IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

April 5, 2004 FSCR Dick Friedley Memorial Won By Wayne Reutimann Jr. By Curtis Whalin The TBARA were at Sunshine Speedway on Saturday, April 3 for the third annual Dick Friedley memorial race. Twenty-four cars made it to the track to provide the fans with three 8-lap heat races and a 30 lap feature race. Ben Fritz in the number 16 car took the pole position for the start of the first heat race alongside Troy Decaire in the 6 car. Troy made the better start and took an immediate lead that he kept from start to finish. Wayne Reutimann Sr made his way from a fifth place starting position to finish the heat in second place. Jim Alvis who was due to be in the first heat in his 21 car retired the car with a broken drive shaft after the practice session. Wendy Mathis was the pole sitter in the number 80 car for the second heat race with Nick Manikis in the number 8 car taking the other front row slot. Wendy made a good start and got away in front. She held the race lead until the final lap when she was passed by sixth place starter Doug Heveron in the 22 car who took the heat with Wendy taking second place. The 2C of Curtis Carter sat on the pole for the third and final heat alongside Richard Waddell in the 47. The number 10 car driven by Matt Mercer was pulled to the infield during the warm up laps with what was later found to be a blown drain plug in the block and did not start the heat race. The 2C held the lead for the first lap but was passed by Stan Butler on lap 2. Stan went on to win the heat with Keith Butler in the 19 taking second. Wendy Mathis took the pole for the 30 lap feature race alongside Richard Waddell in the 47 car. At the first turn, fifteenth place starter John Gilbert Jr in the number 7 car hit the wall at turn 1 after experiencing brake problems with the car. A complete restart saw Wendy take an early lead in the 80. On lap 3, Ray Bragg retired the 66 car to the infield with what appeared to be mechanical problems. On lap 5, the race got a new leader when Stan Butler's 118 car passed Wendy Mathis to take the lead. Just one lap later, the number 51 car driven by Mark Gimmler spun at turn 2, bringing out the caution flag while he was restarted. The race was back underway when the 79 of David Slawiak and the 18 of Shane Butler made contact that left the 18 in a spin at turn 3. After a quick inspection of the car, he was restarted and joined the back of the field. On lap 9, the 80 car driven by Wendy Mathis blew a valve cover gasket and she retired it to the infield. On lap 10, Wayne Reutimann Jr in the 00 car took the lead from Stan Butler in the 118. Bill Pettijohn retired his number 44 car to the infield on lap 14 followed by Ben Fritz in the number 16 car on lap 18. The last retiree of the race was Keith Butler who brought his car to the infield on lap 24. Wayne Reutimann Jr went on to win the race in the 00 car with Stan Butler in the 118 taking second place. Dude Teate took third place in the 68, Wayne Reutimann Sr in the 99 car came in fourth with the 22 driven by Doug Heveron rounding out the top five. The next TBARA race will be at Bronson Motor Speedway on Saturday, April 17, 2003. FEATURE RESULTS: 1) 00 Wayne Reutimann Jr; 2) 118 Stan Butler; 3) 68 Dude Teate; 4) 99 Wayne Reutimann Sr; 5) 22 Doug Heveron; 6) 79 David Slawiak; 7) 29 Gary Gimmler; 8) 10 Matt Mercer; 9) 18 Shane Butler; 10) 3X Bo Hartley; 11) 6 Troy DeCaire; 12) 51 Mark Gimmler; 13) 47 Richard Waddell; 14) 8 Nick Manikis; 15) 11 Tra Pissott; 16) 6F Joe Liguori; 17) 2C Curtis Carter; 18) 19 Keith Butler DNF; 19) 16 Ben Fritz DNF; 20) 44 Bill Pettijohn DNF; 21) 80 Wendy Mathis DNF; 22) 66 Ray Bragg DNF; 23) 7 John Gilbert Jr DNF Heat race non-starter: 21 Jim Alvis HEAT 1 1) 6 Troy DeCaire 2) 99 Wayne Reutimann Sr 3) 79 David Slawiak 4) 68 Dude Teate 5) 51 Mark Gimmler 6) 16 Ben Fritz 7) 7 John Gilbert Jr 8) 21 Jim Alvis (DNS) HEAT 2 1) 22 Doug Heveron 2) 80 Wendy Mathis 3) 00 Wayne Reutimann Jr 4) 18 Shane Butler 5) 3X Bo Hartley 6) 66 Ray Bragg 7) 8 Nick Manikis 8) 44 Bill Pettijohn HEAT 3 1) 118 Stan Butler 2) 19 Keith Butler 3) 29 Gary Gimmler 4) 47 Richard Waddell 5) 6F Joe Liguori 6) 11 Tra Pissott 7) 2C Curtis Carter 8) 10 Matt Mercer (DNS) Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! news@karnac.org or send a letter to the editor!