From John Chance
Saturday nights program started out with 15 Modified Mini Stocks trying to lay down a fast lap in time trial qualifying. Each driver was trying to win the $100 fast qualifier money put up by Curry Roofing. When the dust settled, a familiar name was on top of the time sheet.Clint Foley would once again set fast time and win the $100 fast time award from Curry Roofing. Setting fast time would prove to set Foley up for a challenge in the 50 lap feature event. One of the speedway’s young fans would kick the tracks giant foam dice to determine the nights feature inversions. The dice came up with a “1”, which lets the fans choose, by show of applause, how many rows they want to have inverted. As usual, the fans chose the maximum of 6 rows, which left Foley starting deep in the field.
James Ellis (98) would benefit from the dice roll after struggling in qualifying, and take the pole position for the start. Ellis would jump out to an early lead, and looked to have a strong car as he drove away from the field. The first caution came out on lap 10 for contact between 2nd fast qualifier Jesse Henley (18) and Chris Hooker (88), both drivers would rejoin the rear for the restart. Ellis would bring the field to green, but just behind, 3rd fast qualifier Chris Allen (33) and Foley (7) had made their way through the pack. Allen would make the move on Ellis for the lead, and bring Foley within laps of the restart. Racing would continue till lap 23 when the now 3rd place Ellis would get loose off of turn 4, and fight to get control of his car down the front stretch. Ellis would make contact with Mark Powers (9) on the entry to turn 1, bring out the caution, sending both cars to the rear. All eyes were now fixed to the front of the field, with Allen leading and Foley now 2nd, the race for the lead was on. On the restart, Foley put immediate pressure on Allen, nudging Allen’s 33 machine a few times trying to find a way by. The racing was close over the next 10 laps, but Allen never faltered. Allen would drive away over the last 15 laps, and proved he was indeed the man to beat on this night. Foley would have to settle for 2nd, but was also able to claim the AAA Roofing Hard Charger award for passing the most cars in the event. These two drivers along with Jesse Henley are involved in a battle for the season points championship which sees the top 3 separated by only 7 points. With only 6 points races left this year for the Modified Mini Stocks, it looks like it will come down to the last lap on the last night.
16 Super Late Models took the green for their 35 lap feature event. Jeremy Gerstner (70) and Matt Tifft (72) would bring the field to green. Both drivers would wage a side by side battle for the lead over the first 3 laps, with Tifft finally finding the traction he needed on the high side to make the pass. Current point leader and last race winner Herb Neumann Jr. started dead last in the field, but quickly made his way to the front before the half way mark of the event, thanks to a few short cautions to bunch up the field. Neumann was again the class of the field driving away to an unchallenged victory. Behind Neumann, Tifft and former track champion Scott Grosenbacher (09) engaged in a heated battle for the 2nd position over the final 5 laps. Tifft would come out on top taking the 2nd position in his first visit to Citrus County Speedway. Tifft lives in Ohio and made the trip down to drive a car prepared by veteran Super Late Model competitor B J Mcleod. Heat race winners were Danny Maddox (82) and Keith Zavrel (47).
13 Sheldon Palmes Insurance Mini Stocks tried to find victory lane in their 20 lap feature. Tim Scalise (24) would launch his racer off the pole position and never look back. Scalise has enjoyed some time at the front of the field this year, but has seen his car go away towards the end of the race, stealing victory from his grasp. Scalise commented in victory lane that he was able to put new tires on his car this week, and that’s what pushed him over the top and on to victory. Jeremy Sharrone (32) would take the car normally piloted by Shawn Jenkins (43) and bring it home in 2nd position. Sharrone suffered a brutal crash at the finish line in his last race out, which has forced him to build a new car, and scramble to find a ride until the new car is done. All the scrambling paid off, with Sharrone moving from 3rd to 1st in the points standing with his 2nd place finish. Adam May (17) would take his Volkswagen to 3rd place at the checkers after starting deep in the field. Heat race winners were Jessey Mallory (50) and Sonya Heater (71).
12 Street Stocks took the green in their 20 lap feature with Mark Fallows (007) jumping out to an early lead from his pole position. Fallows would build a large lead over Kyle Peters (53) through the middle of the race. Point leader Curtis Flanagan started deep in the field but made it to the 3rd position around the half way mark in the race. Flanagan and 2nd place point man Bill Ryan (33) survived a scary heat race incident which saw both drivers make contact with an infield dirt mound. Both cars were sent airborne and came to rest in turn 3. Both drivers thrashed to replace radiators, headers, fans, and other parts just to take the green for the feature. All of Flanagan’s hard work would pay off, as he would make the winning pass on Fallows with just 2 laps to go in the event. Flanagan would go on to take his 4th feature win of the year, which leads all Street Stock drivers, and extend his points lead over Ryan. Fallows would hold out for 2nd over Kyle Peters at the stripe. Bubba Martone (98) and Peters were heat race winners.
5 Inter-County Recycling Hornets tackled the ¼ mile asphalt for their 15 lap feature. Matthew Street (151) would make it 2 for 3 with his 2nd victory in only his 3rd race this season. Kane Dixon (15) was making a bid for his 3rd win of the season, but had to settle for 2nd after leading the first 7 laps of the race. Daryl Veltman (55) brought the only truck in the field home in the 3rd position.
Saturday night the Citrus County Speedway family paused to honor one of it’s greatest men and champions. Dave Scarborough passed away Friday morning at the age of 74. The Super Late Models all pulled to the front straight for a moment of silence just before their feature event got underway. Dave was a 5 time Super Late Model champion at the speedway, taking his first championship in 1986, and then 4 in a row form 1988-1991. Many will remember his familiar yellow Carrol Contracting 69 or the Inter-Bay Marine 69 hanging that right rear tire off the track in turn 2 lap after lap. Dave was also a sprint car champion at many tracks in Florida as well as a winner of the “Lil 500” sprint car race in Anderson, Indiana. Know as the “Little General”, Dave was small in stature, but big on heart and determination. Dave was one of my first hero’s when I was a young boy going to the speedway, and he will be missed by all that had the pleasure to know him.
This week sees the return of the Open Wheel Modifieds for their 40 lap feature after a month off. Joining them will be the Sportsman, Taylor Made Home Pure Stocks, Sheldon Palmes Insurance Mini Stocks. Pro Figure 8’s, the Inter-County Recycling Hornets, and the Cars of Yesterday. Gates open at 4 pm and the green flag drops at 6pm. Please visit www.citruscountyspeedway.com for more information or call the speedway office at 352-726-9339. See you at the races!