(Inverness, Fl. 12/13/03) We interrupt the off season for the first leg of Winter Spectacular III at Citrus County Speedway. Scheduled to highlight the 305 laps of racing was the Super Late Model 125 and the Mini Stock 50 lap main events. Starting positions were set by qualifying time trials in the afternoon when the sun was keeping the track warm and the Late Models blistered the 3/8ths mile, many qualifying in the 13 second bracket. Scott Grossenbacher surpassed Mike Bresnahan’s track record with a 13.343 second run and then apologized (with tongue in cheek) during the pre race introductions for breaking the record. Wayne Anderson, Rich Pratt, Herb Neumann Jr. and Dave Pletcher were in the top five inversion for the start with Pletcher on the pole.
The green flag flew for the 16 starters with Herb Neumann Jr. taking the point and never giving it up from green to checkers to claim the $3,000 win purse despite six caution periods. Dave Pletcher brought in a new race car for it’s third race but just didn’t have enough to overtake Neumann with Wayne Anderson feeling good about a third place finish after his success in the Sunbelt championship and Governor’s cup races. Jim Smith purchased Pletcher’s old #75 and moved from 8th to finish 4th. Fast qualifier Scott Grossenbacher held out to finish where he started in fifth. Thirteen of the sixteen starters took the checkered flag with most of the dropouts suffering mostly mechanical problems. Jimmy Thompson’s night was ended after making contact with Danny Johnson in a battle for 8th and suffering major damage to the race car.
Twenty Mini Stocks qualified in time trials for their 50 lap main event. Robbie Yoakam brought his new ride in with fast time at 14.660 seconds followed by Rick Sirmons, Dustin DesChamps, Chris Thornton and three times Champion George Neumann driving his old car which he sold last year. Twenty cars took the green flag raising the win purse from $750 to $1000. The race saw plenty of action with an early battle for the lead developing that took out two top contenders Robbie Yoakam and Steve Griffin. There were only a few caution flags with long green spells that saw positions being challenged all the way around the track. George Neumann set the pace for all fifty laps with Dustin DesChamps and Rick Sirmons putting the pressure on in the final 15 laps. A lapped car, Michael Seeright, got caught in the middle of the battle on the back chute with Sirmons glancing the wall and coming down on Dustin DesChamps putting them in the infield with major damage ending their night. For the final 10 laps Chris Thornton, Brian Dorer, outside pole sitter Joe Irwin and Jesse Duttingly shared the top five finishing spots.
Steve Olone took a wire to wire win in the 25 lap Super Stock main blowing away Kyle Maynard, Robert Pilkinton, Ernie Reed and Patrick Mennenga.
In Hobby Stock action James “Doc” Batson took his third win in a row since returning to his home track at the end of the regular season. Sport Wilson was in pursuit at the checkers followed by Don Teague. Krystal Batson celebrated her 18th birthday with a fourth place finish after Alecia Bresnahan and the crowd sang Happy Birthday just before the National anthem. Todd Downs held out for fifth in the 25 lap run.
It only took Tim Wilson three laps to make it to the front of the 20 car Thunder Stock field in their 25 lap main for the win. 2003 point champion Pat Quick started 13th and worked her way through traffic to finish right on Wilson’s rear bumper. Pole sitter Lee Keller had to settle for third over Wayne Heater and Jerry Hoover.
Rick Lundeen. Brian Gingras and Doug Carrigan put on one heck of a show in the Open Wheel Lite 30 lap main event that was cut to 25 because of numerous caution flags and fuel concerns. Lundeen and Carrigan see sawed for the lead for the first 20 laps before coming together and being sent to the rear for the restart. It only took them five laps to come back through traffic to finish in second and third behind Brian Gingras. Kevin Baxter and Jim Biglin held out for fourth and fifth respectively.
Rick Fort snatched the win a way from Justin Durbin on the final run for the flag in the 4 cylinder bomber 25 lap main. John DeGeorge held out for third over Shawn Evans and Terry Dunbar.
Citrus County Speedway drivers will celebrate their accomplishments for 2003 at the Annual Awards Banquet Friday night at the Citrus County Auditorium. Drivers, car owners, pit crews and fans will gather for a catered dinner, awards and dancing and celebration and get some insight as to what is coming in the 49th season of racing action at Citrus County Speedway.
The second leg of Winter Spectacular III will ring in the New Year on January 17th 2004 with another Super Late Model 125 plus a full race card.
Citrus County Speedway Results 12/13/03 Winter Spectacular III
