| Steele Sweeps TBARA Weekend! | Friday At Orlando Speedworld and Saturday at DeSoto
Curtis Whalin
As the end of the 2005 race season approaches, the TBARA made their way to Desoto Super Speedway for the Halloween weekend. Twenty-four cars signed in for the event.
Last years Rookie of the Year, Troy DeCaire, had the pole for the start of the first of three heat races in the number 41 car. The 29 of Gary Gimmler took the other front row position. The 41 took the race lead at the start and led from start to finish with the 29 car finishing in second.
The number 80 car driven by Wendy Mathis retired to the infield on lap 4 of the heat. Heat race number two saw David Retzlaff in the 90 car and Mark Gimmler in the 51 car on the front row. The 51 car made the better start and took the race lead from start to finish, with the 3X of Bo Hartley finishing in second place. Dan Statter in the 6F sat on the pole for the start of the third and final heat race, with Randy Woodall in the 5W alongside.
It was the 5W that took the race lead at the start. On lap 4, the 6F pulled into the infield and retired from the race. In lap 5, the 03 car spun at turn 4 bringing out the caution flag while he was pushed back off.
As the cars passed the start/finish line on the single file restart and headed into turn one, the 19 of Keith Butler, which was running in second place after originally starting 5th, made a move and passed the 5W to take the race lead. The 19 car went on to win the heat and the 5W had to settle for second place.
The cars took to the track for the feature event, and after some hot laps and the signature 4-abreast parade salute to the fans lap, the cars lined up behind the pole sitter David Retzlaff in the number 90 car with Troy DeCaire in the 41 car on the outside.
As the cars fired up coming out of turn 4, it was the 41 of Troy DeCaire that came out of turn one, lap one as the race leader. It was a fast paced race with the back markers getting lapped as early as lap 3. On race lap 7, the number 18 car being driven by Heather Rehm retired to the infield. She was followed on race lap 11 by the 5W of Randy Woodall and the 3V driven by Sonny Hartley, and on lap 15 by the 6F Dan Statter.
On lap 16, the 19 car of Keith Butler stopped at the bottom of the track at turn two with a broken driveline. The caution flag was thrown while he was pushed off the track and into the infield. The race got back to green with the 41 still the race leader. The 12 car driven by Dave Oblinger retired from the race on race lap 17.
The second caution of the race was on lap 24 when the 51 of Mark Gimmler spun coming out of turn four. He was pushed back off and rejoined the race. On the restart of lap 24, the 66 of Ray Bragg hit the wall at turn two after making contact with another car. The caution flag was put out while the car was removed from the track. While under the caution flag, the 03 of Tommy Nicols and the 67 of Tommy Rice were black flagged for being three laps down.
The remaining 16 cars lined up for the restart with the 41 in the lead position, followed by Gary Gimmler in the 29 and David Steele in the 91. As the cars got back to racing, David Steele began to move up the field, passing on the outside line and gaining second position, hot on the exhaust pipes of the 41.
On lap 29, the 118 slowed down and pulled off the track at turn two. As the cars passed the start/finish line for the start of the final lap, the 91 was coming up alongside the 41 and was able to make the move stick and take the lead at turn one on the last lap, and to take home the win. The 41 finished in second place, with the 29 of Gary Gimmler in third, Bo Hartley in the 3X finished in fourth and the 21B of Larry Jay Brazil Jr. was in fifth.
The next TBARA race will be at Citrus County Speedway on November 5th and the last race of the season will be at Punta Gorda on November 12th. And be sure and visit the TBARA Web Site for more information.
HEAT 1
1) 41 Troy DeCaire
2) 29 Gary Gimmler
3) 91 David Steele
4) 118 Stan Butler
5) 68 Kyle Nicholas
6) 3V Sonny Hartley
7) 18 Heather Rehm
8) 80 Wendy Mathis
HEAT 2
1) 51 Mark Gimmler
2) 3X Bo Hartley
3) 66 Ray Bragg
4) 90 David Retzlaff
5) 2 Scott Adema
6) 88T Brad Davis
7) 42 Paulie Milum
8) 67 Tommy Rice
HEAT 3
1) 19 Keith Butler
2) 5W Randy Woodall
3) 1X John Anderson
4) 21B Larry Jay Brazil, Jr.
5) 9X Michael Smith
6) 12 Dave Oblinger
7) 03 Tommy Nicols
8) 6F Dan Statter
FEATURE
1) 91 David Steele; 2) 41 Troy DeCaire; 3) 29 Gary Gimmler; 4) 3X Bo Hartley; 5) 21B Larry Jay Brazil Jr.; 6) 88T Brad Davis; 7) 90 David Retzlaff; 8) 2 Scott Adema; 9) 68 Kyle Nicholas; 10) 51 Mark Gimmler; 11) 80 Wendy Mathis; 12) 42 Paulie Milum; 13) 1X John Anderson; 14) 9X Michael Smith; 15) 118 Stan Butler (DNF); 16) 66 Ray Bragg (DNF); 17) 67 Tommy Rice (DNF); 18) 03 Tommy Nicols (DNF); 19) 12 Dave Oblinger (DNF); 20) 19 Keith Butler (DNF); 21) 6F Dan Statter (DNF); 22) 3V Sonny Hartley (DNF); 23) 5W Randy Woodall (DNF); 24) 18 Heather Rehm (DNF)
Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board!
<news@karnac.org>or send a letter to the editor!
|
