New owner at Citrus Country Speedway

[gary laplant]

The events that Bobby has on here are cool and fine with me I helped put some of the rules together on the Ft Meyers event for Rex. Really looks like a great event might even talk to Rex on putting the same event on at Citrus Soon

Gary Laplant
813 313 8741

[MiniRacer26]

For those of you who keep saying "don't re invent the wheel" need a serious reality check....there isn't any wheels left up here to re invent! They fell off long ago =) If the management is so "great" where have all the cars and fans went? Its the "economy" is my all time favorite from those who are not smart enough to think for themselves or are sheepie in their little click. I see some of the names do not ring a bell or visit with a traveling series. My statement is based on the fact that I have seen many promoters come and go over a 25 year period and this group is the worst I have encountered. My dad and I both are former track champions and have been racing at the track since the mid 80's. There are SERIOUS problems with Critter and his group and until they are gone the problems will continue. Nothing against any of them on a personal level, they are just unable to manage the place and keep their personal favorites out of the picture. The current situation at CCS validates my statement.Between the tech man racing and working on cars, letting his friends slide through tech and the extreme favoritism that is displayed it has ran many of us off to other tracks, forms of racing and other hobbies.The track needs a fresh start all the way around to get the cars and fans back. The current group have had several years to make it work and all they have done is fast track the place down the tubes. A prime example would involve measuring a set a set of springs off of a car that the tech man drove in the PS F8 class. First of all the tech man has ZERO....ZERO business driving a car at the same track he works at. I don't know about you guys, but when springs are measured they are BOTH brought to the bench and matched coil for coil and measured side by side...not one at a time from the passenger side of the car and carried to the bench. The tech man was watched by several people walk to the car in question and remove one spring from inside the car and return to the tech area with it...measure it and then return the spring the car and grab the second spring? Really? The only reason we all knew the springs were illegal is the driver of the car spilled the beans to everyone they were wrong! The tech man tried to pull this on everyone in fear of messing up his free ride. After everyone raised hell about it, Critter finally got involved and the car in question was DQ'd. Had the driver kept his mouth shut, it would have flew under the radar....makes you wonder how many other instances we don't know about . One of two things is wrong with this picture A.) the tech man is unable to read/use a tape measure and caliper gauge or B.) he is biased and shouldn't be the tech man to begin with. Either way he was unqualified for the job. After getting caught red handed he should have been fired on the spot by management, however this did not happen.The current GM is more concerned with changing tires for extra cash than supervising his employees and running the show. The actions of your employees is a direct reflection upon those who manage them. Its all about who you are and if you want to play along with their little games and shenanigans, which many of us do not condone nor did we sign up for it. We just wanted to come and race and get a fair shake. I would be happy to share all kinds of stories with you but that's not going to change the past, I am concerned with the future. I was a $250-300 per night customer BEFORE I bought fuel and tires and I can promise you that until they are gone I will not spend another dime at CCS. After speaking with Gary I am very confident that he will right the ship and make it a great place to race again. I am sure Mr. LaPlant is getting plenty of calls from drivers and fans that are relaying the same type of things I am saying and he can form a very good opinion of what the problems truly are and make a business decision based on the wants and needs of his customers.

[Wilson8593]

First I would like to welcome Mr Laplant. It's definitely going to be nice to actually have a promoter that will communicate with you and actually care about the drivers and car owners... With that being said I hope their isn't any drastic rule changes mid season. I run a street stock and a quarter way through the year they put us on the racing tires. I wasn't a fan of the idea at first because of the cost,(130 mounted), but I actually get as many races out of these as I would a $125 radial,( plus $5 to mount then $10 to have cut),. No matter what I will be there.... And it will be nice to have a long overdue change of promoters!

[Bobby Diehl]

Just wanted to let you know....

Now THAT'S how to hi-jack a post...a real master piece...OSF

Just wanted to let you know about a GREAT deal for you and your Family. From now on I will TRY to keep from hi-jacking a post. Sorry I didn't mean to get you upset. Please remind me if I do. Thanks!!!! But I also wanted to express my thoughts from the other post and got carried away. I will move the part about the AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR SHOW at Disney World with the fantastic deal. Did I just do it again. Dang I so dumb. Thanks again I'll copy and paste it to a NEW POST!!!!! Will that be better. Oh Thanks to Rex for allowing Gary and myself to see all our old and even a bunch of new friends. Sorry we got rained out. Good car count and there where 900 A-dale fans ready to see some GREAT racing. Everyone we spoke to are ready for the NEW DEAL!!!! Gary's up to the challenge and I am ready help in any little way to get Citrus back to the old friendly race track were the stands are packed because of GREAT racing that you the racer make happen. Give Gary a call at 813 313 8741 and ask him if you have any questions.... If you have any promotion ideas I would love to have you call me. Same old number 813-817-RACE (7223). Thanks again and I hope to see you and your lovely family at DISNEY's RPM American Muscle Car Show this weekend. DANG I did it again!!!!! Sorry!!!!

[Benny The Mule]

Wow! Why would keep the same staff when they are responsible for a lot of the drivers leaving? If that staff was doing such a great job the track would be strong, not losing drivers on a regular basis. Just sayin.

Sunshine re-opening caused drivers to leave.....................

