"I'm
noticing a turn of the tide on racing Web sites like Florida's
Karnac.com, the gathering place for the most dedicated race
fans in the state." -Orlando Sentinel
Super Sprint David Steele wins TBARA Opener at Citrus
by Larry MacMillan
If the car count in the TBARA Sprint Car season opener is any indication of what is to come in 2009 then they are going to have a terrific season ahead. Thirty of these high speed winged rockets turned up the horsepower qualifying for their 24 car 30 lap feature. Three heats and a B main later Bo Hartley took the pole and set the early pace with 5th starter David Steele took his time moving around the front four with Hartley spinning off turn 3 & 4 to bring on a caution sending him to the rear of the field.
Steele finished off the rest of the field on the restart despite pressure from runner up Troy DeCaire to go on to take the first win of the season for the TBARA 2009 season. Two bad wrecks marred the high speed qualifying and main event. Ben Fritz seemed to have the B Main under control from the green flag until he and Wendy Mathis connected going into turn one putting Fritz up on the wall which he rode for about 100 feet before going over in his brand new ride that suffered a lot of damage.
In the feature Bo Hartley took a wild ride from the rear of the field over the turn 2 wall rolling in mid air but was able to walk away from the scary wreck. Joey Aquilar, D.J. Hoelzle, Gary Gimmler, Dakotah Stephens, Mickey Kempgens, Shane Butler, Larry Brazil and Blaze Martin locked in the top ten spots at the checkered flag.
Seventy seven local racers opened up the season for 4 of the regular divisions that will be racing for points in 2009. Twenty eight cars took the green flag for the Street Stock first feature of the year and it looked like a demolition derby from the get go. Jay Witfoth launched his racer off the pole and managed to avoid the mayhem that brought out 10 caution flags in the first 10 laps before time ran out on the scheduled 20 lap or 20 minute race for the win. Mike Ruff, Tim Alexander, Brett Jenkins and David Foster locked in the top ten spots. Heat wins went to Witfoth, Jason Murphree and Frank Stromquist.
Mini Stocks brought in 14 cars which set them up for a 25 lap feature only. Robbie Yoakam started 10th but wasted no time challenging 7th starter Clint Foley in a run for the checkers in the late going. They battle for 5 laps in a side by side battle before Robbie put the hammer down an took the win in their first points race of the year. Foley settled for second followed by 14th starter Mike Lawhorn 4th starter Mark Powers who was involved in 4 car wreck in the early going. Chris Harvey locked down a 5th place finish from his 9th starting spot.
Tommy Smith flew from 18th to Victory Lane in the first Pure Stock point race of the season while pole sitter James Peters looked like he was going to put the 22 car field away from the drop of the green but had to settle for second at the finish line. Chad Markland stayed in the top five throughout the race and finished third ahead of Richie Smith who started 17th and Cory Swanston settled for fifth after winning the second heat. Smith took the win in the first heat.
Fourteen Rookies showed up for their first race of the year in the V8 Thunder Stock division. Pole sitter Mathew Harris took a flag to flag win while the rest of the field fought to feel out the track and gain some confidence in their driving skills in traffic. Levi Roberts looked like a pro weaving his way through the traffic from his 11th starting spot to put pressure on the leader right to the checkered flag for a second place finish. Jamie Shahid started third and finished third ahead of Richard Wilder in his first ride with Chris Watson rounding out the top five.
The Desoto Champ Kart Series brought in 20 karts and put on a 20 lap show and they worked the 3/8th mile oval at full throttle throughout their main event. Romay Venta took the win in both his heat and the feature with Dustin Chisholm in hot pursuit at the finish line. Rounding out the top five were Kender Brown, Troy DeCaire and Phil Harp. Troy did double duty in his sprint car and going back to his beginnings in a go kart.
Rounding out the opening night of racing action were 11 Bass Pro Challenge Cars rolling for a 25 lap main event. Pole sitter Jarrett Snowden showed the field how to get to Victory Lane as he took the win from flag to flag. Daniel Miller was the only driver that had anything for him and had to settle for a second place finish. Rounding out the top five were Paul White, Jerry Heflin in an Open Wheel Lite from the back end of the pack and Tim Forbes from Canada.
Week two of the 2009 season will feature all local drivers opening up the season for Open Wheel Modifieds and Sportsman division plus Mini Stocks, Pure Stocks, V8 Thunder Stocks and the first race for the 4 Cylinder Bombers. Citrus County Speedway will race through February 28th before taking the off for most of the month of March for the Citrus County Fair. Doug Rose will close out the month of February with the Green Mamba Jet car blowing away a derelict car plus the Super Late Models will see their first race of the season.
