Weekend racing returns

The winter months can be slow, especially if you're a devout fan of racing.

True, the 2001 Citrus County Speedway season adjourned just over a month ago, but for anyone who spends 30 weekends a year competing on the quarter-mile oval, the offseason is more a time of waiting than anything else.

For that reason, speedway promoters would probably have little trouble attracting top veterans for an offseason event. Factor in a $12,000 purse, and one begins to see why racers such as Billy Bechtelheimer are getting charged up for this weekend's 100-lap Winter Spectacular Late Model race.

"Most guys are happy to be racing any time of the year," Bechtelheimer said. "But that kind of money really pulls them out of the woodwork."

As many as 40 Late Model entrants from around the state could be vying for just 24 starting spots in Saturday night's grid. The winner will take home a $2,500 first-place prize.

While many of the entrants will be from the elite ranks of Late Model racing, some factors could make for more parity in the field.

Since the end of the season, a new layer of asphalt has been added in turns three and four. Part of a facelift that will eventually include a backstretch that's 16 feet wider, the new surface will not see any racing action until Friday night's practice sessions.

Also, the Late Models will be racing on Goodyear tires rather than the Hoosier brand that has been the staple of the track for more than 10 years.

Drivers familiar with the speedway will probably have to rethink their chassis setups in order to race competitively.

"Anybody who comes thinking they'll be able to use anything from last year will probably be disappointed," driver Danny Johnson said. "With the new asphalt and tires, it's going to be anybody's guess as to how their car's going to stick."

Bechtelheimer agrees. He plans to play it by ear.

"It's going to be cold turkey for me," Bechtelheimer said. "Probably the safest thing to do is just go in with your car neutral and just keep working at it."

In addition to the Late Model main event, the night's action will include 30-lap features for Sportsman, Street Stock, Mini Stock, Hobby Stock and Thunder Stock classes. Fields for those races will be determined by pill draws.

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