IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

October 21, 2007 Neumann Takes Both Citrus L.M. Twin 50 Wins by Larry MacMillan (Inverness, Fl. 10/20/07) With just 4 weeks left in the race for the Citrus County Speedway Division Championships Mini Stocks, Pure Stocks and 4 Cylinder Bombers came loaded for bear after a week off. The highlight of the night of action was the Late Model Twin 50’s for no points but racing for full purses in back to back 50 lap features. The V8 Thunder Stock Rookies also ran 2 features with a make up race from their rain out on September 29th. A short 12 car Late Model field came loaded with talent. They went into time trials for qualifying and half the field ran in the 13 second bracket. Mike Bresnahan got fast time at 13.657 seconds followed by Scott Grossenbacher at 13.665 and Herb Neumann Jr. at 13.732. On the pill draw Bresnahan pulled the #4 inverting the top four qualifiers and putting Jim Smith on the pole. Smith came into the pits after time trials on 7 cylinders and had to swap cars with Glen Webster making a fast trip to his shop to bring the old #3 car into the fray and putting Smith to the rear of the field in another car he had never driven for the start of the first race. Grossenbacher moved up to the pole with Neumann on the outside. When the green fell Neumann won the race to turn one with Bresnahan in hot pursuit. The pair spent the entire, non-stop, 50 laps challenging for the lead while the rest of the field worked their way through traffic to lock onto position right to the checkered flag. Herb Neumann was able to hold off Mike Bresnahan for the first of his two wins. Scott Grossenbacher came off the pole and fell back as far as fifth place in the early part of the race but came back to finish 3rd ahead of 4th starter Daniel Webster and John Gerstner finished in 5th, just where he started. The rest of the field finished with Jim Smith coming from the back of the pack to finish sixth, followed by Brock Ogelsby, Jason Rendell, Perry Lovelady, Dale Sanders driving Lovelady’s backup car, Johnny Sanders, and Scott Holly who was visiting from North Carolina. Neal Gaither came to race but had mechanical problems that kept him out of both races. --Advertisement-- After a 15 minute pit stop in the infield for adjustments the 12 cars lined up in reverse order of the finish except the two lapped cars from the first feature. Dale Sanders and Perry Lovelady took the front row and Lovelady won the race to turn one when the green flag flew to take the early lead and set the pace. Jim Smith started fifth and took the lead away from Lovelady while Neumann, Bresnahan, Webster and Grossenbacher worked their way through traffic and battled for position. Bresnahan and Webster made contact and both were sent to the rear on the restart after Webster spun out bringing out one of several caution flags. Neumann continued his march to the front taking the lead away from Jim Smith and locking down his second win of the evening with his FOR SALE sign on the right rear fender. Perry Lovelady managed to hang onto third at the finish line over Scott Grossenbacher, with Mike Bresnahan, Daniel Webster, John Gerstner, Dale Sanders, and Johnny Sanders finishing in that order. Scott Holly, Brock Oglesby and Jason Rendell did not finish. With only 4 races left in their points’ season the Mini Stocks came in 13 cars strong and are chasing Steve Griffin for the 2007 championship. Johnny Siner started on the pole and had eyes on making it three wins in a row but Clint Foley had other ideas in mind and made short work of the five cars in front of him when the green flew and took his 7th win of the season. Siner managed to hold out for 2nd at the finish line with Dan Smith in hot pursuit but he was D.Q.’d in tech. Rounding out the top five were Michael Lawhorn, point’s runner up George Neumann who trails Griffin by 38 points going into the final three races of the season and Don Faunce picking up fifth. Siner and Foley took the heat wins. Nineteen cars made for an exciting 4 Cylinder Bombers 20 lap main event with 5th starter Jeremy Sharrone taking the point in lap 5 and setting the pace right to the checkered flag for his 