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| Veltman Vaults to $1,000 Win at Citrus County Speedway | Inverness, FL - Patience paid off for three time Sports-
man Champion Mike Veltman in the first Citrus County
Speedway special for the division in 2002. Fourteen
cars took the green flag and saw Buddy Kessler lose a
rear end on turn two of the first lap, ending his night
all too early. On the restart, Chris Hooker launched
his ICC-Aztec Paint Monte Carlo to the front of the
point and led for the first 35 laps of the 40 lap
special. Several minor caution flags came out and
Hooker was able to maintain the lead until it came
down to crunch time. Veltman was saving the best for
last and moved into the lead for his second win of the
season and a well-deserved $1,000 added to their
car coffers. Hooker was able to hold off a late charge
by Terry Cater and Bill Oestreicher held out for fourth
over Tate Pierce. Seventh place finisher, George
Neumann picked up fast qualifier money for the $50.00
bonus with 15.073 second run on the new surface.
It was Mike Bresnahan in the 30 lap, 22 car Late Model
feature after coming off the $3,000 win in the Sunbelt
Series last week. Point leader Raymond Lovelady moved
from fifth to hold out for a second place finish and
remains in first over Bresnahan by 2 points in the race
for the crown. Billy Bechtelheimer advanced from sixth
to third at the checkered flag. Rex Struble out ran
outside pole sitter Scotty Crockett to the line in the
run for fourth. Struble, Bechtelheimer and Bresnahan
added heat wins to their nights work.
Nineteen hotrods started the Street Stock feature and it
was a seesaw battle for the front five for all 20 laps.
There were at least five lead changes between five
different drivers. When the checkers flew it was Travis
Nichols with Mike Bell taking a run from fourth to
second on the run off for home. Scott Hendrickson out
dueled Danny Cretty in a close three-car finish for
third with James Green, Jr. holding out for fifth over
Kathy Ray. Heat wins went to Wes Wilson who blew in
the feature and Travis Nichols.
Robbie Yoakam had to be the most aggressive driver of
the night coming from his 18th starting spot to win
his second race of the year, maintaining the points lead
in the Mini Stock division. Steve Griffin overcame
early problems in his new ride to take a second in the
20 lap run over the 25-car field. Rob Wheatley continues
to roll with a third place finish over new comer Tom
Giddings who was an early leader in the race. Another
newcomer, Dan Smith held off Daniel Keene, Jr. who
drove for rookie Dustin DesChamps who came down ill
before the start of the feature. Yoakam, Jay McKenzie
and Tom Giddings were the heat winners.
Five Hobby Stock races in the books and only one name
in the Winner's column Smith, Smith, Smith, Smith,
and Smith. Last night it was Richie Smith with brother
Tommy on his rear bumper at the flag. Roy Perkins
snatched a third from Tim Whitehead and Jerry Hamm.
Tommy Smith leads with three wins over two for Richie
and Tommy continues to hold the point lead. Twenty-
eight cars took the green flag with Daniel Webster,
Kreg Belcastro and first time heat winner Curtis
Neumann logging the heat wins.
Thunder Stocks registered 34 cars, which required three
heats and two feature races. Robert Jordan, Ron Stone
and Robin Bauer locked inthe heat wins and then it was
Katie bar the door for their 20 lap main events. Josh
Teague started at the rear of the first seventeen-car
field and motored to the Winner's Circle for the third
time in five races. Lee Keller made a late pass on
Robert Jordan for second. Early leader Robin Bauer
slipped to fourth with Jerry Hoover just a half car
length behind her. The second race saw the defending
champion who went without a win for the entire season
last year, take his very first point feature win.
He had to come from fifteenth to take the lead on
lap 18 for the win but he finally got in the win
column. Terry Sharrone, Todd Downs, Rick Badessa
and Jeff Teague watched him go by for the win.
This week all six divisions will go in a regular race
schedule. Hobby Stocks and Mini Stocks will be making
preparations for their April 20th special with both
divisions going for a $500 win purse specials.
Sportsman 40 Lap Special - 14 Cars
1. #55 Mike Veltman - Crystal River
2. #3 Chris Hooker Inverness
3. #1 Terry Cater Inverness
4. #0 Bill Oestreicher Webster
5. #81 Tate Pierce Dade City
6. #7 Mark Dominique Lecanto
7. #96 George Neumann - Inverness
8. #68 Rex Struble Homosassa
9. #2 Jimmy Thompson Pinellas Park
10. #6 David White Inverness
Fast Qualifier #96 George Neumann - 15.073 Seconds
Late Model Feature - 35 Laps - 22 Cars
1. #3x Mike Bresnahan Homosassa
2. #17 Raymond Lovelady Lakeland
3. #6 Billy Bechtelheimer Dover
4. #3 Rex Struble Homosassa
5. #23 Scotty Crockett Land O Lakes
1st Heat Winner - #3 Rex Struble - Homosassa
2nd Heat Winner - #6 Billy Bechtelheimer - Dover
3rd Heat Winner - #3x Mike Bresnahan - Homosassa
Street Stock Feature - 20 laps - 19 cars
1. #2 Travis Nichols Inverness
2. #17 Mike Bell Brooksville
3. #21 Scott Hendrickson Inverness
4. #01 Danny Cretty Dunnellon
5. #53 James Green Inverness
1st Heat Winner - #85 Wes Wilson - Floral City
2nd Heat Winner - #2 Travis Nichols - Inverness
Mini Stock Feature - 20 laps - 25 cars
1. #8x Robbie Yoakam Hernando
2. #3 Steve Griffin Inverness
3. #88 Rob Wheatley Inverness
4. #83 Tom Giddings Pinellas Park
5. #78 Dan Smith
1st Heat Winner - #83 Tom Giddings - Pinellas Park
2nd Heat Winner - #1x Jay McKenzie - Inverness
3rd Heat Winner - #8x Robbie Yoakam - Hernando
Hobby Stock Feature - 20 laps - 28 Cars
1. #42 Richie Smith Hernando
2. #21 Tommy Smith Floral City
3. #07 Roy Perkins Inverness
4. #35 Tim Whitehead Floral City
5. #16 Jerry Hamm Inverness
lst Heat Winner - #1 Daniel Webster - Brooksville
2nd Heat Winner - #3 Kreg Belcastro - Inverness
3rd Heat Winner - #01 Curtis Neumann - Inverness
Thunder Stock lst Feature - 20 laps - 17 cars
1. #20 Josh Teague
2. #21 Lee Keller
3. #28 Robert Jordan
4. #97 Robin Bauer
5. #30 Jerry Hoover
Thunder Stock Second Feature - 20 laps - 17 cars
1. #2 Stuart Madison
2. #36 Terry Sharrone
3. #27 Todd Downs
4. #88 Rick Badessa
5. #2x Jeff Teague
1st Heat Winner - #44 Shawn Conner
2nd Heat Winner - #8x Victor Shahid
3rd Heat Winner - 97 Robin Bauer
Larry MacMillan
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