IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

August 2, 2004 FSCR Mathis Wins TBARA At Ocala By Curtis Whalin The TBARA returned to Ocala Speedway to run their rain date from June. Despite an unfavorable weather forecast, 16 cars made the trip to the track to provide the near capacity crowd with two 8-lap heat races and a 25-lap feature event. As the cars for the first heat race were pushed off, a small rain shower developed, forcing the cars back to the pits. After a short rain delay the race program got back underway and Bo Hartley in the 3X took the pole for the first heat race. Bo made a good start as the track when green. At turn 3 on the first lap the 29 of Gary Gimmler made contact with another car and spun out on the high side of the track, bringing out the caution flag. The car was re-fired and a full restart saw the 3X get another start and take the lead. On lap 3, the 91 driven by David Steele passed the 3X to take first place and go on to win the heat followed by Wayne Reutimann Sr in the 99 car. Wendy Mathis took the pole for the second heat race, alongside Troy DeCaire in the 118 car starting in second. A clean heat race saw Wendy lead from start to finish with Dude Teate taking second place after starting from seventh. Wendy Mathis in the 80 car had the pole for the start of the feature race alongside Bo Hartley in the 3X. As the cars made a clean start, Wendy Mathis took an immediate lead over Bo Hartley. On lap 8, the 51 of Mark Gimmler spun coming put of turn 4 bringing out the caution flag. The car was restarted and sent to the back of the field and the race got back underway. On lap 13, David Slawiak retired the 79 car to the infield. Wendy maintained a small lead over the rest of the field as they fought their way through the remaining positions. The race ended with a jubilant Wendy Mathis taking the win followed by Wayne Reutimann Sr in the 99 in second, Dude Teate in the 68 in third, Bo Hartley in the 3X in fourth and the 66 of Ray Bragg rounding out the top 5. This is Wendy's first win of the 2004 season and her first win at Ocala. The TBARA will be at the super-fast New Smyrna Speedway next Saturday, August 7. FEATURE: 1) 80 Wendy Mathis; 2) 99 Wayne Reutimann Sr; 3) 68 Dude Teate; 4) 3X Bo Hartley; 5) 66 Ray Bragg; 6) 29 Gary Gimmler; 7) 118 Troy DeCaire; 8) 91 David Steele; 9) 22 Doug Heveron; 10) 96 Sport Allen; 11) 19 Keith Butler; 12) 10 Matt Mercer; 13) 7 John Gilbert Jr; 14) 47 Richard Waddell; 15) 51 Mark Gimmler; 16) 79 David Slawiak DNF HEAT 1 1) 91 David Steele 2) 99 Wayne Reutimann Sr 3) 22 Doug Heveron 4) 3X Bo Hartley 5) 19 Keith Butler 6) 29 Gary Gimmler 7) 51 Mark Gimmler 8) 47 Richard Waddell HEAT 2 1) 80 Wendy Mathis 2) 68 Dude Teate 3) 118 Troy DeCaire 4) 96 Sport Allen 5) 79 David Slawiak 6) 66 Ray Bragg 7) 10 Matt Mercer 8) 7 John Gilbert Jr Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! news@karnac.org or send a letter to the editor!