Sportsman provides close finish

By CAREY FREEMAN

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 17, 2001

INVERNESS -- There was, of course, only one official winner of Saturday's 20-lap Sportsman feature, but if co-winners were awarded, one would have to take a serious look at the performance of points leader Rex Struble.

Though Struble came up just short of Jim Smith, his run from the ninth starting spot to Smith's rear bumper was easily one of the night's more memorable efforts. The 24-year old Homosassa resident took advantage of some early crashes and a tight suspension setup to post his third top-5 finish and take sole possession of the points lead.

"A bunch of cars started crashing in the beginning, and I got lucky and missed it all," Struble said. "Then I started on the outside and picked off a few cars until I was right behind Jim. I was right there, but I just couldn't get him.

"But it was a good race. The car ran good, and the track was great. Oh, and the outside groove was working great."

Racers have long known about the advantages of Citrus County Speedway's outside line, where traffic and blocking tactics are minimal.

Yet few have ever been able to take advantage of it. For many, the knee-jerk reaction is to stay on the bottom, but Struble realized quickly this tactic wouldn't pay off with wins.

"That's what we work on in practice," Struble said. "That's where all of the passing is and the only place where you can get anybody anymore. The track is real small, and it has tight corners. So the best passing is really on the outside.

"If you want to win, you've got to take some chances and throw the car out there. We haven't won every week, but we've been there in the end. I got out there early for practice and tried to feel the car out. I tried to set it up for the inside groove, but it stuck outside. So I set it up for that, and it seemed to work out pretty good."

Caught in one of those early crashes was former points leader Sport Wilson, whose 11th-place finish dropped him 13 points behind Struble.

For Smith, the win comes as a welcome respite from a recent string of bad luck. His car had electrical problems two weeks ago in his first start of the season. Preoccupied this season by the arrival of a baby (his wife, Melissa, is expecting in June), Smith has limited his schedule. Smith drew the pole position and did not look back until Struble began to pressure him during the final few laps.

"The car was hooked up pretty good," Smith said. "I just tried to run a smart race and not push too hard. The good thing about being the leader is that I can set the pace."

GOFF RACING:: Jimmy Ware of Ocala took the win in the Goff Racing Late Model 30-lap feature, surviving a crash-filled race that took out several formidable racers.

John Buzinec survived several potential disasters to finish second ahead of Fred Stoner and George Ingole. Tim Sharrone had a chance to take the lead on the last lap but backed off the throttle at the white flag because he mistakenly believed it was the checkered. Sharrone finished fifth despite the miscue.

SMITH STIFLED: Despite a terrific run that saw him move to the front from the 18th starting position, Richie Smith's bid for a fifth consecutive win in the Hobby Stock class came up short. Steve Thomas, who started 17th, outlasted Smith earn his first feature win of the year.

Citrus County speedway Saturday's results

Late model

1. Jimmy Wear

2. John Buzinec

3. George Ingole

4. Fred Stoner

5. Tim Sharrone

Sportsman

1. Jim Smith

2. Rex Struble

3. Robert Pilkinton

4. Chris Hooker

5. Mark Dominique

Street stock

1. Wes Wilson

2. Dean Lawyer

3. Harley Wilson

4. Travis Nichols

5. Don Tegue

Mini stock

1. Frank Coleman

2. Kevin Harrod

3. Mark Sowell

4. Richie Powers

5. John Coleman

Hobby stock

1. Steve Thomas

2. Richie Smith

3. Brandon Johnson

4. Erica Wilson

5. Steven Brown

Figure 8

1. Robert Aaron

2. Jeff Kramer

3. Peanut Higgenbotham

4. Dwayne Fults

5. Bob Hage

Junkers

1. Gary Johnson

2. Rick Badessa

3. John Donahue

4. Stuart Madison

5. Roland Sizemore

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