Thunder Stock driver Ray White returned to Citrus County Speedway for his first race of 2006 a week ago. Ray is one of those drivers who is not really out to win he just wanted to have fun and satisfy his need for speed with the many friends he has made in the past couple of years.
He and the family just enjoyed being at the track and being a part of the show. Last Saturday he raced his heat and finished 13th in his 20 lap feature. When he got out of his race car he wore a big grin and went to get something to drink to help him cool off.
His evening ended with a severe heart attack before he could get his drink, putting him a coma and on life support at Citrus Memorial Hospital. He was taken off life support on Friday night at midnight, breathing on his own and his heart remained strong but he was still in a coma as of Saturday night..
The annual Thunder Stock 50 lap special was already on the schedule and 27 drivers showed up to dedicate the race to assisting Ray and his family through this very trying time. Many drivers wore signs “Racing for Ray” and donated their purse money.
Robert Aaron drove Ray’s car in the 50 lap race and the fans contributed to a raffle and general donation at the gate to help with expenses that are mounting with Ray’s continuing hospitalization. The track promoters matched the contributions to the fund to further assist the family. Saturday night was “Racing for Ray” night.
When Ray’s daughter Kayla dropped the green flag on the 50 lap special pole sitter Glen Colyer rocketed to the front and led the field for the first 23 laps before he ran into problems with a flat tire that put him in the pits and bringing on one of several caution flags. Tenth starter Ted Taylor was challenging when Colyer’s luck went sour and inherited the lead for the restart. Tim Wilson who started 9th followed Taylor for all 50 laps and seemed to be the only car that had anything for Taylor, making numerous attempts to pass in the final 10 laps. When the checkers flew Taylor scored his second win of the season. Wilson was right on his rear bumper at the finish line. Defending Champion Steve Stinedurf ran a solid third followed by Mike Dubbs and Jack Pate who made his first 2006 run at Citrus.
The local Mod Squad started 17 cars in their 30 lap main and it was Harold Cannon that went to the point for the first two laps before Teddy Nelson drove the outside groove from his fourth starting spot and set the pace for the final 27 laps scoring his second win of the season. Jimmy “Gator” Wagner locked onto Nelson for the entire race but just couldn’t make the pass and had to settle for a close second place finish. Harold Cannon won his heat but had to battle with his Brother in Law Billy Bechtelheimer for his third place finish. Mike Wilson stayed in the top five for the entire race and finished right where he started in fifth. Nelson took the win in the first heat.
The Limited Sportsmen showed up 18 cars strong and put on a super show for the fans. It was A.J. Isbister launching from the outside pole to the point and never looking back before taking the checkers for the third time this season. Dusty Bremer made a couple of good passes to work his way from fourth to second when the checkers flew. Phillip Rook moved from sixth to third being chased by Ernie Reed in a side by side finish with Rook. Tom Posavec recovered from an early scary moment coming off turn four when he just about lost it to salvage a fifth place finish. Scott Hendrickson won the first heat but had mechanical problems in the feature that took him out and Posavec took the win in the second heat.
It was a tough night for the two point leaders in the Hobby Stock point’s war. Doc Batson won his heat but ran into mechanical problems early in the 20 lap feature. Point leader John Makula ran second in his heat but finished 18th in the feature also experiencing mechanical problems. It was Bobby Taylor’s night to howl with a win in his heat and his third feature win of the season over the 22 car starting field. Richie Smith is back in action after a long layoff and worked his way from 14th to second at the finish line. Curtis Flanagan returned after taking 6 weeks off and rolled from 19th to a third place finish. Pole sitter Alvin Williamson salvaged fourth and John Zuidema moved from 17th to fifth when the dust cleared. Williamson scored his first heat win of the season.
Justin Durbin locked down his 4th heat win and sixth feature win of the season and is the man to beat in Bomber action. He has won more races than any other driver at Citrus this year. Jeramy Root outran pole sitter Peter Nelson in the race for second while Tim Nocella recovered from an earlier wreck for a fourth place finish. Bobby Riley finished fifth. Heat wins went to Nelson and Durbin.
Next Saturday night features the Florida Pro Challenge, Late Models, Limited Sportsman, Mini Stocks, Hobby Stocks, 4 Cylinder Bombers and Figure 8s. The track will be closed on Saturday July 1st in deference to the Pepsi 400 at Daytona. TBARA Winged Sprints reopen the season on July 8th.
Citrus County Speedway Results 6/17/06
Racing For Ray Thunder Stock 50 Lap Feature – 27 Cars – 24 Started
