Feb. 7 - TBARA, and "Smallest" Traveling Series invade Citrus County Speedway

FLORIDA STOCK CAR RACING KARNAC's FLORIDA STOCK CAR RACING
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[i] THE GRANDSTANDS WILL BE ROCKING ON SATURDAY NIGHT, FEB. 7 IN INVERNESS!!![/i]

Take a look at this video, shot on February 9, 2008 at the legendary 3/8 mile paved oval of Citrus County Speedway in Inverness, Florida, and notice the FANS packed into the grandstands!!! :eek:

It’s now one year later… and the ground-shaking winged sprint cars of the TBARA will once again open their season at Citrus County Speedway, on February 7, 2009. But this year, Florida’s “smallest” traveling series, the “Thundering Herd” of the Desoto Champ Kart Series are also appear on the card, to kick off their 2009 Season!

Many-time USAC National Champion Dave “Superman” Steele, two-time defending TBARA Winged Sprint Car Champion Troy Decaire , TBARA 2008 ROY Blaze Martin (driving for HEAT RACING owners Robin and Gary Green) and the Desoto Champ Kart Series … it’s going to be an entertaining night for race fans of all ages! :aktion033:

Citrus County Speedway is one of Florida?s oldest short tracks. The track is located next to the Citrus County Fairgrounds on U.S. 41, 2 miles south of Inverness. The track website is: http://www.citruscountyspeedway.com

This race marks the second year that karting will be featured on the Saturday night card at Citrus County Speedway, under the lights! ln 2009, the track has booked five dates with the Desoto Champ Kart Series! On April 18, the series will return to Citrus County Speedway for Race #1 of the popular 3rd Annual Florida Triple Crown Series (4 races at 4 different stock car tracks, with 1 drop allowed), with 25-30 entries expected.

Even if you don’t own a champ kart, don’t know anyone, or are alone, please feel welcomed to join the Desoto Champ Kart Series drivers and crew in the pits! This is one of the friendliest group of racers anywhere. After the champ kart feature on Feb. 7 is finished, you can stay and watch some of the country’s best sprint car drivers do battle, at no additional cost! Your $25 pit pass will grant you unrestricted access to both the main grandstands, and pit area!

Last year’s DCKS race at Citrus County Speedway was one for the ages… as the leader had an engine failure on the last lap, and stopped just two feet from the start/finish line! :frowning: Chase Fitzgerald passed him off the final turn, and took the checkered flag! Second was Ron Sanford, and third was Tara “The Terror” Henderson (24 Entries).

You can get an in-kart view of last years race at the following link (courtesy of 5-time Series Winner Romay Venta!): CHAMP KARTS AT CITRUS COUNTY 7-26-08 FEATURE RACE (HELMET CAM) #13 - YouTube

In 2008, eighty-one different drivers raced at least one Desoto Champ Kart Series event! The highest field of the year had 35 entries, while five other races had 24 or more entries! And, even though the economy impacted all of Florida’s racing, the Desoto Champ Kart Series was one of the few racing series that continued to grow during 2008.

A fan video of a champ kart race at DSS (August 16) can be viewed at the following link: Don MacCalla Mem - YouTube

Series website: http://www.DesotoChampKartSeries.com

Stars: Think this is just a “go kart” series…?? In 2008, 2-time Defending TBARA Sprint Car Series champion Troy Decaire participated twice (finishing second and third), along with 2008 FASCAR Advanced Auto Parts Pro Truck 2nd Place points finisher Barry Bartlett (finished seventh), 2008 DSS Late Model Points Champion Dustin Chisholm (WIN), 2008 DSS Late Model Feature Winner Raymond Folwell, and ASA and United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series driver JR “The Machine” Garcia (finished seventh)!

And, 2008 DSS Late Model Points Champion Dustin Chisholm has already confirmed that he will be IN THE HOUSE at Citrus County Speedway on Feb. 7, attempting to claim his third career DCKS win! And noone will be surprised if one of Dustin’s good friends also attempts to pick up a champ kart ride for this event… (hint: He’s the 2-time Defending TBARA Champion!)

For 2009, two more car racers have already announced their plans to run some races with the Desoto Champ Kart Series!

Former Open Wheel Modified Standout Timmy Moore of Clearwater has already purchased a champ kart, and will be making his debut at the Feb. 21 series stop at Desoto Super Speedway.

Also, Steven Darvalics, who won the 2008 Charity Truckers 200 in Orlando Speedworld recently announced he will racing a champ kart in 2009 with the series! Look for Steven to make his debut in the coming races!

Purse/Payout:
This series races for cash payouts at every event (for at least the top five drivers), along with trophies and contingency prizes. In addition, a year-end points fund is maintained. In 2008, the series awarded over $3,000 in prizes and contingencies from it’s year-end points funds!

