by Marty Little
BRADENTON, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Area Racing Association was back in action Saturday night for the first time since mid April and they put on a dazzling display on the high banks of DeSoto Super Speedway. Former series champion Bo Hartley had everything working to perfection this night as he held off David Steele for his first victory of the season in the 30 lap caution free headliner.
Hartley began his run from the seventh slot in the 23 car field as Tommy Nichols hustled to the lead in his No. 55 at the drop of the green flag while those behind him sliced and diced for position. Hartley overhauled Nichols for the top spot on lap 11 but behind him Joey Aguilar, Steele and Troy DeCaire were fighting their way forward.
While Hartley was putting good distance on the field Steele worked past Aguilar for second and began his now familiar rundown of the leader. In the closing laps it looked like Steele might pull off yet another late race victory, but Hartley was up to the challenge and held off Steele for a close victory. Aguilar checkered third ahead of Shane Butler and DeCaire. Heat race wins went to Larry Brazil, Nichols and Aguilar.
The TBARA '09 Tour next races at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola on Friday, July 10 then travels west to Mobile International Speedway in Irvington, Ala. the following night. It will mark the first time in 25 years that TBARA has visited the high banks of Five Flags and the two lightning quick tracks should provide an exciting show for the Gulf Coast race fans.
Complete Results.
First heat (8 laps) - 1. Larry Brazil, 2. Dude Teate, 3. David Steele, 4. Bo Hartley, 5. Greg Leonard, 6. Wendy Mathis, 7. Bill Pettijohn, 8. Sonny Hartley, 9. Skeeter Faulconer.
Second heat ( 8 laps) - 1. Tommy Nichols, 2. Ben Fritz, 3.Mickey Kempgens, 4. Shane Butler, 5. Dave Shotsberger, 6. Jimmy Alvis, 7. Frank Hurst, 8. Traci DeCaire.
Third heat ( 8 laps) - 1. Joey Aguilar, 2. Troy DeCaire, 3. Dustin Perez, 4. Brad Davis, 5. Steve Heisler, 6. Bobby Rose, 7. Frankie Hurst.
Feature (30 laps) - 1. B. Hartley, 2. Steele, 3. Aguilar, 4. Butler, 5. Troy DeCaire, 6. Teate, 7. Kempgens, 8. Davis, 9. Fritz, 10. Nichols, 11. Leonard, 12. Shotsberger, 13. Brazil, 14. Mathis, 15. Heisler, 16. Perez, 17. Alvis, 18. Traci DeCaire, 19. Pettijohn, 20. Frank Hurst, 21. Rose, 22. Faulconer, 23. Frankie Hurst. DNS - S. Hartley and John Anderson.
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