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by Larry MacMillan
INVERNESS, Fla. (Sept. 14, 2002) - With the tail end of Hannah hanging out in the Gulf of Mexico things didn’t look too promising for the Citrus County Speedway racing program. With 107 cars in the pits, every effort was made to get things going on time.
Four divisions were able to get heats in but it turned out to be all for naught as about the only thing that was accomplished was some competitive practice being run. None of the heat action will count and it will be a whole new ball game next Saturday night. Rain checks of course will be honored for the next two shows.
Saturday night will see another regular six division program, starting from scratch with heats and features. The scheduled “Kid’s Ride” in racecars could possibly be added to the schedule. Fifty/Fifty and the Chevy/Ford raffle will continue next week with last week’s tickets still in the drawing.
The September 28th program will see the return of the Figure 8’s and a full program. The winged Sprint Cars will kick off the month of October with the quickest cars on the 3/8th mile new configuration taking their first crack at setting speed records for the new layout. This is one show you won’t want to miss. With more room off one and two crank up that 750 horsepower engine it should be one fast race. Don’t blink, you just might miss something.
With the poor showing on September 7th for the “Citrus Late Model Show Down 125”, promoters Billy Hooker and Jimmy Ware felt there needed to be a new format that would allow local race cars to get interested and be able to afford to run for the bigger payoff without jeopardizing their race cars like they would in the long races. They are primarily set up for 30 lap features and are working on short funds in an effort to pick up the local point crown and loosing a motor could end their season.
The next race is scheduled for October 12th and the new format will be for 75 laps for $2,500 to win, $1,200 for second, $900 for third, $800 for fourth and subtracting $50 per spot back to 16th. Sixteenth through 24th will pay $200 with a $50 entry fee. Fast Qualifier picks up $250 and 2nd fastest $100. The new “75 lap Citrus Show Down” will also be considered point races for those running for the championship.
To peak fan interest in the Winter Spectacular II on December 14th, there will be a “They Win, You Win” Fan Appreciation Giveaway. Each fan over 18 paying for an adult ticket on the grandstand side will be given the opportunity to participate in a drawing which will match them up with one of the top three finishers of a 2002 Late Model Special Event. If one of these drivers wins the Winter Spectacular II, the fan paired with the driver will win $500.00 from Citrus County Speedway. You must be present to win.
Late Models continue to chase Rex Struble who holds a 60-point lead over Raymond Lovelady. Jim Smith leads Billy Bechtelheimer by a mere 12 points for third and Mike Bresnahan rounds out the top five. Some other interesting Late Model races are also developing. They will have three weeks to go at it before they take a night off to make room for the annual Sprint Car show that is set for October 5th.
Mike Veltman continues to hold a very comfortable lead in the Sportsman championship race. Travis Nichols has a slim 42-point lead over Mike Bell in the Street Stock race. Danny Cretty, James Green and Ernie Reed are by no means out of the race. Robbie Yoakam continues to dominate the Mini Stock division but the youngsters are showing are showing their stamina as rookie Dustin DesChamps moved into fifth place after his first ever stock car win last week.
Roy Perkins spoiled the Tommy & Richie Smith Hobby Stock winning swap show last Saturday with his second win of the season. The only other winner in the division is Daniel Webster and he sits just behind Perkins, in fourth place. Josh Teague’s Thunder Stock lead continues to dwindle but he is still 88 points up on Robert Jordon. Last years defending champion Stuart Madison is still in the running and with double features each week there are a lot of points still to be gotten before it’s all over on November 16th.
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