And, the series will end the 2009 season with a bang! Both the Friday night (Dec. 4) and Saturday night (Dec. 5) shows at Orlando Speedworld will pay a guaranteed $500 Cash to the winner (no minimum entries required)! So, if the same driver collects both wins, he/she will collect $1,000! :aktion033:

2009 Series Sponsors:
VEGA Tires from http://www.TSRacing.com,
Cutting Edge Kart Shop at http://www.cuttingedgekartshop.com
COMPETITION Karting, Inc. in Welcome, NC,
Moon Power South, Donnie Lewis at 386-938-2434 ,
TS Racing Engines at http://www.TSRacing.com,
HEAT RACING of Brandon, Florida,
J. Hite Exterminating at http://www.hiteexterminating.com,
PBS Sales and Service of Tampa at http://www.pbssalesandservice.com,
5 STAR MOTORSPORTS at http://www.5starmotorsports.net[/QUOTE],
TERROR GRAFIX at
www.myspace.com/terrorgrafix (click on ‘Pics’)

The Desoto Champ Kart Series - The series which proves that “size doesn’t matter!” :laugh:

Regardless of where you live, please support your local race tracks!

Schedule 2009.jpg
Schedule 2009.jpg629×800 136 KB

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Although Saturday night is only a “regular” points race for the Desoto Champ Kart Series, 17 drivers (thus far) have already confirmed that they will be at Citrus County Speedway. :aktion033:

Even if you don’t own a champ kart, don’t know anyone, or are alone, please feel welcomed to join the Desoto Champ Kart Series drivers and crew in the pits! This is one of the friendliest group of racers anywhere. After the champ kart feature is finished, you can stay and watch some of the country’s best sprint car drivers do battle, at no additional cost! Your $25 pit pass will grant you unrestricted access to both the main grandstands, and pit area!

Series Website: http://www.DesotoChampKartSeries.com

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We will also post the full race story (copied below) with photos later on Sunday, at the Desoto Champ Kart Series website:

http://www.desotochampkartseries.com

The pits were jam-packed with race cars at the low-banked 3/8 mile paved oval of Citrus County Speedway in Inverness, FL last night. And, by the time the checkered flag flew for the Desoto Champ Kart Series feature, a huge crowd had witnessed a record-breaking race for the series!

Twenty champ karts came to Inverness to take their shot at winning the race sponsored by:

2009 Overall Track Series Sponsors:
VEGA Tires from http://www.TSRacing.com, and
COMPETITION Karting, Inc. in Welcome, NC

2009 Florida Triple Crown Sponsors:
Cutting Edge Kart Shop at http://www.cuttingedgekartshop.com
COMPETITION Karting, Inc. in Welcome, NC,
Moon Power South, Donnie Lewis at 386-938-2434 ,
TS Racing Engines at http://www.TSRacing.com,
HEAT RACING of Brandon, Florida,
J. Hite Exterminating at http://www.hiteexterminating.com,
VEGA Tires from http://www.TSRacing.com,
PBS Sales and Service of Tampa at http://www.pbssalesandservice.com,
5 STAR MOTORSPORTS at http://www.5starmotorsports.net,
TERROR GRAFIX at
www.myspace.com/terrorgrafix (click on ‘Pics’)

Thanks very much to all of the sponsors for their support of the Desoto Champ Kart Series!

Four drivers made their debut last night with the series. Scott Stevens and Kenner Brown III traveled to Inverness from Jacksonville. Both Scott and Kenner are veterans of the National WKA Horstman Gold Cup Series wars. Robin Pope Jr. of Brandon also made his debut. Robin has made many starts in state, national and money races, but has run a limited schedule in recent years due to his service to our country as a military Intelligence Analyst. Also, Chris Chason made his first start with the series. Thanks to all of the first-time entries for coming out last night!

Two eight-lap heat races were held, with the odd pill draws running in the first heat, and the even pills in the second.

In the first heat race, Romay Venta and Dustin Chisholm brought the crowd to it’s feet as they raced side-by-side off of turn four, for a photo finish at the line. After several seconds of review, the track announced that Romay Venta had scored the win, only inches ahead of Dustin Chisholm at the start/finish line. JD Cordon was close behind in third, Travis Belcourt was fourth and “The Godfather” Andy Whah came home in fifth!

The second heat was won by Tracy Wilson, with teammate Ron Sanford pushing hard in second. Tracy and Ron traveled all the way to Inverness from the Palm Bay (east coast) area, and were very fast all night. Paul “Longshot” Letourneau shocked the Las Vegas oddsmakers with a third place finish, as he stayed an even distance behind Tracy and Ron the entire heat race. Robin Pope Jr. captured the fourth position, after missing the entire practice session (the laps in his heat race were his first ever with the DCKS!), while Brian Scherrer claimed the fifth place spot.