[Benny The Mule]

Gary, Good luck with your new endeavor. Citrus is a nice facility which offers great racing. I have never had anything negative to say or think about the track or staff from a fan or racer standpoint. And since i moved back from NC it is my home track now.........i see a racecar in my near future. Back at it after 15 yrs off!

[Bobby Diehl]

Benny you ae right!!!

Now if we all could get All the tracks to sit down like the old days when Don N use to run the state. Don taught me a lot and was the MAIN reason the FASTRUCK's still have the Drivers climbing the NASCAR ladder. Benny you know and remember back in the old days when the Touring Series would support the locals Teams. The Grand Stands were full at almost every track. I heard that there is one planed in September. I hope all the tracks are there. Keep up the GOOD work on what's happening!!!! YOU ARE the MAN!!!!

[victory10]

I have been there one time. tech guy lent me some lead which I appreciated. registration ladies once u get your pit pass were super kind. tire guys were very quick and decent. the 2 issues I seen that I would have and would and will keep me from coming there weekly is I seen the top 3 cars in features getting tore apart to check for whatever it is I am not sure but, for me, Im not gonna have to spend money to put my motor back together, clutch & trans back in or any other extra expenses every time I finish top 3. the cost of tires being $600, the added cost for a pit slab, the fact the electric pole was shocking my guys all night long was al & the fact I paid for my pit pass with a $100 bill, never got my change back and when I realized it and went to ask about it, I was told I must have got my change back. I KNEW exactly how much money I come with and when I added everything up from the night, I was short the change that I was told I got. That definitely pissed me off and that deal, along with this tearing stuff down every night ordeal is the reason we have not returned & I doubt we will if things will continue the way they are with post race tech & dishonesty. I spent almost $800.00 for tires, passes, etc so does it seem like I would lie or be upset over $75 in change if I did in fact get it. It was my own fault cause I had so much on my mind with never being there and trying to get everything done I needed to. I never gave it a thought and walked away. not trying to single anyone out cause I would not know the name if I wanted but I KNOW I did not get my change back & was not impressed when we left with $65 in start money.

[Boneman]

post race tech & dishonesty

Dishonesty? You are accusing them of being dishonest while also admitting to walking away without the money. Come on bud, I'd drop that one. It took two parties for this to occur. And you can't expect them to hand out money to everyone who comes over and asks for it.

As you know, post race tech is part of racing. Most racers in Florida are usually complaining because of the lack of tech at many tracks.

I've run there 5 or 6 times over the years and really liked it. Why not give it another try?

[Rick Williams]

Sportsman 50 lap next week

Todd, bring your hot rod and come try it again next Sat. 9/7 50 lap use your FUPS Membership Card and get in free!

[zerofor]

good luck gary

inverness is a good town,hopefully you can gain the town folks support.It is a nice facility but in need of a lot of upgrades,i hope you can build it back to what it could become

[openwm53]

I got this from CCS message board...posted on Flagstand

Gary Laplant has hired veteran Rick Bristol as the Director of Racing at the 1/4 mile facility. Rick will do the race directing , over see the race day operations including schedules, tech and other race day duties.

“I have known Rick for several years, and have worked with and sponsored his yearly Charity Race Weekend with Nascar’s Joey Coulter. He is a straight forward, honest person that brings fairness, firmness and consistency to the speedway. He built a great truck series in late 2011 into 2012 that gained much respect around Florida. He has worked to clear his schedule to be able to do this job for me and I am excited to have him be a part of big plans ahead at Citrus. I am confidence that this is a real positive move going forward”. stated Laplant.

“I got the call from Gary last Monday in a initial conversation, then Gary and I continued the talks and finalized the plans on Thursday evening. I am excited to step in and help Gary with his exciting future plans at Citrus. He and I have worked together the last several years on the Joey Coulter Charity 200 Race Weekend as he is one of our major sponsors. I appreciate his support and friendship and we have talked and have some great ideas and plans ahead at Citrus. He really cares about racing and wants to do some big things. You will see improvements being made on the property, and in the racing program as well as in personnel and events as we close out the 2013 season and prepare for an exciting 2014 season. We want the drivers and fans to get back to seeing Citrus as the place to race on Saturday nights and we will work very hard to make it happen. I am looking forward to getting started on September 14th” expressed Bristol.

Rick’s first event will be September 14th as he has a previous church event he can not change this close to the date. Watch for more exciting announcements and happenings in the weeks to come, as Gary begins to put into effect his plans for the future of the legendary speedway.

The Schedule through September remains this:

September 7th – FUPS, **TRUCKs (50 Laps), **SP (50 Laps), **OWM (50 Laps), MS, PS

September 14th – FUPS Late Model Series, MMS, SS, PS, F8, Dwarfs, Legends & Bandoleros

September 21st – OWM, SS, PS 50 Laps, MS, PF8

September 28th – SS, Flag Pole Race, Boat & Trailer Race, Suit Case Race, F8, MS, PS

Any changes or the firm October Schedule will be released soon.

Please stay tuned as things move forward at Citrus County Speedway.

[scottgarrity07]

Does this mean Critter has been fired???

[Winger]

Did they even have a race director before?

[openwm53]

Critter

will continue to be GM......................