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| Nelson Nails Citrus Late Model Win | by Larry MacMillan
Inverness, FL - Twenty one Late Models turned up the RPM's
Saturday night in their 30 lap main event and the front
runners had a tough time of it in the early going. Coming
off the outside pole, Mike Bresnahan looked like he was
on his way to win number four. Pole sitter Rich Pratt
dued andmade contact with Bresnhan on two occasions.
Apparently Bresnahan got some damage in the fracas and
pulled off early for the night. Teddy Nelson picked up
the lead on Bresnahan's departure and set the pace the
rest of the way for his second win of the season. He
took the first win of the season back in February. Tommy
Schnader held off the charges of Raymond Lovelady and
Jim Smith. Jeff Sloan moved from his eighth starting
spot to round out the top five.
Subbing for Mark Dominique, Tate Pierce took his first
trip to Victory Lane in the Sportsman 20 lap feature.
He collected the winner's purse but Mark Dominique
picks up the points. Pierce battled for several laps
with George Neumann from the green flag and for the
balance of the race Neumann spent the final 15 laps
looking at Pierce's rear bumper. Bill Oestreicher
survived several attacks on his third place finish
from Chris Hooker and Mike Veltman, rounding out the
top five at the checkers.
Another first time winner for the season, took the
checkers in the Street Stock 20 lap main. Dwayne Fults
literally fought his way to the front, taking advantage
of mistakes of the leaders before he took the
lead and the win. James Green Jr., Victor Stanley
seesawed back and forth in the race for second with Green
winning out in that battle. Travis Nichols moved into
the point lead working his way up from 18th to fourth
followed by pole sitter Joe Viverito who led for the
first half of the race.
Fourteen year old Lance Taylor is gaining in talent in
his Mini Stock Rookie season missing his first ever
feature win by just one lap when Rob Wheatley turned up
the heat andmade the pass to earn his second checkered
flag of the season. Taylor held out for a solid second
after an early encounter that could have ended his night
with front-end damage. Ron Bartley came off the pole
to hold the early lead. Ron held out for third over
15th started Kevin Harrod. Phillip Joyner started
sixth and finished in fifth place.
Tommy Smith continued to dominate the Hobby Stock division
scoring his fifth win of the season, snatching the lead
away from Chris Cross in lap 15 of the 20 lap feature run.
Tim Whitehead moved from his 9th starting position to
finish third over llth started Mike Ruff and Dustin Aaron.
Tommy Smith is the winningest driver at Citrus County
Speedway after 10 weeks of racing. Brother Richie did
not race Saturday night and between the two drivers they
have won nine out of ten races. The only other winner
in the division is rookie Daniel Webster.
Thirty four Thunder Stocks qualified for the twin features
and Tim Wilson logged his second feature win of the season
in Thunder Stocks l and made it through tech inspection
this week with no problems. Newcomer Glenn Gordon gave
Wilson a run for his money but had to settle for a second
place run over Rick Badessa, Stuart Madison and Jerry
Hoover. Seventeen cars took the green for Thunder Stock
II. Eighth starter Robert Jordan worked his way to the
front and logged his third win of the season outrunning
hard charging Todd Downs to the checkers. Terry Sharrone
edged out Michael Wilson in a side-by-side finish for
third. Larry Triana held on for fifth after starting
on the outside pole.
Next Saturday night the Hobby Stocks will qualify in time
trials for another 40-lap major feature race. Late Models
will have their final opportunity to try on Citrus County
Speedway under competitive conditions before the May 25th
"Powell Memorial 125" paying $10,000 to win, $5,000 for
second, $3,000 for third, $2,000 fourth and $1,000 for
fifth out of a $35,000 purse overall for Florida's best.
Next week will also feature Street Stocks, Mini Stocks,
and Thunder Stocks.
Late Model Feature - 30 Laps - 21 Cars
1. #34 Teddy Nelson Largo
2. #19 Tommy Schnader Pinellas Park
3. #17 Raymond Lovelady Lakeland
4. #9 Jim Smith Inverness
5. #31 Jeff Sloan Beverly Hills
lst Heat Winner - #34 Teddy Nelson
2nd Heat Winner - #19 Tommy Schnader
3rd Heat Winner - #31 Jeff Slaon
Sportsman Feature -20 Laps - 12 Cars
1. #81 Tate Pierce Webster
2. #96 George Neumann Inverness
3. #0 Bill Oestreicher Webster
4. #3 Chris Hooker Inverness
5. #55 Mike Veltman Crystal River
lst Heat Winner - #81 Tate Pierce
2nd Heat Winner - #0 Bill Oestreicher
Street Stock Feature - 20 Laps - 20 Cars
1. #00 Dwayne Fults Hernando
2. #63 James Green, Jr. Inverness
2. #35 Victor Stanley Brooksville
4. ##2 Travis Nichols Inverness
5. #72 Joe Viverito Floral City
lst Heat Winner - #44 Dwayne Thompson
2nd Heat Winner - #17 Mike Bell
Mini Stock Feature - 20 Laps - 20 Cars
1. #88 Rob Wheatley Inverness
2. #29 Lance Taylor Palm Harbor
3. #6x Ron Bartley Bushnell
4. #34 Kevin Harrod Bushnell
5. #86 Phillip Joyner Inverness
lst Heat Winner - #6 Jimmy Bartley
2nd Heat Winner - #00 Billy Smith
Hobby Stock Feature - 20 Laps - 24 Cars
1. #21 Tommy Smith Floral City
2. #66 Chris Cross Inverness
3. #35 Tim Whitehead Floral City
4. #23x Mike Ruff Homosassa
5. #98 Dustin Aaron Brooksville
lst Heat Winner - #98 Dustin Aaron
2nd Heat Winner - #21 Tommy Smith
Thunder Stock lst Feature - 20 laps - 17 cars
1. #85 Tim Wilson
2. #63 Glenn Gordon
3. #88 Rick Badessa
4. #2 Stuart Madison
5. #30 Jerry Hoover
Thunder Stock 2nd Feature - 20 laps - 17 cars
1. #28 Robert Jordan
2. #27 Todd Downs
3. #36 Terry Sharrone
4. #39 Michael Wilson
5. #l Larry Iriana
lst heat winner #28 Robert Jordan
2nd heat winner #36 Terry Sharrone
3rd heat winner #85 Tim Wilson
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