| TBARA Sprints Light Up Bronson Motor Speedway | By Curtis Whalin
The TBARA made their first trip of the season to Bronson Speedway on April 16. The evenings’ action began in the first practice session when the number 14 car driven by Ross Fedor caught the back of the 3X car, sending the 14 car up the track at turn 1, using the crash barriers as a ramp and getting some air to land in the catch fence.
The driver was taken to the hospital as a precaution but was later released with no serious injury. The car was beyond repair for the night’s race.
J. J. Dutton in the 6F was to have sat on the pole for the start of the first heat race, but the car spun during the hot laps and had to be re-pushed, sending him to the rear of the field and handing the pole seat to Mark Gimmler in the 51 car.
The 18 car of Shane Butler was alongside on the front row and made the better start to take the race lead on lap one. Shane managed to keep a hold of the lead and won the heat with the 51 taking second place. The second heat saw Ray Bragg in the 66 starting from the pole position next to David Steele in the 91 car in second.
The 2 front row cars stayed side by side until turn three when the 66 was able to edge in front and take the race lead. The 75 car driven by Curtis Sutton pulled off on the last race lap, while the 66 went on to take the heat with David Steele in the 91 having to settle for second place. Gary Gimmler in the 29 car took the pole seat for the third heat alongside Dude Teate in the 0 car.
In an exciting first lap, the front two rows stayed two abreast and on full throttle until half way through turn 3 of the first lap, when the 0 was able to edge ahead and take the lead. It was still another lap before the field got to single file. On turn 4 of lap 5, the 19 car spun on it’ own and came to a stop in the infield. The car was not restarted and the race got back to green. Dude Teate took the heat win in the 0 car with third place starter David Slawiak in the 68 taking second.
In a repeat of the third heat race, Gary Gimmler in the 29 car sat on the pole for the start of the 30 lap feature race, with Dude Teate in the 0 car alongside on the front row. This time it was the 29 car that made a better start and took the race lead.
The 41 car driven by Stan Butler retired on lap 3 due to the car having no power steering. On lap 4, the 75 car driven by Curtis Sutton spun coming out of turn 4 bringing out the caution flag while he was pushed back off. Also under the caution flag, the 18 car of Shane Butler was stopped by the race officials on the front straightaway with a loose wing strut.
The strut was secured and he rejoined the race. The race went back to green with the 29 car still in the lead. The 59 car driven by Dan Statter retired to the infield on race lap 9, followed by the 75 car on race lap 12.
On race lap 17, the 6F driven by J.J. Dutton got a flat tire and got into the dirt at the bottom of the track, bringing out the second caution flag of the evening while the track was cleaned off and the car retired to the infield. The cars got back to racing, the 29 car was still the race leader.
On lap 18, the 19 car of Keith Butler retired with motor problems. The 6X driven by Frank Scimeca was the last retirement of the evening on race lap 28. The feature win went to Gary Gimmler in the 29 car who led the race from start to finish. Second place went to Dude Teate in the 0 car, third place was David Slawiak in the 68 car, followed by Shane Butler in the 18 car and David Steele in the 91 car rounded out the top 5.
The next TBARA race is in 2 weeks time at New Smyrna Speedway on April 30. Hope you can make it.
HEAT 1
1) 18 Shane Butler
2) 51 Mark Gimmler
3) 3Y Sonny Hartley
4) 6F J J Dutton
5) 6X Frank Scimeca
6) 5W Randy Woodall - DNS
HEAT 2
1) 66 Ray Bragg
2) 91 David Steele
3) 3X Bo Hartley
4) 6 Skeeter Faulconer
5) 59 Dan Statter
6) 75 Curtis Sutton
HEAT 3
1) 0 Dude Teate
2) 68 David Slawiak
3) 29 Gary Gimmler
4) 118 Troy DeCair
5) 19 Keith Butler
6) 41 Stan Butler - DNS
FEATURE
1) 29 Gary Gimmler; 2) 0 Dude Teate; 3) 68 David Slawiak; 4) 18 Shane Butler; 5) 91 David Steele; 6) 66 Ray Bragg; 7) 118 Troy DeCaire; 8) 3X Bo Hartley; 9) 51 Mark Gimmler; 10) 3Y Sonny Hartley; 11) 6 Skeeter Faulconer; 12) 6X Frank Scimeca (DNF); 13) 19 Keith Butler (DNF); 14) 6F J J Dutton (DNF); 15) 75 Curtis Sutton (DNF); 16) 59 Dan Statter (DNF); 17) 41 Stan Butler (DNF)
The 5W of Randy Woodall did not start the feature as it had low oil pressure.
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