Bradenton, Fl. The fifth annual Dick Friedly Memorial race rolled into DeSoto Super Speedway for the first time in its history. The race is named after long time official for the series handling everything from the photo’s to scoring.
The first three races were held at Sunshine Speedway with Sport Allen taking the first trophy. Joey Aguilar won the second event and Wayne Reutimann Jr won the final race at Sunshine. The race then moved to Charlotte County Speedway and saw long time TQ Midget driver Gary Gimmler take the win.
Twenty-seven of the high powered machines took to the track for three qualifying heat races. With wild slicing and dicing during the eight lap events Jimmy Alvis, Troy DeCaire and Bo Hartley was the top three for heat one. Heat two saw Micheal Smith, Wayne Reutimann Jr and Larry J. Brazil finished in that order with Keith Butler winning heat three followed by Mark Gimmler and Danny Martin Jr.
Twenty-five cars rolled out for the thirty five-lap feature. When the field lined up for the four wide salute to the fans the crowd rose to their feet with applause. The racers then formed the “Missing Man” formation in memory of Mr.Friedly.
It took two tries to get the feature underway and it was Mark Gimmler taking the lead. The action heated up quickly as several yellows flew. Most of the problems were in turn four, as cars would spin down into the infield kicking up large clouds of dust.
Danny Martin Jr. looked like the man on the move as was cruising through the field getting up to the third spot before mechanical woes would end his night and finishing 18th.
The save of the night went to Wayne Reutimann Jr. as he was battling Jimmy Alvis, going into turn three the two touched tires sending Reutimann sliding hard towards the wall. Hard on the binders he was not only able to keep it off but also was on the gas and never lost a spot.
Up front Gimmler was able to hold off everything that was thrown at him cruising to the checkered flag joining his brother Gary Gimmler as winners in the Dick Friedly Memorial. Stan Butler took second, third across the stripe Wayne Reutimann Jr. fourth went to Jimmy Alvis and fifth Larry Brazil.
Q Auto and Injury OWM Wayne “the Rocketman” Jefferson has been on a roller coaster since his victory in the “Leroy Porter Icebreaker 125” Super Late Model race. Two more hard fought top tens in the next two races and the birth of he and his wife Paula’s first child Chase has kept Jefferson going in a whirl wind of emotions.
Jefferson returned to the Modified ranks for the nights 50 lap feature and would take fast time for the race. “I want to dedicate this to my son who is still in the hospital but should be home this week” said The Rocketman.
Four rows were inverted by the roll of the die putting Eric Rudd and Dustin Chisholm on the front row. It was Rudd who jumped out to the early lead.
It wasn’t long before Jefferson had made his way through the pack and took over the top spot. It looked like he would drive away when on a restart he slowed and pulled into the infield. Jefferson quickly rejoined the tail end of the field and roared back towards the front with his apparent mechanical woes gone. Tate Pierce took over the top spot but it wasn’t long before Jefferson made his way back through the pack and in the second spot. Pierce had built up a good lead but a late race caution bunched the field up.
What looked like a brewing battle ended as the green flag came out, the axle on Jefferson’s car failed sending him to infield for the night giving him and 11th place finish.
Pierce had his handsful in the closing laps as Ralph Bowmen closed in for a run at the lead but it was Pierce holding on for the win. Bowmen settled for second, with a solid run in third it was Tommy Younkman, fourth went to Eric Rudd and fifth Dustin Chisholm.
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