Grek Kaouk Gets First Late Model Sportsman Win in 2003 at Hialeah Speedway
by Marty Little HIALEAH, Fla. - Sprint car rookie Mark Gimmler took advantage of a fellow competitors sour luck and sped to his first career Tampa Bay Area Racing Assn. 25 lap feature event Saturday night at Hialeah Speedway.
Shane Butler put his bright red No. 18 out front at the drop of the green flag and appeared headed for victory when a spin by brother Keith Butler triggered a four car melee and brought out a red flag on lap 17. Keith Butler had spun to the infield but showered the track with debris and the cars of second running Gary Gimmler, Dude Teate and Doug Heveron all made contact and were finished for the evening. While waiting for the damaged cars to be cleared, Shane Butler discovered that his right rear tire was going flat so he had to move from the racing surface and change the tire then restart from the rear of the field. This put Mark Gimmler on the point and the first year sprint pilot never looked back as he led the final eight laps over Shane Butler, Keith Butler, John Sambor and Skeeter Faulconer to the stripe.
The crash filled late model sportsman 25 lap headliner saw Charlie Coyle in command from the pole with Joe Winchell shadowing his every move around the flat third-mile oval. On lap 16 Coyle spun in turn four and was facing traffic. He refired the car and headed the wrong way toward turn three in an attempt to turn around and was hit head on by rookie John Namor, ending the night for both drivers. Winchell was sent to the back of the field for the Coyle incident as Grek Kaouk gained the top spot on lap 17 and drove to his first win of the season in front of Tim Shaffner, Stuart Robertson, Danny Maddox and Clint Wasteney.
In his strongest showing of the season, Roger Pfau turned back all challengers to win the 25 lap cyclone main. Ken Rickert paced the 28 car field for the first 19 rounds until Pfau made the pass for the top spot and was never headed enroute to his first win this season. Rickert claimed second money over Timmy Ryan, Mike Powers and George Morales.
Tony Barreca proved the best of the street stock set as he got the lead early and motored away from Chad Rutherford, Sean Bulaskas, Travis McCoy and T.C. McElyea in the 25 lap contest.
The short field of mini stocks went 15 laps with point leader S.C. Klinger notching his fourth win of the season in front of Bill Calder, Tommy Styer and Peter Lloyd. - 30 -
