Wayne Anderson Wins FUPS 100 at Citrus County Speedway

20 of the states best Late Model drivers invaded Citrus County Speedway for race #5 of the Florida United Promoters Series Saturday night. The race program got started with time trial qualifying, with all 20 cars taking their shot at the time clock. Daniel Webster (33) continued his hot streak at the speedway by setting the fast time with a lap of 13.53 seconds. Rounding out the top 5 for qualifying were Jeff Scofield (77), Wayne Anderson (84), Steve Dorer (133), and Anthony Campi (81). The top 8 drivers from qualifying redraw for their starting positions for the 100 lap feature. Dave Pletcher (75), the 8^th fastest qualifier, would end up on the pole position after the pill draw. Scofield would start outside the front row, with fast qualifier Webster in the 3^rd spot. Pletcher brought the field to the green with Scofield racing hard on the outside for the first lap. As the two front runners exited turn 2 on the second lap, contact sent the top 5 scrambling for position. Webster would slip by on the inside for the lead, with Scofield, Pletcher, Campi, and Anderson battling for the 2^nd position. Anderson would win that battle, moving to the 2^nd position, then setting his sights on the leader. A lap 10 caution for a spinning George Gorham Jr. would slow the field and bunch up the front runners for a restart. Webster lead the field to the green, with Anderson in his tire tracks. Websters car didn’t look to have it’s qualifying speed, and Anderson would make quick work of Webster, moving to the lead at lap 13. Anderson would then set sail, and move out to a very comfortable lead. Webster would settle into the 2^nd position, well ahead of the battle for 3^rd. The 3^rd place battle was the one to watch for the rest of the race. Scofield, Campi, and Dorer would battle over the final 80 laps for that position. Scofield had the 4^th-9^th place cars stacked up nose to tail right on his bumper. The racing was furious as each driver tried to improve their positions in the final laps. Lap 95 saw these drivers run out of racing room entering turn 3, with all the drivers slamming on the brakes to avoid contact with each other. 16^th place starter Herb Neumann Jr. (98) jumped to the outside just when the chain reaction event started, and went from 8^th to a side by side battle for 5^th with Dorer in one corner. Neumann Jr came off of turn 4 looking more like a dirt late model, pedaling his car sideways all the way to the flag stand. That’s where he would run out of race track, and made heavy contact with the outside retaining wall, ending his night on the hook. This set up a 5 lap shoot out to settle the battle. Anderson pulled away immediately on the restart, and went on to take a dominant victory in his first race at Citrus County Speedway for 2012. Webster came home unchallenged in 2^nd, followed by Scofield, Campi, and series point leader Dorer in 5^th. The Florida Untied Promoters series will return to Citrus County Speedway on September 15, make sure to mark your calendars.

The street stock division tried to get back to racing this week, after a few weeks carnage and mayhem. Paul Fletcher (74) would launch his brand new racer from the pole position and set the early pace in the 20 lap feature. Dora Thorne (48) would settle into the 2^nd position followed by J.T. Reneau (33) in 3^rd. The first caution would fly at lap 4 for contact between Renau, and Kenny May (10). Renau would be sent spinning to the infield off the front bumper of 4^th place May, both drivers would be sent to the rear for the restart. This moved 8^th place starter James Peters (5) to the 3^rd position for the restart. Fletcher would lead on the restart, with Peters going to work on Thorne right away for the 2^nd position. Peters moved by Thorne for the 2^nd spot, bringing Bubba Martone (98) with him. Fletcher was soon under pressure for the lead, with Peters moving by to take the lead by lap 12. Martone would follow into the 2^nd position, and then turn his attention to the leader. Peters and Martone would run nose to tail for the final 5 laps, with Peters holding off Martone to take his first feature win  of the 2012 season. Martone came home a strong 2^nd with Fletcher taking the 3^rd position. Martone was also you heat race winner.

The Modified Mini Stocks saw Clint Foley (7) move by Jessica Robbins (09) on lap 4 for the lead, and go on to take his 7^th feature win of the 2012 season. Phil Edwards (24) would race with Robbins for the 2^nd position, besting her at the finish line. Foley was also your heat race winner.

 

The mini stock division saw an exciting 3 wide battle for the lead between Tim Scalice (24), Jerry Daniels (11), and Jeremy Sharrone (32). Sharrone would prevail, moving to the lead early on  in the event. 8^th place starter Shawn Jenkins (43) would move to the 2^nd spot, and by lap 10, he was putting pressure on the leader Sharrone. Jenkins got a few good looks on Sharrone, only to have the door slammed shut at the last second. Sharrone went on to take his 7^th feature win of the season, followed by Jenkins, and Shannon Kennedy (46) in 3^rd. Kevin Stone (98) was your heat race winner.

The Dwarf car feature saw Danny Cretty (01) launch to the lead from his outside front row starting position. Bo Bass (14) would run down the leader by lap 7, and move by to take the top spot away. Cretty would run in the 2^nd position until a last lap incident with Darren Bass (25) would cost them both a good finish. Taking advantage of their misfortune were Stan Butler (3), and Todd Brown (22) coming home 2^nd and 3^rd.

This Saturday night the Citrus County Speedway will welcome back the Open Wheel Modifieds after a month off from racing. Joining them will be the Sportsman, Pure Stock, Mini Stock, Hornets, and the Cars of Yesterday. Racing takes the green flag at 6:30, so come on out for a great night of short track racing!