Early rain delayed the UPM Modified time trials for their scheduled 75 lap season finale at Citrus County Speedway Saturday night. With more threatening rain on its way off the Gulf Of Mexico the track was dried out and the Hobby Stock heat races were started early in an attempt at beating the bad weather cutting the program short.
Eleven cars were set to go in both Hobby Stock heats and rear starters Roy Perkins, Dean Lawyer and Todd Downs worked their way to the front on the final lap to take the top three spots at the checkers. The second heat saw a three lap side by side battle between Victor Stanley and point leader Richie Smith before Smith took the win by a half car length. Wes Wilson watched the close finish from third.
Modified time trials pitted the 13 car field against the clock and St. Petersburg’s Dwayne Dempsey came up with fast time at 13.733 seconds. Mike Johnson towing in from Tallahassee turned a 13.879 for second fast time followed by Mike Wilson out of Dade City with a 13.886 second run on the 3/8ths mile. The Mod Squad is qualifying in the Late Model time brackets with mid 13’s and low 14 second runs.
Fourteen cars took the green flag in the scheduled 75 lap UPM Modified finale. Kevin Durden took off from the pole position to set the early pace when the green flew with Jeremy Gerstner and John Gerstner in pursuit. Fast qualifier Dwayne Dempsey fell into fourth until things got settled down. Nine laps into the race Wayne Kissam spun on turn three to bring out the first of two early cautions he was responsible for. Dwayne Dempsey started making his move on the front three on the second restart only to have it cut short by another caution flag for a spin. On the restart, Dempsey was determined to move ahead and that he did, picking up the lead by lap 18. Then the rains came and the race was red flagged after 20 laps. After a 1 hour wait for things to let up, naturally the rain let up and then came down again. The race was called, ending the UPM Modified season with an incomplete race.
Apparently the weather conditions kept some of the regulars away for the evening with only ten cars going in the Street Stock heat. Point leader Ernie Reed moved from 8th to the winner’s circle followed by pole sitter and runner up in the point race Danny Cretty and second year driver Daniel Webster.
Only eight cars took the green flag for the Mini Stock heat and Dan Smith logged his second heat win of the year followed by Richard Stroup and Mike Lawhorn. All three drivers are in the top ten as the point season winds down to the final two weeks.
Johnny Gann was top shoe in the Sportsman heat taking a flag to flag win off the pole starting position. Bill Ryan held off the balance of the 10 car starting field for second followed by Steve Anderson.
Twenty four Thunder Stocks came ready to race and Victor Shahid Jr. managed to make his way through traffic to take the win in the first 12 car heat. Glen Colyer came from 12th to second at the checkers and pole sitter Eddy Hudak nailed down third. It was Tim Wilson riding from sixth to first in the second heat followed by Derek DeSomma who held the lead at mid race. Lee Keller held off Pat Quick for third.
Next week five divisions will go into double features with this week’s qualifiers going in the first feature. Any additions to the field will be qualified for the second feature. Late Models also return for their final two weeks of racing for points. Figure 8’s will spice up the seven division race card.
