Citrus Nationals at PBIR

Words and photos by Steve Gruenwald

For those of us living in the wind-swept subarctic wasteland of the Midwest, locked in what can seem to be an endless Winter, it can be hard to imagine a time and place where Persephone is free and at peace. Even worse, the racing season is called on account of glaciers, depriving racers and their fans of the heady nitrous fumes that so satisfyingly bring the mind to thoughts of quarter miles and fast passes. Fortunately Florida, land of oranges and alligators has one last race to offer tide us over the long winter: the Citrus Nationals, held at Palm Beach International Raceway from November 27 - 29.

Bill Evans drove his Evans Petroleum A/Fueler to a convincing win at the Citrus Nationals. After qualifying second behind Bruce Hoerner, Evans stunned the Sunday crowd with a great 5.241-272.78 pass over Canadian Jeff Veale in the first round. He received a bye in the second round and met Robin Samsel in the final.

Samsel ran 5.444-263 to stop a rod kicking Don Fiorelli in round one. He used a 5.49-267 to end Hoerner’s day. In the all A/F final Evans outran Samsel 5.46-267.65 to a 5.554-258.41 for the title.  

Frank Cersosimo put a whipping on the Pro Mod field at this year’s Citrus Nationals. He qualified number one with a 4.14-177 pass when others struggled to get down the track. His nitrous 738ci ‘99 Dodge Avenger was deadly consistent, running quicker each round. He stopped Wayne King Jr. in the first round with a 4.126-177.49, Jimmy Marino’s Mustang with a 4.125-177.44, and a great 4.103-174.59 to stop the El General ‘07 Pontiac of Pedro Apolito who ran a 4.323-164.67.