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| Rex Struble Holds Off Field of 24 in L.M. Show Down 75 | by Larry MacMillan
Inverness, Fla 10/12/02 - Twenty-six Late Models came
to qualify for the 75 lap Crystal Motor Car Co. Show
Down. One of the top contenders and defending Citrus
County Track Champion Herb Neumann made two impressive
qualifying runs, loosing a rear end on his final lap
and had to drop out of the running due to the break
down. That was the second rear end in two days after
losing one during the Friday night practice session.
When the green flew twenty-four racecars put the pedal
to the metal for the 75-lap run and the $2,500 win purse.
Rex Struble and Danny Johnson battled for the point with
Struble locking on to the point to set the pace from turn
two. Only two caution flags marred the near perfect race
and saw 18 cars finish, most dropouts came due to
mechanical problems. Struble checked out on the rest of
the field while Danny Johnson held off all comers for his
second place spot right on through lap-52 when the second
catuion came out, tightening up the field. Ninth starter
and perennial big money winner at Citrus, Mike Bresnahan
made a three car pass on Raymond Lovelady, Robbie Yoakam,
and Danny Johnson to move into second for the final 20
laps of the race. He just couldn't make the pass on
Struble who was out to protect his thirty-point lead
over Jim Smith for the point's crown for 2002 in Late
Model action. When the checkers flew, Struble took the
win and the $2,500 plus 100 points to give him a little
cushion with only four more point's races left for the
season. Bresnahan held out for second over Danny
Johnson, Jim Smith and Robbie Yoakam who rounded out
the top five. Raymond Lovelady, Herb Hoefler, Scott
Grossenbacher, Daniel Keene Sr. and Jr. completed the
top ten. Fast Qualifier money went to Robbie Yoakam
with a 13.72 run followed by Daniel Keene, Jr.
In other action, it was J.D. Goff from start to finish
in the Sportsman 20-lap main event. Mike Veltman came
from the back of the eleven car pack to put the pressure
on for the final five laps but had to settle for second.
Rex Struble was another consideration as he salvaged a
third place finish from his 9th starting spot. John
Grimm took over the driving chores for Kyle Bookmiller
and broke into the top five with a fourth place finish.
Johnny Sanders won the battle in the race for fifth
with heat winner Bill Oestreicher who was sent to the
rear of the field for a restart late in the race.
Ernie Reed popped to the point from the green flag and
held off point leader Travis Nichols to take his fourth
win of the season. Nichols protected his six-point lead
over Mike Bell, taking the checkers just ahead of Bell
and picking up another 18 points over the runner up.
This race is still up for grabs with 5 more races before
the season comes to an end. James Green held out for
fourth over last week's winner and scratch starter Kathy
Ray whomoved from fifteenth to finish fifth. Reed and
Danny Cretty won the heat races.
A short 12 car Mini Stock field saw young gun Phillip
Joyner Jr. come from his fifth starting spot to Victory
Lane for his second win of his career and his second
this season. Another youngster, Dustin DesChamps
started seventh outrunning Mark Sowell in the run for
second, Ron Bartley slipped from the early lead to fourth
at the finish line over newcomer Lee Davis. The heat
win went to Ron Bartley.
Twenty-two Hobby Stocks took the green flag and the
scratch starter Richie Smith picked his way through
the crowd for win number eleven of the year and more
cushion for his second championship in a row. Roy
Perkins held off the hard charger as long as he could
but had to settle for second and a final couple of
laps battling with Dean Lawyer to keep him back in
third. Another starter from the back of the field,
Daniel Webster worked his way through the traffic to
take fourth away from rookie Curtis Neumann. Heat
wins went to Curtis Youmans and Richie Smith.
Tim Wilson locked onto his sixth feature win in Thunder
Stock 1 of the night over a thirteen-car field. Pat
Quick held off a later charge by Dale Shelton for her
second place finish. Natasha Teague settled for
fourth over Todd Downs. All the heat winners came out
of the fourteen-car field of Thunder Stock II. Bobby
Taylor was again triumphant in his fifth race with his
fourth win over defending champion Stuart Madison,
point leader Robert Jordan, Shawn Conner and Lee Keller
rounding out the top five. Heat winners were Conner,
Madison and Jordan.
Next Saturday night features all the regular divisions
with an autograph night for all the kids to get up
close and personal with the drivers at intermission.
The Halloween celebration of driver Trick or Treat will
take place on Saturday, October 26th when the drivers
will be passing out candy to the kids at intermission.
Added to the program will be the Figure 8's. Three
weeks the Late Models will go all out in their Season
Finale 150 for $7,500 to win which should again get the
interest of some of the states hot shoes.
Citrus Late Model Show Down 75 - 24 Cars
1. #3 Rex Struble
2. #3x Mike Bresnahan
3. #96 Danny Johnson
4. #9 Jim Smith
5. #34 Robbie Yoakam
6. #17 Raymond Lovelady
7. #22 Herb Hoefler
8. #09 Scott Grossenbacher
9. #5 Daniel Keene Sr.
10. #5k Daniel Keene, Jr.
11. #13 Tom Haselmayer
12. #12 Sam Coghill
13. #88 Brock Oglesby
14. #68 Perry Lovelady
15. #1 Dale Sanders
16. #91 J.T. Thompson
17. #6 Billy Bechtelheimer
18. #25 Brad Atkins
19. #03 Harold Cannon
20. #08 John Buzinec
21. #24 Dennis Williams
22. #7 Fred Stoner
23. #20 Lee McCullough
24. #52 Mike Moore
25. #98 Herb Neumann Jr. (No Start)
Fast Qualifer: #34 Robbie Yoakam
Sportsman Feature - 20 Laps - 11 Cars
1. #14 J.D. Goff
2. #55 Mike Veltman
3. #69 Rex Struble
4. #03 John Grimm
5. #36 Johnny Sanders
Heat Winner - #0 Bill Oestreicher
Street Stock Feature - 20 Laps - 15 Cars
1. #55 Ernie Reed
2. #2 Travis Nichols
3. #17 Mike Bell
4. #53 James Green
5. #63 Kathy Ray
lst Heat Winner - #55 Ernie Reed
2nd Heat Winner - #01 Danny Cretty
Mini Stock Feature - 20 Laps - 12 Cars
1. #86 Phillip Joyner, Jr.
2. #51 Dustin DesChamps
3. #5 Mark Sowell
4. #6x Ron Bartley
5. #77 Lee Davis
Heat Winner #6x Ron Bartley
Hobby Stock Feature - 20 Laps - 22 Cars
1. #42 Richie Smith
2. #07 Roy Perkins
3. #19 Dean Lawyer
4. #1 Daniel Webster
5. #01 Curtis Nuemann
lst Heat Winner - #11 Curtis Youmans
2nd Heat Winner - #42 Richie Smith
Thunder Stock Feature 1 - 20 Laps - 13 Cars
1. #85 Tim Wilson
2. #55 Pat Quick
3. #51 Dale Shelton
4. #X2 Natasha Teague
5. #27 Todd Downs
Thunder Stock Feature II - 20 Laps - 14 Cars
1. #66 Bobby Taylor
2. #2 Stuart Madison
3. #28 Robert Jordan
4. #44 Shawn Conner
5. #21 Lee Keller
lst Heat Winner - #44 Shawn Conner
2nd Heat Winner - #2 Stuart Madison
3rd Heat Winner - #28 Robert Jordan
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