners circle. Fast Qualifier, Robbie Yoakam picked up the $100 bonus followed by Rob Wheatley. The pair took the green flag from row four and Wheatley got the jump to the front by the mid point of the 40 lap run. Yoakam got caught up in traffic but managed to catch the leader for a final 10 lap race to the checkers. Yoakam was about to make a pass on the leader with just 5 laps to go when a caution flag came out negating that effort. On the restart he just didnt have the horsepower to make the pass before the checkers flew. Wheatley and Yoakam finished nose to tail followed by Jay McKenzie, Mike Henderson and Ronnie DesChamps.
Nineteen Late Models chased outside pole sitter Teddy Nelson in their 30 lap main with Rex Struble, Danny Johnson, Jim Smith and Billy Bechtelheimer all giving him all he could handle, trying to take the spot away from him. Dave Pletcher managed to work his way through traffic to give Nelson a run for his money in the final 10 laps but having to settle for second place money over Rex Struble, Jim Smith and Raymond Lovelady. Mike Bresnahan, Struble and Jim Smith took the heat wins.
Mike Veltman flexed his horsepower and sent the message that he is serious about making it four in a row for the Sportsman championship. Buddy Kessler has returned to Citrus after taking quite a few years off from what used to be his home racetrack and showed he hasnt lost his touch moving from 13th to second when the checkers flew. Pole sitter Bill Oestreicher held out for third just ahead of Rex Struble and Terry Cater who is in his new Webster Race Car ride. Veltman and Jimmy Thompson took the heat wins with Thompson dropping out of the feature early.
Street Stock action saw Ernie Reed getting right down to business from his third starting spot, setting the pace all the way for the 21 car field in their 20 lap main event. Harley Wilson is back in the drivers seat and put on a great show with his second place finish. David Kingsbury looks like he might be a contender in 2002 with his new ride taking him to a third place finish over Pole Sitter Don Teague. Michael Bell advanced 12 spots from 17th to fifth when it was all over. Wilson, James Green and Bell took the heat wins.
Hobby Stock Defending Champion Richie Smith had a 10 lap shootout with brother Tommy and snatched the win away from Tommy in lap 18 of the 20 lap knock down, drag out event. Three more of the top 10 drivers from 2001 stayed in the hunt throughout the 20 lap, 21 car event for their season opener. Brandon Johnson out dueled Roy Perkins in the run for third while Kreg Belcastro watched the show from his fifth place finish. Tommy Smith, Roy Perkins and Daniel Webster took the first heat wins of the year.
Twenty-six Thunder Stocks got their first opportunity to run a full race with heats and a 20 lap feature. The heats went well with Josh Teague, Tim Wilson and Stuart Madison taking the wins. The feature turned out to be a seven lap, 5 caution flag, demolition derby that got cut short because of the curfew and the inability of the drivers to get the race under control. Josh Teague pocketed the winners purse over Jason White, Robert Jordan, Robin Bauer and defending Champion Stuart Madison locked in the top five spots in their short feature.
Saturday night will see all seven divisions in action with the return of the Figure 8s in the first of their 12 scheduled races. Citrus County Speedway will race on February 16th and the 23rd and March 2nd before closing down for the Citrus County Fair activities. Action returns on March 30th with the Sunbelt 125 for Super Late Models, one of five 125 lap late model race scheduled for 2002. The season will feature a 150 lap Late Model race on October 26th for $10,000 to win.
-by Larry MacMillan
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