IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

April 27, 2008 George Neumann Rolls to a Pair of Citrus Mini Stock Features by Larry MacMillan Citrus County Speedway fans were treated to another exciting race card Saturday night that saw the Super Late Models get a make up feature and the Mini Stocks making up their rainout and joining the full race card. It definitely wasn’t lacking any action in any of the five regularly scheduled divisions and the Late Model makeup saw a former champion get back on track after a long dry spell in the win column. Fourteen of the 20 Mini Stocks in the pits were qualified for the rainout from April 5th and kicked off the night with a barn burner that just previewed what the entire night held for the fans. George Neumann wasted no time letting the 14 car rainout field that here was there to conduct some serious business as he launched his racer from 7th to the point in just a few laps and it was “catch me if you can” from there to the checkered flag. Robbie Yoakam and Clint Foley put the heat on for the final 8 laps but didn’t have enough to make a run for the lead after an 18th lap restart. Young rookie and pole sitter Danny Schlenker took a bad hit on the front wall wiping out the right front suspension and a lot of right side body damage just before the start finish line that would have been the white flag lap. The field tightened up for the restart with a five car run for the lead but Neumann held them off for the final two laps logging his first win of the year over Robbie Yoakam, Clint Foley, James Ellis and Kevin Harrod. In the regularly scheduled Mini Stock program Neumann continued his dominance taking the win in the first heat and coming back to start 7th again and locking in his second feature win of the night. Hot on his rear bumper in this 20 lapper was Mark Powers who had his best finish of the year. Also Clint Foley was in the mix on the run for the flag but had to settle for third after winning the second heat and continues to hold the top spot in the 2008 point race. Also Kevin Harrod was able to lock down 4th over defending champion Steve Griffin. It was definitely George Neumann’s night to howl on his march towards a 5th Mini Stock Championship. The Super Late Models put on a big show with a 20 car starting field and former Champion Scott Grossenbacher drew the outside pole slot for the start of the rained out April 5th Feature. When the green flag flew Scott won the drag race through turn one and two over John Gerstner and set the pace right to the checkered flag with Gerstner riding all the way in his tire tracks. Raymond Lovelady gave it all he had in an attempt at making a run for the lead but had to settle for 3rd at the line. Troy Robinson spent the entire race holding off the rest of the field with Richie Smith coming through traffic to finish fifth. This was only the third race of the season for the Late Models with 3 different winners and Grossenbacher holds a 2 point lead over Herb Neumann Jr. in the 2008 point lead. Their schedule has been increased and they will be back next Saturday night for a full schedule of heats and feature action. Clint Foley did double duty Saturday night and has his Sportsman dialed in for his second win in a row and becoming the third driver in the division to get into the win column twice out of the six races they have run in the young season. Tom Posavec inaugurated his new race car with a heat win and a second place finish from his 4th starting spot. Mike Veltman got sent to the rear of the pack on a late caution flag but made a high speed run from the back to 3rd over the 14 car field and putting a little cushion in his point lead. Bobby Ervien, one of the two time winners, finished 4th over JoJo Viverito who also did double duty with his new Late Model in the lineup. The Street Stocks hit the asphalt running and put on a real barn burner 20 lap main event. The front row was the place to start in most of the races of the night and it was no different here as Jason Murphree logged his second consecutive win from the outside pole in as many weeks. Tim Quick who has three wins under his belt launched his race car from 10th to second putting the heat on Murphree when the checkers