|
| Sportsman 40, Hobby 50, Mod 30 & Open Wheel Lites Highlight 7 Division Citrus Race Card | by Larry MacMillan
(Inverness, Fl. 5/26/04) Seven divisions go to the racing wars at Citrus County Speedway Saturday night. The Sportsman 40 and the Hobby Stock 50 will qualify in time trials. With the Hobby Stock turnout exceeding 30 cars per week it is quite likely there will be a “B” main to qualify the final few positions for their 50 lap “A” main.
The Mod Squad is back in action for their second appearance in May. Harold Cannon comes into their 5th appearance of the season with two feature wins and two top fives under his belt. John Grimm, Billy Bechtelheimer, Mickey Kempgens and Glen Erwin round out the top five in their point race and are still looking for their first win of the season. Mike Wilson and Robert Ray are the most recent winners at Citrus in 2004.
Richie Smith has been fast qualifier and a two time winner in the only two Sportsman 40 lap races this season. Smith comes off three consecutive Hobby Stock championships moving into the James Cross Sportsman and driving his own Late Model this season. Richie is being chased by Stephen Anderson, Dwight Pinner, David White and Johnny Sanders who round out the top five in the fourteen car contest for the 2004 crown.
Hobby Stock point leader Tommy Smith continues to take his brother’s championship Hobby Stock to Victory Lane and is probably the favorite in the 50 lap feature race Saturday night with 3 wins under his belt. Also picking up three wins is Curtis Neumann who is way back in 7th due to several DNF’s in the early going. Dean Lawyer is definitely a contender with a pair of wins in his 2004 resume and Doc James Batson may be back to go for the big bucks after taking the win in one of the twin 25’s last week. There is plenty of talent in this division and it could be anybody’s race so look for a lot of action in this one.
Seventeen Mini Cup cars made the trip to Citrus from all over Florida on their last 2 outings and these ˝ scale Nextel Cup cars may be small but they are mighty. Doug Smith has a pair of wins in the only two other Mini Cup appearances this season. Wendy Kash, Mark Ross, Nando Pinto and Bobby Payton took the top five spots in their April 17th appearance. Mike Holt, Terry Tullis, Don Saxon and Wes Thompson chased Smith to the checkers back in the preseason race in February. It’s amazing how these big people fit into those little cars and put on a great show in the process.
Chris Hooker is the top gun again in defense of his Mini Stock crown after last week’s three car D.Q. George Neumann jumped from fourth to second while Griffin, Jim Curry and David Curry slipped one spot in the race for the crown. All three cars were D.Q.’d and lost their points and winnings from last week’s race. Griffin and David Curry will have time off to think about the problem. Rookie Jim Curry will be back and may be able to move back up to third in their absence. Other drivers that may benefit will be Mike Lawhorn, Jason Reynolds, Richard Stroup, Johnny Siner and Jeff Pittsley who round out the top ten.
Jerry Hoover moved closer to Lee Keller in the race for the Thunder Stock crown after taking his second win last week. Rick Badessa, John Sullivan and Louie Cioe are still in the race for the top spot in the second largest division racing regularly at Citrus.
Clark Pittsley won his third 4 Cylinder Bomber race and put some more cushion on his point lead. The 4 Cylinder Bombers will round out the seven division race card this Saturday night.
There will be a Thursday night practice for the June 4th Powell Memorial Sunbelt Series 150 next week. Keep FRIDAY night June the 4th reserved for this big Super Late Model race that will feature Florida’s very best in the race for the $5,000 win purse.
Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board!
or send a letter to the editor!
|
