Brian Gingras tops TBARA at Citrus County Speedway

INVERNESS, Fla. –  Brian Gingras took the lead from Larry Brazil on lap 18 and sped to his first TBARA sprint car feature event of the season in the 30 lap run. While Gingras won the battle sixth finishing Shane Butler won the war to become the 2010 series champion.

 

Brazil paced the 17 car field from his outside front row starting position but a yellow flag waved on lap 2 when Sonny Hartley hit the turn one wall and went airborne out of the park. He landed on all fours and was not injured and the car sustained minimal damage as well.

 

On the restart it was still the second generation Brazil in command with Gingras and others working toward the front. A quick yellow flag on lap 13 for debris on the track regrouped the field but it was back to green but five laps later yet another yellow flew for the spinning car of point leader Butler. By this time Gringras was on Brazil’s back bumper and on the restart Gingras zipped by Brazil and into the lead. Dude Teate, who has been red hot the second half of the season worked by Brazil for second but Gingras was very strong this night.

 

On lap 25 the final yellow flag of the evening waved for Ben Fritz as he looped his bright red mount with no damage and was able to restart. When the green reappeared it was all Gingras as he ran the final few laps out front over Teate, Brazil, Ray Bragg, Jr. and rookie Brian Riddle. The second five consisted of Butler, Bo Hartley, Mickey Kempgens, Johnny Gilbertson and Fritz.

 

Heat race victories fell to Brazil and Fritz.

 

First heat (8 laps) – 1. Johnny Gilbertson, 2. Shane Butler, 3. Dakotah Stevens, 4. Bryan Riddle, 5. Matt Hall, 6. Frankie Hurst, 7. Tommy Nichols.

 

Second heat (8 laps) – 1. Ben Fritz, 2. Brian Gingras, 3. Ray Bragg, Jr., 4. Dude Teate, 5. Sonny Hartley, 6. Bo Hartley, 7. Tony Carino, 8. Larry Brazil, Jr. 9. Skeeter Faulconer.

 

Feature (30 laps) – 1. Gingras, 2. Teate, 3. Brazil, 4. Bragg, Jr., 5. Riddle, 6. Butler, 7. B. Hartley, 8. Kempgens, 9. Gilbertson, 10. Fritz, 11. Carino, 12. Hall, 13. Brazil, Jr., 14. Faulconer, 15. Hurst, 16. S. Hartley, 17. Nichols DNS, 18. Stephens DQ.