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| TBARA Fire Up Citrus's 50th Anniversary | by Larry MacMillan
(Inverness, Fl. 2/6/05) The TBARA Winged Sprints fire up their high speed, 750 horsepower engines Saturday night 2/12/05 to inaugurate Citrus County Speedway’s 50th racing season and the first race of the TBARA 2005 racing season. These racing rockets are the fastest race cars ever to turn a lap at this well respected short track venue clocking the 3/8ths mile oval in the mid 12 second bracket, in traffic, with lots of passing and wheel to wheel excitement. Twenty four cars closed out the 2004 season at Citrus with the young guns going after experienced drivers, chasing nationally known Doug Heveron and David Steele to the checkered flag. Three different drivers won on the three appearances of TBARA in 2004.
The regulars will be kicking off the 2005 points season Saturday night. Billy Bechtelheimer will back to defend his 2004 Modified crown with a whole lot more competition that will be making Citrus County Speedway a regular stop on their race schedule since Sunshine Speedway closed in November. The Mod squad will be running twice a month throughout 2005. Fans will also be seeing the Pro Modifieds and Corteco Modified traveling series in several racing specials throughout the 50th anniversary season.
Hobby Stocks will be a part of the 50th Anniversary opener. Bobby Taylor is expected to move up to Super Stocks this season leaving the door open for a new Hobby Stock Champion in 2005. This was the most popular division during 2004 with 89 entrants in the point’s battle for the year. It came down to the final night of racing with Tommy Smith closing out the season with a DNF that left him in second in the race for the crown.
Thunder Stocks open their point’s season with another open top spot due to Jerry Hoover moving to Hobby Stocks for the new season. Rick Badessa will pick up the ride in the 2004 championship Thunder Stock race car. Sixty one cars made the run for the crown in 2004 and it is expected to see lots of traffic in 2005.
Four Cylinder Bombers will round out the opening night action with more equally equipped cars in the hunt. Clark Pittsley will have his work cut out for him in his defense of his 2004 run away for the championship. It should prove to be an interesting economy racing division this season.
This is just the beginning of a 36 week racing schedule that will open with four weeks of action through March 5th featuring the Sunbelt 125 Super Late Models and Mini Stock Challenge race before the three week Citrus County Fair hiatus beginning March 12 through March 26th. Citrus County Speedway fans will see more Late Model and Sportsman action in 2005. They will race twice a month plus loads of special races throughout the season.
Citrus County Speedway is located 2 miles south of Inverness on U.S. 41 at the Citrus County Fairgrounds. Pit gates open at 2, Grandstand gates open at 4, special 50th Anniversary activities will be presented at 5:30 by the Citrus County Chronicle with former race drivers and promoters that will share in the history of the speedway. The green flag will fly on the first heat of the night at 6 pm. Come to where the action is Saturday night, Citrus County Speedway.
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