IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

June 22, 2008 Citrus County Speedway 118, Mother Nature Zip by Larry MacMillan Mother Nature put a big scare in a one time only opportunity Saturday night but fortunately she recognized the importance of months of work to get Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s National Guard #88 Sprint Cup car to the track. A big 50 lap Pure Stock race was also riding on the weather predictions that looked awful at 3 p.m. when the pit gates opened but the show did go on with 118 racers gambling on the weather conditions putting on a great show. Unfortunately the fans optimism was not so positive and they missed a good race card featuring 7 divisions and an opportunity to get their picture taken with Jr.’s race car absolutely free courtesy of the National Guard. Time trials kicked off the race program with first qualifier Jimmy Norman topping the 15 car PBG Florida Legends series with fast time. Tim Wilson had a night to remember over a 31 car Pure Stock/V8 Thunder Stock Rookie field in their qualifying run for their 50 lap special race. Tim showed the field why he is top shoe in the division win column with fast qualifying time over Curtis Flanagan, John Drye, Bill Ryan and Chad Markland in that order for the top five. Thirty Pure Stock/V8 Thunder cars took the green flag for their 50 lap special with Wilson starting in 29th spot on the inverted starting line up putting the fast cars to the rear. Needless to say their was plenty of traffic to deal with to get to the front and with the help of numerous caution flags and some heavy horsepower Tim managed to stay out of trouble and score his 6th big win of the season with Bill Ryan in pursuit but despite some side by side racing in the final laps Ryan had to settle for second. Both cars made it through post race inspection but third finisher Tom Potts and 4th finisher Ted Taylor were not quite so fortunate posting D.Q.’s for the night. Early leader Aaron Welter fell back to fifth as the hot shoes moved to the front but salvaged a 3rd place finish after the D.Q.’s. Also moving up were John Pettit sixth to fourth and Chad Markland locked down a fifth place finish from his 25th starting spot. The traveling PBG Florida Legends saw fast qualifier Jimmy Norman move to the front with Shaughn McCormick and Gerald White Jr in short order after the green flag dropped and they set the pace for 33 of the 35 laps. Several caution flags tightened up the field and on the restarts the threesome kept up a fast pace. In an attempt to swap spots Norman and McCormick got together opening the door for Kory Abbott to make his way to the front and Victory Lane. Norman, White, Mitch Verhaugh and Tyler Smith took the top five spots. Only 5 Bandelaros traveled with the group and Zach Harris took advantage of a late wreck in lap 11 of their 12 lap main event, outrunning Jake Perkins, Donavan Ponder, Critter Saile and Cameron White for the Checkers. Donavan Ponder took the win in the heat race. Apparently the weather kept many of the Modifieds at home and with a field of six cars it was a feature only event. Robbie Cooper charged from third to overtake early leader Doug Miller and set the pace to the checkers in their 30 lap main. Curtis Neumann was looking for his sixth win of the season but had to settle for second when he just couldn’t reel in Cooper in the run for the flag. Richie Smith started 4th and finished third getting around Doug Miller who held off Tommy Schrader’s run for 4th. Michael Stalnaker finished one lap down at the finish. Nine Sportsman took the green flag with Bobby Ervien flexing his horsepower early and showing the field home in their feature only evening. Ernie Reed held off numerous runs from Tom Posavec in the run for second. JoJo Viverito moved from fifth to finish fourth followed by Clint Foley who had to borrow Richie Smith’s racer after breaking his new racer in warm ups. Street Stocks came out 20 cars strong and it was a new ride for Tim Quick who sits on top of the point’s race. Quick launched his new racer from 13th to the winner’s circle in short order for the second win of the night for the Above It All Racing Team. Kyle Peters put on an impressive run from his 