flew. David Foster Jr. survived a caution flag that sent him to the rear of the pack, making his way back through traffic for a 3rd place finish over 8th starter Tim Alexander and Dr. Mark Fallows. For the second week in a row post race inspection took its toll on the top three in another division. The 4 Cylinder Bombers had 25 cars start and saw young Brandon Watson take his quick VW Rabbit from 6th to Victory Lane for the second week in a row in what appeared to be his third win of the year but he didn’t pull enough vacuum in tech. Mike Ogren would have logged his 2nd win of the year but he also failed the vacuum test. Melissa Hunley pulled up in third due to Patric Connor jumping the restart and getting penalized 3 spots and she also failed the vacuum test putting Richard Kuhn in the winners circle from his apparent 5th place finish. Connor moved up to second with all the D.Q’s despite his penalty. Rounding out the top five were John DeGeorge, Chris Harvey and Nathan Florian. Despite a short field the Figure 8’s put on a wild 11 car race and when you consider Joie Catterelli went from last to first in the 20 lap spectacular there was plenty of passing and some very close calls in the intersection. Robbie Hage made a fast move out 6th to snatch the lead away from his dad Bob Hage and set the pace for most of the race from lap 5 to the 19th lap. That’s when Catterelli made the pass for the lead and his second win of the year in their 5th race of the year. Robbie Hage did salvage a second place finish under a whole lot of fire from 3rd place finisher Wayne Calkins, 4th place brother Daryl Hage and Robbie Aaron who made some interesting close passes in the intersection. Opening up the May, 5 weekend, race schedule next Saturday night the 4 Cylinder Bombers go in a 50 lap special. The Super Late Models are back for the first of three scheduled races in May. Added to the program will be the Sportsman, Mini Stocks, Pure Stocks, V8 Thunder Stocks and the Florida Pro Mini Modified Series. Citrus County Speedway Results 4/26/08 Super Late Model Feature – 35 Laps – 20 Cars (Rainout Makeup) 1. #09 Scott Grossenbacher – San Antonio – 1st Season Win 2. #62 John Gerstner – Eustis 3. # 7 Raymond Lovelady – Lakeland 4. #91 Troy Robinson – Ocala 5. #33 Richie Smith - Hernando Heats Run April 5th 1st Heat Winner – #84 Matt Bowers – Mt. Dora 2nd Heat Winner - #3 Daniel Webster – Brooksville Sportsman Feature – 20 Laps – 14 Cars 1. #56 Clint Foley – Dunnellon - 2nd Season Win 2. #01 Tom Posavec – Dunnellon 3. #155 Mike Veltman – Crystal River 4. #88 Bobby Ervien – St Petersburg 5. #72 JoJo Viverito – Inverness 1st Heat Winner - #01 Tom Posavec 2nd Heat Winner - #72 JoJo Viverito Mini Stock Feature (Make Up) – 20 Laps – 16 Cars 1. # 1 George Neumann – Inverness – 1st Season Win 2. # 8 Robbie Yoakam – Hernando 3. # 7 Clint Foley – Dunnellon 4. #98 James Ellis – Brooksville 5. #34 Kevin Harrod – Floral City Mini Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 20 Cars 1. # 1 George Neumann – Inverness – 2nd Season Win 2. # 9 Mark Powers – Hernando 3. # 7 Clint Foley – Dunnellon 4. #34 Kevin Harrod – Floral City 5. # 3 Steve Griffin – Inverness 1st Heat Winner - # 1 George Neumann 2nd Heat Winner - # 7 Clint Foley Street Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 13 Cars 1. #95 Jason Murphree – Homosassa – 2nd Season Win 2. #97 Tim Quick – Lecanto 3. # 4 David Foster Jr. – Wildwood 4. #63 Tim Alexander – Floral City 5. #007 Mark Fallows – Crystal River 1st Heat Winner - #4 David Foster 2nd Heat Winner - #95 Jason Murphree Four Cylinder Bomber Feature – 20 Laps – 25 Cars 1. #47 Richard Kuhn – Ocala – 1st Season Win 2. #444 Patric Connor – Dunnellon 3. #122 John DeGeorge – Dunnellon 4. #00 Chris Harvey – Belleview 5. #26 Nathan Florian – Homosassa 1st Heat Winner - #444 Patric Connor 2nd Heat Winner - #01 Jeff Eberly – Spring Hill 3rd Heat Winner - #22 Bobby Richardson – Lecanto Figure 8 Feature – 20 Laps – 11 Cars 1. #15 Joey Catterelli – Pinellas Park – 2nd Season Win 2. #74 Robbie Hage – St. Petersburg 3. #14 Wayne Calkins – St. Petersburg 4. # 8 Darryl Hage – St. Petersburg 5. #6 Robert Aaron – Brooksville Have an opinion on this story? 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