"Rookie driver Mark Gimmler gets his first race wn"
Hialeah Speedway was the venue for the 10th round of the TBARA winged sprint cars 2003 calendar. 12 cars turned out for the race at Hialeah. There were two heat races of 8 laps each. The first heat saw Gary Gimmler in his 29 car take the lead on lap one from a second place starting position and go on to win the heat, whilst the 22 car driven by Doug Heveron retired from the heat on lap 3 when mag rotor broke. The 18 car of Shane Butler took the pole for heat two and led the race from start to finish. The 47 car pulled into the infield and retired from the heat on lap 5.
The 33C of John Sambor held the pole for the start of the 25 lap feature race, but was passed early on lap one by second place starter Shane Butler in the 18. On lap 2, the number 2 car driven by Scott Adema made tire contact with another car, which put him into the wall at turn one and ended his race for the night. Once the 2 car had been removed from the track, the trace resumed with the 18 in the lead and Gary Gimmler in the 29 car close behind.
On lap 13, the 19 car driven by Keith Butler, spun on the back straightaway, but Keith managed to keep the car running and continued on. However, the spin by the 19 appeared to have thrown some debris onto the track, and when the leaders came around seconds later on lap 14, a cloud of dust settled to reveal that the 29 of Gary Gimmler had spun on the back straightaway and came to a stop facing the wrong direction, the 68 driven by Dude Teate had come to a rest in the infield and the 22 car driven by Doug Heveron had made some contact with the wall on the back straightaway but had been able to limp off the track.
The red flag was thrown whilst the cars were assessed. All three cars were retired from the race. Also at this time, the 18 car which had been leading the race, had a flat right rear from driving over some debris, but was able to get a new tire fitted and get back to the track before the race was restarted. However, the 18 would have to start at the rear of the field as it had left the track and been worked on in the pits. Once all of the cars had been cleared from the track, the race was resumed with the 51 car of Mark Gimmler in the lead.
Shane Butler in the 18 car made a good come back attempt from his fifth place restart position, but had to settle for second place when he was unable to stop Mark Gimmler in the 51 car from getting his first win with the TBARA.
The TBARA race next weekend, May 10, at Sunshine Speedway with the 2nd annual 30 lap Dick Friedley Memorial race.
HEAT 1
1) 29 Gary Gimmler 2) 2 Scott Adema 3) 33c John Sambor 4) 6 Skeeter Faulconer 5) 3 Richard Burnett 6) 22 Doug Heveron
HEAT 2 1) 18 Shane Butler 2) 51 Mark Gimmler 3) 68 Dude Teate 4) 19 Keith Butler 5) 6F Bill Pettijohn 6) 47 Richard Waddell
FEATURE
1) 51 Mark Gimmler; 2) 18 Shane Butler; 3) 19 Keith Butler; 4) 33c John Sambor; 5) 6 Skeeter Faulconer; 6) 47 Richard Waddell; 7) 6F Bill Pettijohn; 8) 3 Richard Burnett; 9) 29 Gary Gimmler DNF; 10) 68 Dude Teate DNF; 11) 22 Doug Heveron DNF; 12) 2 Scott Adema DNF
