IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

March 20, 2005 FSCR David Steele tops TBARA Outlaw Winged Sprints at Columbia By Curtis Whalen A total of 16 TBARA winged sprint cars made the long journey to Colombia Motorsports Speedway on March 19, 2005. Randy Woodall in the 5W took the pole for the start of the first of two races, with Gary Gimmler in the 29 car alongside on the front row. The 29 made the better start and took the race lead. Gary stretched out in front of the field and led the heat from start to finish with third place starter Jeff Van Duesen in the 99K taking second place. Wendy Mathis in the 80 car sat on the pole for the start of the second heat race. Wendy took the early race lead. On lap 2 one of the side panels on the top wing of the 18 car driven by Shane Butler flew off at turn one. Shane retired the car to the pits and the panel was recovered from the track. The 59 car driven by Dan Statter retired to the pits on lap 3. A battle for first place was taking place between Wendy Mathis in the 80, John Gilbert Jr in the 7 car running in second place and Ray Bragg in the 66 in a close third. At turn 3 of lap 6, both the 7 and the 66 looked either side of the lead car and it was the 66 that able to make the pass and take the race lead. The 66 went on to win the heat with Wendy Mathis settling for second place. Wendy Mathis took her second pole start of the evening at the start of the feature race. Ray Bragg in the 66 car was alongside. The first race start was waved off due to an uneven start. Under the caution, Bo Hartley stopped the 3X on the front straightaway for an inspection of some tire damage that he got during the 4 abreast parade lap. The right rear tire had a gash in it and as the track staff were preparing to push him to the infield the pack came around turn 4 and fired off as if to start the race. Luckily everyone was able to avoid the cars and the they slowed at turn one. The 3X was pushed off the tire was changed and he rejoined the field for the second official race start. The second start was good and third place starter Jeff VanDeusen in the 99K took the race lead. On race lap 5, Dan Statter retired the 59 car to the pits. On race lap 7, race leader Jeff VanDeusen in the 99K blew an engine going into turn 3 and spun to a smoky stop between turns 3 and 4. Most of the field got around the car, but the 66 of Ray Bragg spun in some of the spilled oil and spun to stop just in front of the stricken 99K. The 66 also suffered a flat right rear, but was able to change the tire and return to the race under the caution flag while the oil spill was being cleaned. John Gilbert Jr was the new race leader when the track got back to green, but his lead was short lived when he was passed by David Slawiak in the 68 car on the same lap. On the first lap after the restart, Wendy Mathis retired the 80 car to the pits. On lap 11, the 3X brushed the wall at turn one and retired to the infield due to the damage to the car. The caution came out on lap 14 and the 118 car driven by Troy DeCaire and the 3Y driven by Sonny Hartley were both retired from the race due to oil leaks. On lap 17, the caution flag was brought out again for an oil leak, this time on the 18 car driven by Shane Butler, who retired to the pits. The race got back underway with David Slawiak still leading the way in the 68 car, with David Steele in the 91 car close behind. On lap 27, David Steele was able to make a pass on the 68 and take the race lead. On the last lap, the 7 driven by John Gilbert Jr ran out of fuel and he did not take the checkered flag. David Steele took his fifth feature win of the 2005 TBARA season, with the 68 of David Slawiak in second, Dude Teate in the 0 car came in third, Keith Butler in the 19 car finished fourth and while the 33 car driven by Lee Cipray finished the race in fifth position he was later disqualified for failing to report to the tech area after the race and the fifth place finishing position went to Ray Bragg in the 66. The next TBARA event is the Dick Friedley Memorial race scheduled for April 2, 2005 at Charlotte County Speedway. TBARA Colombia Motorsports Speedway, March 19, 2005 HEAT 1 1) 29 Gary Gimmler 2) 99K Jeff Van Deusen 3) 19 Keith Butler 4) 68 David Slawiak 5) 0 Dude Teate 6) 91 David Steele 7) 5W Randy Woodall 8) 118 Troy DeCaire HEAT 2 1) 66 Ray Bragg 2) 80 Wendy Mathis 3) 7 John Gilbert Jr 4) 3X Bo Hartley 5) 33 Lee Cipray 6) 3Y Sonny Hartley 7) 59 Dan Statter 8) 18 Shane Butler FEATURE 1) 91 David Steele; 2) 68 David Slawiak; 3) 0 Dude Teate; 4) 19 Keith Butler; 5) 66 Ray Bragg; 6) 7 John Gilbert Jr (DNF); 7) 5W Randy Woodall; 8) 18 Shane Butler (DNF); 9) 118 Troy DeCaire (DNF); 10) 3Y Sonny Hartley (DNF); 11) 3X Bo Hartley (DNF); 12) 99K Jeff Van Deusen (DNF); 13) 80 Wendy Mathis (DNF); 14) 59 Dan Statter (DNF) The 33 driven by Lee Cipray crossed the line in fifth position but was later disqualified for failing to report to the tech area. The motor broke on the 29 of Gary Gimmler after the heat races and the car was not able to start the feature. Have an opinion on this story? 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