|
| Mod Squad At Citrus Week Two Race | by Larry MacMillan
INVERNESS, Fla. - With Speedweeks really cranking up and the first week of Citrus County Speedway´s season getting things kicked off for 2003, racing is on everybody´s mind. Week two will bring in the UPM Modifieds and a full race card of Sportsman, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, Hobby Stocks and Thunder Stocks. Car count will pick up during the first four weeks of the season and it should make for some interesting racing on the 3/8ths mile modified racecourse. Alterations have been made to turn four, which have changed the configuration of the track for the second time in a year.
After one week of racing the 2002 heavy hitters made it apparent that they are out to repeat their dominance of their individual divisions. Mike Veltman picked up where he left off in the Sportsman division to take the early point lead, 15 points up on Runner up Bill Oestreicher. Rookie Mike Bell let it be known that he is serious about his move up from Street Stocks after taking that Championship last season. He holds out in third by five points over Johnny Gann and twelve points over newcomer Bill Ryan.
The new points system pushed Rob Wheatley ahead of feature winner Chris Hooker by two points by picking up 5 bonus points for leading the most laps and five more for just leading a lap. Hooker only led one lap and that was on the checkered flag lap. The whole system has changed and is more in keeping with the NASCAR point system. Chris Thornton trails Hooker by 19 points and is being chased by Tom Giddings and Rick Partridge.
Street Stocks kicked off the season with 15 cars and Ernie Reed dominated the heat and feature over Danny Cretty who hounded him from start to finish. Mickey Burns holds out in third just three points up on Joe Viverito and Owen Leigh. Still more cars in the shop and some may not be ready until after the fair break.
Two-time champion Richie Smith hasn´t lost any of his strength, coming from the middle of the 18 car field to run right up front before the halfway point in the 20 lap feature. He popped to the top of the point race right off the get go and has a fourteen-point jump on second year driver Curtis Neumann. Roy Perkins, Curtis Youmans and Alvin Williamson round out the top five with just fourteen points separating fifth to second.
Roy Blotz backed up his Winter Spectacular win in his new Camaro with another win in the Thunder Stock season opener and heads up the point race over runner up and new comer Louie Cioe. Lee Keller recovered from an early spin to recover for a third place finish and third in points. Jimmy Nash trails him by three points and John Donahue holds on to fifth by one point over Pat Quick.
The UPM (United Promoter Modified) series is expected to bring in 35 racecars for this Saturday night´s introduction race to Citrus County Speedway. There will be time trials to qualify for the 30 starting positions. These open wheeled racecars should make for a good show in their 50 lap main event. It has been seven years since the locals have seen Modifieds at the Action Attraction, Citrus County Speedway.
Citrus County Speedway is located 2 miles south of Inverness on U.S. 41 at the Citrus County Fairgrounds. Grandstand gates open at 3:30, time trials should start at 5 P.M. and heat races for the five regular divisions are scheduled to start at 6 P.M.
Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board!
or send a letter to the editor!
|
