IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

February 26, 2006 Citrus Locals Shine in Mini Stock Challenge and Southern Sportsman Series Openers by Larry MacMillan It was ideal racing weather and the Mini Stock Challenge Series and Southern Sportsman Series made their 2006 debut at Citrus County Speedway and it was the hometown drivers that took home the gold and silver in both races. Dave Burns and his “Back Track” short track race show team were on scene to video tape two of the races to include the Mini Stock Challenge and the local Modified field. The show will debut on Turner South in May with interviews and racing action from Saturday’s race program. Rick Sirmans was fast Qualifier in the 31 car Mini Stock time trials with a 14.912 second run on the 3/8th mile. On the pill draw Kevin Macy won the poll for the 50 lap main. Chuck Frazier took the outside poll and Robbie Yoakam and Jim Smith picked up the spots in row two. Macy and Frazier set the early pace with three drivers who got their start in racing at Citrus right in the mix from the get go. Yoakam managed to take the lead in the early going while Jim Smith had to spend time working on Macy and Frazier before hooking up with Yoakam on the run for the flag. Former Challenge and Speedway Champion Robbie Yoakam took the win followed by another former track Champion Jim Smith. Rounding out the top five were Chuck Frazier, Chris Thornton and Rick Sirmans. Another former local regular Kevin Herod locked down sixth spot. The 30 car starting field crash filled Southern Sportsman Series saw about as many caution flags as laps that were run due to time constraints. It was again a race for local drivers to show the way to Victory Lane with Richie Smith leading the parade in the final laps being chased by Travis Nichols. Both drivers started their racing career at the Citrus County Bull Ring when they were teenagers and have brought home championships in several local divisions. Pole Sitter Rikk McMehan set the early pace and slipped back to sixth at one point in the race before coming back to finish third ahead of another local racer Steve O’Lone. Experience paid off for most of the locals. Eighteen of the local Modifieds finally got a race in after the rainout in the season opener. Tommy Schnader charged from fifth to first in the first heat. Sixth starter Teddy Nelson flexed his horse power in the second heat and proved he would be the man to beat in their 30 lap feature. Defending champion Billy Bechtelheimer gave it all he had but had to settle for second in the main event. John Gerstner, Ronny Campbell and Jimmy Wagner took the top five spots in a race that only saw two caution flags. Curtis Neumann had an in car camera for the T.V. Show. The 17 car Figure 8’s put on a wild show for the fans and Joey Catterelli charged to the front early and set the pace for most of the 20 lap intersection adventure in their first race of the year. John Thomas was able to come off the pole and hang onto Catterelli for a second place finish. James Poole, Stephen Anderson and former champion Robert Aaron rounded out the top five in what turned out to be a lot of close calls in the intersection that had the fans on their feet for most of the race. Thirty Hobby Stocks took the green and again it was Don Teague’s night to howl taking both his heat win and the 20 lap feature in another crash filled race. Teague took the January 21st feature win which was a non point’s race. Defending champion Curtis Flanagan again came from the rear of the pack to put on a late charge but just couldn’t make the pass on Teague. James Henick, Jamie Tinkham and John Makula took the top five spots. Heat winners were Teague, Frank Stromquist and Bobby Taylor who finished 22nd in the feature. Twelve 4 Cylinder Bombers again chased Justin Durban for the final 10 laps of their 15 lap feature making it two wins in a row for the hot shoe that seems to dominate the field.. James Pate, Pete Nelson, Tim Nocella and Kevin Stone locked in the top five spots. Citrus County Speedway will be dark for the entire month of March for the Citrus County Fair activities. When the action returns the TBARA Sprint Cars will restart the season with a bang. Joining these high speed rockets will be the Modifieds, Limited Sportsman, Mini Stocks, Thunder Stocks, Mini Cup Cars and 4 Cylinder Bombers. Action will continue every Saturday night through November 11th with a break on July 1st for the Pepsi 400 at Daytona. Citrus County Speedway’s 51st season has more to offer in racing variety than any other race track in the state of Florida. Citrus County Speedway Results 2/25/06 Mini Stock Challenge Feature – 50 laps – 30 Cars 1. # 8 Robbie Yoakam - Hernando 2. #124 Jim Smith - Inverness 3. #21 Chuck Frazier – Avon Park 4. #24 Chris Thornton – Clearwater 5. #05 Rick Sirmans – Pinellas Park Fast Qualifier - #05 Rick Sirmans – 14.912 Sec. Southern Sportsman Feature – 50 Laps – (Ran 30) – 30 Cars 1. #41 Richie Smith – Hernando 2. #22 Travis Nichols – Brooksville 3. #12R Rikk McMehan 4. #20 Steve O’Lone 5. Fast Qualifier - #13 Aaron Williamson – 14.895 Sec. – Mulberry Modified Feature – 30 Laps – 18 Cars 1. #34 Teddy Nelson – Pinellas Park 2. # 6 Billy Bechtelheimer - Dover 3. #20 John Gerstner – Tampa 4. # 5 Ronny Campbell – Tampa 5. #17 Jimmy Wagner – Zephyrhills First Heat Winner - #19 Tommy Schnader Second Heat Winner - #34 Teddy Nelson Figure 8 Feature – 20 Laps – 17 Cars 1. #15 Joey Catterelli – Pinellas Park 2. #77 John Thomas 3. # 5 James Poole 4. #46 Stephen Anderson – Hudson 5. # 6 Robert Aaron – Brooksville Hobby Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 30 Cars 1. # 2 Don Teague – Hernando 2. #33 Curtis Flanagan – Floral City 3. #60 James Henick – Inverness 4. #98 Jamie Tinkham – Leesburg 5. #27 John Makula – New Port Richey First Heat Winner - # 2 Don Teague Second Heat Winner - #57 Frank Stromquist – Lecanto Third Heat Winner - #66 Bobby Taylor – Crystal River 4 Cylinder Bomber Feature – 15 Laps – 12 Cars 1. #34 Justin Durbin – Candler 2. #55 James Pate – Lakeland 3. #08 Pete Nelson – Homosassa 4. #16 Tim Nocella – Beverly Hills 5. #98 Kevin Stone – Dade City No Heats Run Have an opinion on this story? 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