IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

April 17, 2005 FSCR 157 Racers Fire Up 8 Division Race Card at Citrus Saturday by Larry MacMillan (Inverness, Fl. 4/16/05) A packed Pit area and Grandstand braved cool, windy weather for an 8 division, 157 car week 7 of the current 50th anniversary edition of Citrus County Speedway’s Stock Car racing season. It was a night that ended in some controversy but when all was said and done fairness won out over misunderstandings. Late Models showed first night anxiety as they opened their 13 race local point season with a 20 car field. Last years Rookie of the Year Daniel Webster made his outside pole position start, pay off for a wire to wire win that ended one lap short of the 30 lap main after numerous caution flags and a red flag in lap 29. Initially the final call of disqualifying the top six cars for moving after the red flag came on was reversed after a lengthily discussion with track officials penalizing the two cars that brought on the red flag. The final finish put Daniel Webster in the winner’s circle followed by Danny Johnson, Raymond Lovelady, Jim Smith, Gary Grubbs, Chris Hooker, Mike Bell, Tuffy Hester, Mark Dominique and Eddie King rounding out the top ten. Super Stocks came out 20 strong for their 2nd point race of the season and Doc James Batson came off the pole position and set the pace right to the checkers for his third win in 3 different divisions in the past two weeks after winning the Hobby Stock and Sportsman features last week. Richie Smith moved from 9th to put on a last lap run at Batson but had to settle for second at the line over 2004 Hobby Stock Champion Bobby Taylor, James Green, and Rusty Bremer. Seventeen of 18 Mini Stocks took the green flag that saw Clint Foley come from the back of the field to snatch the win away from Mike Lawhorn on the final lap. Defending Champion Jim Curry started his second race of the year starting 12th and being sent to the rear for a restart early in the race to make a comeback last lap pass on Johnny Siner in the race for third. Max Seaman came from 13th to finish fifth in his first race of the season. Thirty four cars registered and the 24 car Hobby Stock main event put the top 18 in the point’s standings in the main event with the final 6 spots decided in a B-Main that saw David Mattox, Ronnie Whitley, Jason Sims, Butch Patz and Bobby Ervien qualify for the 20 lap feature. Corky Miley used cautions flags, horse power and driving skill to move from his 17th starting position to capture his second feature win of the season. Tommy Smith was right on his rear bumper at the checkers followed by early leader Mike Wedlick, Curtis Flanagan and Doc James Batson rounding out the top five. It was Glen Colyer from start to finish setting the pace all the way in the Thunder Stock 19 car 20 lap main event. Fred Henick moved from sixth to put the heat on Colyer in the run for the flag and settled for a close second over Mike Loudy Jr., Larry Iovanisci and D.J. Macklin. John Crichton looks like the man to beat in the 4 cylinder Bomber division after logging his third win of the early season. Norman Dismuke, Kevin Stone, Tim Herrington and Will Curry battled for the top five positions at the finish line. Another 17 car Figure 8 field put on another wild show of intersection action for the fans that ended with a final turn lead change putting fifth running Rodney Davis in the Winner’s Circle for his first win of the season. Scott Gullett led the first 19 laps only to lose it when he a Ron Schreifels got together just before the start finish line. Gullett salvaged second with 2004 champion Ron Schreifels holding out for third followed by Darrel Hage and Dwayne Fults. Figure 8’s are back on May 14th. The ½ scale NEXTEL Cup Florida Mini Cup Cars introduced their JR’s division with six, 8 to 15 year olds running a ten lap heat and feature. Seth Greco took the win in the heat race and Eric Cunningham blitzed the field in the feature. Then the Pros brought in 13 cars that saw Brett Jameson make a 22nd lap pass on Rick Auriemma for the win in their main event. Frank Pfister, Larry Folino and 2004 State Champion Wendy Kash rounding the top five spots. Next week will feature the Corteco Modifieds, FASTRUCKS, Mini Stocks, Hobby Stocks and Thunder Stocks in heat and feature action. Citrus County Speedway Results 4/16/05 Late Model Feature – 30 Laps – 20 Cars 1. # 3 Daniel Webster 2. #96 Danny Johnson 3. #17 Raymond Lovelady 4. #32 Jim Smith 5. #10 Gary Grubbs 6. #33 Chris Hooker 7. #X96 Mike Bell 8. # 9 Tuffy Hester 9. #11 Mark Dominique 10.#16 Eddie King Super Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 20 Cars 1. #B4 Doc James Batson 2. #41 Richie Smith 3. #66 Bobby Taylor 4. #53 James Green 5. #5X Rusty Bremer 6. #40 Dwight Pinner 7. #72 Joe Viverito 8. #1X David Dollar 9. #X3 James Hendrickson 10.# 3 Scott Hendrickson Mini Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 18 Cars 1. #7c Clint Foley 2. #44 Michael Lawhorn 3. #20 Jim Curry 4. #01 Johnny Siner 5. #27 Max Seaman Hobby Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 24 Cars 1. #55 Corky Miley – 2nd Feature Win 2. #42 Tommy Smith 3. #96 Mike Wedlick – Dead Heat 3. #3X Curtis Flanagan – Dead Heat 5. #77 Doc James Batson Hobby Stock B-Main – 10 Laps - 15 Cars 1. #77x David Mattox 2. #84 Ronnie Whitley 3. #07 Jason Sims 4. #23 Butch Patz 5. # 2 Bobby Ervien 6. #16 Danny Hage – All Qualified for Feature Thunder Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 19 Cars 1. #44 Glen Colyer 2. #60 Fred Henick 3. #80 Mike Loudy 4. # 4 Larry Iovannisci 5. #14 D.J. Macklin Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! news@karnac.org or send a letter to the editor!