11th starting spot to finish second just ahead of Tommy Smith who finish third from his sixth starting spot. Larry Welter Jr. drove through a lot of traffic from his17th starting position to lock down 4th just ahead of early leader David Foster who slipped back to 5th at the finish line. Heat winners were Jason Murphree, who blew an engine in the feature, Mike Loudy and Tommy Smith. Nineteen 4 Cylinder Bombers made the trip to Citrus and they put on a great show. Jeremy Root took the point in the early going and set the pace right to the checkered flag only to lose his win in post race inspection for springs and having a gutted hood. Brandon Watson logged his 3rd win of the season by virtue of the D.Q. followed by Nathan Florian, Richard Kuhn, Bryson Ward and Bobby Richardson. Heat wins went to Florian, Kuhn and Phil Edwards. All 12 Figure 8’s spent the entire 20 laps chasing pole sitter Neil Herne who logged his first ever Figure 8 win. He drove his heart out for the entire race keeping some of the heavy hitters at bay on restarts after a couple of rare caution flags. Wayne Calkins came from 9th to second when the checkers flew followed by 7th starter Cliff Rousseau, 11th starter Ron Schreifels and rounding out the top five was Joey Catterelli who started 10th. Next Saturday night will see the return of those 800 horsepower rockets, the TBARA Winged Sprint Cars expecting 20 plus of the best in the country. Joining them before the July 4th weekend break will be the Sportsman, Mini Stocks, Street Stocks and 4 Cylinder Bombers. Also there are about 12 drivers signed up for the riotous “Suitcase Race” where the drivers will be making 6 laps and stopping on each lap to put on a piece of women’s clothing from their suitcase in the infield. Each suitcase is packed with 5 pieces of clothing such as underwear, panty hose, bra, skirt or pants and a blouse. Following the race the fans will chose the best dressed driver. The track will be closed on July 5th for the Coca Cola 400 at Daytona and go back to racing on July 12th with a School Bus Figure 8, R.V. Trailer race and a full race card. Citrus County Speedway Results 6/21/08 Open Wheel Modified Feature – 30 Laps – 6 Cars 1. #98 Robbie Cooper – Bronson – 2nd Season Win 2. #01 Curtis Neumann – Inverness 3. #42 Richie Smith – Hernando 4. #53 Doug Miller – Largo 5. #19 Tommy Schnader – Largo Sportsman Feature – 20 Laps – 9 Cars 1. #88 Bobby Ervien – St. Petersburg 2. #55 Ernie Reed – Lecanto 3. #01 Tom Posavec – Dunnellon 4. #72 JoJo Viverito – Inverness 5. #7 Clint Foley – Dunnellon – Drove #42 Street Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 20 Cars 1. #97 Tim Quick – Lecanto – 5th Season Win 2. #33 Kyle Peters - ? 3. #93 Tommy Smith – Hernando 4. #58 Larry Welter Jr. – Williston 5. # 4 David Foster – Wildwood 1st Heat Winner - #95 Jason Murphree – Homosassa 2nd Heat Winner - #21 Mike Loudy – Brooksville 3rd Heat Winner - #93 Tommy Smith 4 Cylinder Bomber Feature – 20 Laps – 19 Cars 1. #66 Brandon Watson – Dunnellon – 3rd Season Win 2. #26 Nathan Florian – Homosassa 3. #47 Richard Kuhn – Ocala 4. # 4 Bryson Ward – Crystal River 5. #22 Bobby Richardson – Lecanto 1st Heat Winner - #26 Nathan Florian 2nd Heat Winner - #47 Richard Kuhn 3rd Heat Winner - #21 Phil Edwards – Crystal River Pure Stock Feature – 50 Laps – 31 Cars 1. #93 Tim Wilson – Floral City - 6th Season Win 2. #33 Bill Ryan – Bushnell 3. #80 Aaron Welter – Sorento 4. # 2 John Pettit – Hialeah 5. #34 Chad Markland – Floral City Fast Qualifier - #93 Tim Wilson Figure 8 Feature – 20 Laps – 12 Cars 1. #83 Neil Herne – Homosassa – 1st Feature Win 2. #14 Wayne Calkins – St. Petersburg 3. # 3 Clifford Rousseau – St. Petersburg 4. #64 Ron Schreifels – Hernando 5. #15 Joey Catterelli – Pinellas Park PBG Legends Feature – 35 Laps – 15 Cars 1. #75 Kory Abbott – Apopka 2. # 2 Jimmy Norman – Lake Mary 3. #38 Gerald White Jr. – Lakeland 4. # 9 Mitch Verhaugh – Ft. Meyers 5. # 4 Tyler Smith – Winter Garden Fast Qualifier - # 2 Jimmy Norman Bandelaro Feature – 12 Laps – 5 Cars 1. #54 Zach Harris – Orlando 2. # 4 Jake Perkins – Ocala 3. # 8 Donavan Ponder – Orlando 4. #12 Critter Saile – Orlando 5. #38 Cameron White – Lakeland Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!