by Marty Little
BRADENTON, Fla. – Veteran Sonny Hartley drove around Tommy Nichols on lap 16 and sped to his first TBARA feature victory in several season Saturday night’s 30 lap sprint car headliner at DeSoto Super Speedway.
Things got off to a rough start in the feature when outside front row starter Dakotah Stephens broke an axle and spun in front of the field on the first lap. The ensuing melee took out point leader Shane Butler, Dude Teate, Troy DeCaire and Stephens.
When the green waved following the clean up it was pole sitter Steve Heisler out front with Hartley, Tommy Nichols and Johnny Gilbertson in tow. Nichols quickly worked around Hartley for second but a caution waved on lap five when leader Heisler looped his mount to put Nichols in front over Hartley.
The field reformed and it was Nichols the point man but Hartley was on his game this night and kept the pressure on before making a pass for the lead on lap 16. Once in front it was no contest as Hartley motored away until a yellow waved for debris on lap 28. The offending trash was removed from the racing surface and Hartley never looked back, taking his No. 27 to the checkers ahead of Nichols, Larry Brazil, Jr., Bo Hartley and Ben Fritz.
Heat race victories went to DeCaire and Gilbertson.
Feature finish (30 laps) – 1. Sonny Hartley, 2. Tommy Nichols, 3. Larry Brazil, Jr. 4. Bo Hartley, 5. Ben Fritz, 6. Johnny Gilbertson, 7.David Retzlaff, 8. Steve Heisler, 9. Larry Brazil, 10. D.J. Hoelzle, 11. Dakotah Stephens, 12.Troy DeCaire, 13. Dude Teate, 14. Shane Butler, 15. Joey Aguilar DNS.