Second as a rookie, Bell is shooting higher

In Mike Bell's first full season at Citrus County Speedway,he earned six feature wins, won nearly a dozen heats and finished second in the Street Stock division.

In addition, fans honored him as their favorite driver.

Still, Bell can't help but feel at least a little disappointed. After all, had he earned just 21 more points, the crown would have been his and not Travis Nichols'.

"It was a letdown for me because I thought I drove harder and took more chances than Travis did, especially near the end of the season," Ell said. "It just turned out that my luck was worse."

When the championship race began heating up in the final weeks, Bell started falling on hard times. With five races left, he was caught up in a crash that destroyed the front end of his Don's Pressure Cleaning/Struble Auto Salvage-sponsored No. 17 machine.

Though a borrowed ride kept Bell in the championship hunt, he was unable to close the gap between Nichols and himself.

Bell said this season's division chase easily could be a repeat of last year, but with more players.

Besides Nichols, Bell said drivers such as Ernie Reed (whom he beat out for the runner-up spot), Harley Wilson and Victor Stanlel will assure the division stays tight.

"A lot of people have stepped it up, so it's going to take an edge to stay competitive," Bell said.

He said his edge could come in the form of a new car. After driving a borrowed Camaro for a few weeks last season, Bell decided to build one for himself. He plans to introduce it in a few weeks.

"It handles better than my Malibu, and now that we're not driving on radials anymore, it may have even more of an advantage," Bell said. "It's just something we'll have to wait and see on."

Perhaps most surprising to Bell has been his rapid rise to the top tier of Street Stock competition. Until two years ago, his weekly visits to the track were as a spectator cheering on his favorite drivers, many of whom he now competes against.

It was only after Bell climbed behind the wheel that he began to appreciate the effort it takes to win.

"Winning has a lot to do with attitude," Bell said. "Racing is about pride and hard work.

"Look down the list of winners every week, and you'll mostly find it's the guys who have done their homework, the ones who come prepared to win," he said. "And that's what I try to do every week."

CITRUS COUNTY SPEEDWAY

WHAT: Short-track stock car racing in Late Model, Sportsman, Street Stock, Hobby Stock and Thunder Stocks, in addition to a 40-lap Mini Stock feature.

WHEN: Saturday. Gates open at 4 p.m. The first heat race is at 6:30.

WHERE: 2 miles south of Inverness on U.S. 41.

ADMISSION: Adult general, $12; seniors and students to age 17, $8; children under 6-12, $6; children under 42 inches, $2; and pits, $20.

INFORMATION: (352) 726-9339.

POINTS STANDINGS

LATE MODEL: 1. Teddy Nelson, 104; 2. Dave Pletcher, 88; 3. Rex Struble, 70; 4. Jim Smith, 60; 5. (tie) Scott Grossenbacker, Raymond Lovelady, Mike Bresnahan, 46.

SPORTSMAN: 1. Mike Veltman, 110; 2. Buddy Kessler, 80; 3. Bill Oesterricher, 68; 4. Rex Struble, 58; 5. (tie) Terry Cater, George Neumann, 44.

STREET STOCK: 1. Ernie Reed, 106; 2. Harley Wilson, 90; 3. David Kingsbury, 62; 4. Don Teague, 58; 5. Mike Bell, 50.

MINI STOCK: 1. Rob Wheatly, 108; 2. Robbie Yoakam, 90; 3. Jay McKinzie, 64; 4. Mike Henderson, 52; 5. Ronnie Deschamp, 42.

HOBBY STOCK: 1. Richie Smith, 106; 2. Tommy Smith, 90; 3. Brandon Johnson, 68; 4. Roy Perkins, 60; 5. Daniel Webster, 48.

THUNDER STOCKS: 1. Josh Teague, 110; 2. Jason White, 86; 3. Robert Jordan, 68; 4. Robin Bauer, 56; 5. Stuart Madison, 50.

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