From John Chance

Tim Russell lead all the way to take the checkers

Saturday night was the first trip of the year for the United Promoters late model series to the Citrus County Speedway. The newly formed series has had great success in it’s first 4 races of the year, but this race would set a new benchmark for the number of participants. 32 late models registered to try to race their way into the 24 car starting field for the 100 lap feature. The night would start off with time trial qualifying, which saw the 84 of Wayne Anderson, set fast time with a fast lap of 13.647 seconds. The top 20 drivers were locked into the 100 lap feature, with the remaining cars and drivers to battle it out in a 20 lap B-main to determine the final 24 car starting field.

The 17 of Darryl Shelnut would lead the B main to the green flag and go on to dominate the 20 lap event. The 36 of Gary Padula would see his chance of making the race almost fade away. While running 2^nd, the 19 of Ray Black made contact with Padula, sending both cars for a spin. Black would take blame for the incident, giving Padula back his 2^nd position. Padula would go on to finish in the 2^nd position, and be the last driver to race his way into the final 24 car starting field. The final 2 provisional starting spots were given to the highest series points contender, and the highest local points contender, not all ready locked into the race. This would put the 19 of Black, and the 10 of Talon Craft into the big show.

Tim Russell would have luck on his side after qualifying. Russell would draw the pole position for the start of the 100 lap feature, joining him on the outside front row was the 97 of Patrick Staropoli. Russell would jump out to an early lead before a caution on the 2^nd lap for contact between the 30 of Jesse Dutilly and the 88 of Justin Larson would slow the field. Dutilly and Larson would be sent to the rear for the restart. Russell would again jump out to a comfortable lead with Staropoli in second and the 98 of local hot shoe Herb Neumann Jr in 3^rd. Neumann would take the 2^nd position from Staropoli on lap 20 and set his sights on the leader. Lap 32 saw caution fly for contact between the 1 of Dale Sanders and the 36 of Gary Padula, both would join the rear for the restart. On the restart, Russell would now have the bright orange 98 of 5 time track champion Neumann, filling his mirror. Neumann would never leave the rear bumper of Russell’s 136 machine, looking high and low for a lane, putting major pressure on the race leader. Lap 59 would see the field slow again for the spinning 36 of Gary Padula. Russell would lead the way on the restart followed by Neumann, the 33 of Daniel Webster, the 84 of Wayne Anderson, and the 97 of Staropoli. Caution would fly quickly on lap 65 for contact between the 20 of Anthony Sergi, 19 of Ray Black, and the 07 of Steven Simpson. Russell would bring the field to the restart, and Neumann would turn up the pressure with time running out. The top two drivers would put on a driving clinic for the rest of the race. Russell would not let the pressure get to him, never making even the slightest of mistakes while Neumann watched the laps wind down. Lap 84 would see the final caution of the night for debris on the front straight, this would give everyone one last shot to get it done. Russell brought the field down for the final restart, and the top two drivers would pick right back up where they left off. After several good looks on the inside of Russell off of turn 2, Neumann just couldn’t find the traction he needed to make the winning pass. Russell would go on to take the victory and the $3000 winners purse. Neumann would settle for 2^nd, with Webster 3^rd, Anderson 4^th, and 13^th place starter Scott Grossenbacher rounding out the top 5. Russell thanked his crew, sponsors, and the fans in victory lane. He also gave a special thanks to Neumann for driving such a clean race, and not trying to use his front bumper to gain an advantage. Neumann commented in his post race interview, that his car just got to loose in the last 25 laps to make the winning pass, and congratulated Russell on a great race. This was the best race the series has seen all year, we can only hope the momentum keeps growing.

13 Street Stocks tried to take home the checkered flag in their 20 lap feature. 5^th place starter Bill Ryan wasted little time in making his way to the front in his red and yellow 33 Camaro. Ryan would get out front, and drive away in the caution free event, to take his first feature win of the year. Ryan’s family members were in the stands, which made for a very happy victory lane. 11th place starter, and point leader, Curtis Flanagan would race his way to 2^nd at the checkers. With out a caution, Flanagan never got a chance to race for the lead.. John Makula would come home in the 3^rd position after starting on the pole position. Heat race winners were the 31 of Tom Potts and the 98 of Bubba Martone.

11 Modified Mini stocks took the green for their 20 lap feature event. The 26 of Nathan Florian would bring the field to the green with the 1 of George Neumann along side. The two drivers would have a side by side battle for the first 2 laps, but Neumann would take over the top spot. While Neumann was out front, defending point champion Clint Foley, was charging to the front. That charge would end before halfway when Foley got loose while trying to pass the 18 of Jesse Henley on the outside. Foley would end up head on into the backstretch wall and done for the night. The 98 of James Ellis would get caught up in the incident when Foley slid across the front of his car, ending Ellis night with front end damage. Neumann would retire to the pits with a mechanical problem shortly after, which would leave the 33 of Chris Allen clear sailing for his second straight feature win. Following Allen to the stripe were the 18 of Jesse Henley, and the 44 of Mike Lawhorn in 3^rd. Point leader Allen took the first heat, with Foley winning the second heat.

A short 7 car Sheldon Palmes Insurance Mini stock field battled it out for their 25 lap feature. This race was short on cars, but not on drama. The 77 of Kevin Knox would jump out to an early lead and pull away from the field. But before he could get to halfway, his racer would lose a right front tire and wheel in turn 4, that would end his night in the turn 4 wall. Jeremy Sharrone would take over the lead on the restart and looked to be headed to a feature win. But the mechanical gremlins would once again get the best of the 32 machine, as his racer lost power while leading, and he retired to the pits. This would give the lead to the 01 of former track champion, Jeff Eberly. Eberly would go on to take his 4^th feature win of the year with the 29 of Chris Snow 2^nd, and the 71 of Sonya Heater in 3^rd. Points leader Kevin Stone, in the 98 car, was black flagged early in the race for a fuel leak and came home in the 7^th position. With her 3^rd place finish, Sonya Heater now takes over the point lead with a 7 point margin over Stone.

8 Pro Challenge cars made the monthly trip to the friendliest track in the south for their 30 lap feature. This race would feature a furious battle with the 25 of Paul White and the 56 of Mark Landis for the top position. Both drivers would swap the lead several times, but a late race tangle between the two drivers, would send them into the turn 1 wall. The 28 truck of Randy Glick would take advantage of the incident, and go on to take his first feature win of the season at Citrus. 2^nd spot would go to Open Wheel Modified standout Kevin Terry in the 24 truck, and Harvey Johnson would bring home his 2 truck in 3^rd.

In the new Hornet Division, Mathew Street would make his first night of racing one to remember. Street would lead the 15 lap feature green to checkers. Coming home in 2^nd was the 98 of John Fisher, and the 60 of Carson Taylor in 3^rd.

This Saturday night will see the Open Wheel Modifieds back in action with the Sportsman, Taylor Made Homes Pure Stocks, Sheldon Palmes Insurance Mini Stocks, Pro figure 8’s, TQ midgets, Hornets, and the Cars of Yesterday. Check the speedway website at www.citruscountyspeedway.com or call the track office at (352)-726-9339 for complete details. See you at the races!