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Former champ spins his wheels
By LOGAN NEILL For ex-Citrus County Speedway Late Model champion Danny Johnson, it has been a frustrating season. With 14 races under his belt, Johnson is languishing in 11th in the points standings -- his worst midseason performance since he started competing at the track seven years ago. Johnson admits he could come up with several excuses for his dismal season. But what it boils down to is luck, or as the 49-year-old Crystal River driver says, the lack of it. "When the car is running well, I'm able to turn laps as fast as anyone out there," Johnson said. "But the nightmare has come in finishing races, which I haven't done too much of this season." Johnson has failed to complete half of the events he has entered. But what confounds him the most is that many of those DNFs have been the result of crashes. It seems no matter how carefully Johnson tiptoes around the speedway, trouble finds him. "One race, I didn't even take the green flag because the guy next to me plowed into the side of my car on the pace lap and knocked the front wheels out of whack," Johnson said. It was unfortunate for Johnson, who -- from his outside pole position -- stood an excellent chance of snaring his first win of the year. Johnson is looking forward to the second half of the season when he plans to debut a new car. For the short-track racer closing in on 20 years, it will be something akin to celebrating Christmas in July. "Even though I've had the car for about six months, I decided it would be better to take my time in getting it ready for the track," Johnson said. "Right now we're so frustrated at how sorry the season's been, at least we can pretend like the season is just starting," he said. The new Left-Hander chassis with an engine built by Carl Wagner will replace the Kia-sponsored No.96 machine Johnson has had several years. Johnson, who was a champion in 1999, says he never has been overly enthusiastic about racing for points. And while he's not particularly sorry to be out of this season's title hunt, Johnson truly wishes he had more to show for his efforts. "The most frustrating thing is to know that most nights I'm capable of racing right along with (Mike) Bresnahan, (Rex) Struble and the rest of those guys," Johnson said. "The fact that they've been winning and I haven't drives me crazy." CITRUS COUNTY SPEEDWAYWHAT: All classes, double points for each. WHEN: Saturday. Pit gates open at 2 p.m., grandstand gates at 4. The first heat race is at 6. WHERE: Two miles south of Inverness on U.S. 41. ADMISSION: Adult general, $12; seniors and students to age 17, $8; children 6-12, $6; children under 42 inches, $2; pits, $20. INFORMATION: Call (352) 726-9339 or go online to www.citruscountyspeedway.com. POINTS STANDINGSLATE MODEL: 1. Rex Struble, 826; 2. Raymond Lovelady, 740; 3. Mike Bresnahan, 646; 4. Jim Smith, 624; 5. Teddy Nelson, 554. SPORTSMAN: 1. Mike Veltman, 1,224; 2. Bill Oesterreicher, 956; 3. George Neumann, 842; 4. Terry Cater, 758; 5. Mark Dominique, 728. STREET STOCK: 1. Travis Nicholes, 952; 2. Mike Bell, 884; 3. James Green, 832; 4. Danny Cretty, 782; 5. Ernie Reed, 686. MINI STOCK: 1. Robbie Yoakam, 1,202; 2. Rob Wheatley, 826; 3. Kevin Harrod, 684; 4. Jay McKenzie, 552; 5. Phillip Joyner Jr., 522. HOBBY STOCK: 1. Tommy Smith, 1,234; 2. Richie Smith, 1,112; 3. Daniel Webster, 700; 4. Roy Perkins, 664; 5. Brandon Johnson, 656. THUNDER STOCK: 1. Josh Teague, 1,012; 2. Stuart Madison, 952; 3. Robert Jordan, 866; 4. Lee Keller, 814; 5. Tim Wilson, 766.
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