After the heat races were over, series director Phil Harp met with the two heat race winners in front of his trailer. A dice was thrown to determine the number of rows that would be inverted in the feature. A ‘4’ came up. The first four rows would be inverted! :eek:

The feature rolled out onto the track at approximately 8:20pm. A sizable contingent of champ kart family and crew could be seen standing and cheering as the field circled the track for it’s pace laps!

When the green flag flew, Ron Sanford quickly moved to the point, followed by Dustin Chisholm in second. Behind them, Romay Venta was on the move… as he began his march towards the front.

On lap 8, a caution flew for a spin. The track took a few extra minutes to make sure the running order was correct. Once again, fuel mileage would play a factor in the final outcome.

After the green flag flew again and the karts got back to racing, the top three of Sanford, Chisholm and Venta began to put some daylight on the field.

However, on (approx.) lap 15, a gasp went up from the crowd as leader Ron Sanford started to slow coming off of turn two…he was starting to run out of fuel!

Immediately following Ron’s exit, Romay Venta made his move, as he slipped under Dustin Chisholm going into turn three!

Behind this duo, the action was wild and furious, as karts raced two and three-wide throughout the field.

Two-time Defending TBARA Winged Sprint Car Champion Troy Decaire had started last (20th spot) in the feature, but he was moving through the field quickly!

In addition, Tracy Wilson and Robin Pope Jr. were waging war for the third spot, behind the two frontrunners.

In the final two laps, Romay Venta and Dustin Chisholm encounted heavy lapped traffic. As they weaved through the slower karts, Dustin searched for an opportunity to get back around Romay.

However, on the final lap, Romay proved to be too strong, as he crossed the line first, winning his sixth career Desoto Champ Kart Series victory! Romay now stands alone as the series ALL-TIME WINNINGEST DRIVER! :smiley:

On the final lap, Tracy Wilson and Robin Pope Jr. were battling for third as they dove into turn three. Unfortunately, their karts became hooked together, slowing both dramatically. Before they could get untangled, several karts slipped by.

Behind them, Kenner Brown III had just moved around Phil Harp for position, with Troy Decaire closing fast from behind.

At the line, Kenner Brown III captured third, in his very first Desoto Champ Kart Series start! Troy Decaire claimed fourth, with Phil Harp coming home in fifth place.

Congratulations to Romay Venta on his accomplishment!!

Thanks to the turnout of drivers and crew, and the support of our sponsors, the series paid out approx. $865 in cold, hard cash to the TOP TWELVE finishers in the feature. :cool:

After the top five karts were pulled into the tech area, the top three finishers were selected for an inspection (while the 4th and 5th place finishers waited).

The following items were selected for tech last night:

  1. Piston Size
  2. Valve Size
  3. Cam - A dial indicator was placed on top of the valve (while the head was off), for a Running Cam Profile Lift check, and for an EZ-Spin check
  4. Head inspection
  5. Visual inspection on the flywheel

These three karts cleared tech!

If you’ve ever wanted to race in front of cheering fans, be interviewed by the track announcer after the feature, race for cash in EVERY race, and watch some of Florida’s best car racing after the champ kart feature is completed (at no additional cost), please consider trying a race with the Desoto Champ Kart Series! Everyone is welcome to participate in this unique karting experience.

Official Finishing Order:

  1. Romay Venta - Cutting Edge Motorsports
  2. Dustin Chisholm - TS Racing
  3. Kenner Brown III
  4. Troy Decaire
  5. Phil Harp
  6. Scott Stevens
  7. Travis Belcourt
  8. JD Cordon - TS Racing, Creative Early World Learning
  9. Robin Pope JR.
  10. Tracy Wilson
  11. Alan McKinney - PBS Sales and Service
  12. Andy Whah
  13. Paul Letourneau - Top Deck Concrete
  14. Brian Scherrer - Cornwell Quality Tools
  15. Greg Edwards
  16. PJ Letourneau - Top Deck Concrete
  17. Ron Sanford
  18. Tim Hughes
  19. Scott Hailey
  20. Chris Chason

And after the feature, Sandi Letourneau laid out a huge spread of food for all the racers and crew. A large crowd quickly gathered in the Top Deck Concrete team pits, to enjoy the pork chops, pasta salad, bread and cheesecake!!! Thanks very much to the Letourneaus for their hospitality.

Thanks also to everyone for coming out last night!

For a complete schedule of ‘Events’, and rules, please visit the series website at: http://www.desotochampkartseries.com

If you have any questions about the series, please contact series director Phil Harp at 727-510-5401. Contingency and race sponsorships are always welcomed by Phil for each race. This group is very appreciative of all the race sponsors and supporters for the 2009 season!

The DeSoto Champ Kart Series - A little different… a little bigger… let the drafting begin!