3rd feature win of the season. Patric Conner made a last lap pass on three cars to lock down a second place finish just a half car length ahead of Phil Edwards. Point leader Jeff Eberly rolled from 14th starting spot to finish fourth just ahead of point runner up Travis Hoefler. Heat winners were Sharrone and Robert Carter. Lots of lead changes made for a great Pure Stock feature run with a starting field of 24 cars. Bobby Taylor hopped into his brother, Andy’s car and drove from 12th to Victory Lane for his 9th win of the season. It didn’t come easy with all the traffic in front of him and 18th starter and point leader Bill Ryan charging after him. Ryan settled for second as he did in last week’s Enduro race. Rick Shahid finished in third spot right where he started followed by Jesse Veltman who drove from 19th to fourth. Steve Hise made his way from 13th to fifth when the checkers flew. Heat wins went to Rick Ray, John Drye and Rick Shahid. 000The V8 Thunder Stock Rookies topped off the racing action with a pair for 20 lap feature races. The rained out make up race had 16 returnees and the 2nd race wound up with 26 cars taking the green flag. Eddie Rosasco was a man on a mission going from 8th to the checkered flag for the win. Cotee Clark was able to keep him in sight but just couldn’t catch him and having to settle for second over Tim Eisenhower, Mike Martin and Anthony Martinez. Twenty six cars started the second feature and despite the traffic jam Eddie Rosasco scored his second win of the season and the night. Ed Steinmann held out for second over Cotee Clark, Arden Franklin and Chad Fairbanks. Next Saturday night will be “Trick or Treat Night” for the kids and double features for the Open Wheel Modifieds and the Figure 8 cars. Added to the regular schedule will be the Sportsman, Mini Stocks, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, V8 Thunder Stocks and the traveling Mini Cup Cars from all over the state of Florida. A full schedule and Fun for the kids getting up close and personal with the drivers who will have all the candy they can handle on the speedway during Trick or Treat. Citrus County Speedway Results 10/20/07 Late Model Twin 50 – Race #1 – 12 Cars 1. #98 Herb Neumann Jr. – Inverness 2. #66 Mike Bresnahan – Lecanto – Fast Qualifier 13.657 Sec. 3. #09 Scott Grossenbacher – San Antonio 4. # 3 Daniel Webster – Brookville 5. #62 John Gerstner – Eustis Late Model Twin 50 – Race #2 – 12 Cars 1. #98 Herb Neumann Jr. – Inverness 2. #33 Jim Smith – Inverness 3. # 7 Perry Lovelady – Lakeland 4. #09 Scott Grossenbacher – San Antonio 5. #66 Mike Bresnahan – Lecanto Mini Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 13 Cars 1. # 7 Clint Foley – Dunnellon – 7th Season Win 2. #01 Johnny Siner – Homosassa 3. #44 Michael Lawhorn – Clermont 4. # 1 George Neumann – Inverness 5. # 2 Don Faunce – Spring Hill 1st Heat Winner - #01 Johnny Siner 2nd Heat Winner - # 7 Clint Foley Four Cylinder Bomber Feature – 20 Laps – 19 Cars 1. #32 Jeremy Sharrone – Floral City – 2nd Season Win 2. #444 Patric Conner – Dunnellon 3. #21 Phil Edwards – Crystal River 4. #001 Jeff Eberly – Spring Hill 5. #20 Travis Hoefler – Floral City 1st Heat Winner - #32 Jeremy Sharrone 2nd Heat Winner – #199 Robert Carter – Belleview Pure Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 24 Cars 1. #63 Bobby Taylor – Crystal River - 8th Season Win 2. #33 Bill Ryan – Bushnell 3. # 3 Rick Shahid – Floral City 4. #94 Jesse Veltman – Crystal River 5. #42 Steve Hise – Inverness 1st Heat Winner - #19 Rick Ray – Floral City 2nd Heat Winner - #39 John Drye – Inverness 3rd Heat Winner - # 3 Rick Shahid V8 Thunder Stock Rookie Rainout Feature – 20 Laps – 17 Cars 1. #10 Eddie Rosasco – Spring Hill 2. #39 Cotee Clark – New Port Richey 3. #123 Tim Eisenhower - Inglis 4. #76 Mike Martin – Citrus Springs 5. # 7 Anthony Martinez – Spring Hill V8 Thunder Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 26 Cars 1. #10 Eddie Rosasco – Spring Hill 2. #60 Ed Steinmann – Homosassa 3. #39 Cotee Clark – New Port Richey 4. #160 Arden Franklin – Hernando 5. #37 Chad Fairbanks – Spring Hill Have an opinion on this story? 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