By Larry Lype

This was the season ending event on the 2001 Tampa Bay Area Racing Association Winged Sprint Series tour. The points battles in the Driver, Owner, and Rookie of the Year were all very tight, and this would be the night to decide the season champions.

Three fast heat races were won by Matt Mercer, Kevin Cahill, and 1999 TBARA Champ Dude Teate. This made these three drivers eligible for the Barfield Clean Sweep Bonus Award, which was up to $800.00 on this night. The feature lined up with Matt Mercer on the pole with veteran Sonny Hartley on the outside. Before the start of the feature, the field ran a "missing man" formation in memory of Dick Friedley, long time TBARA PR Director and Photographer, who passed away on October 31. When the green flag flew, Mercer jumped into the lead with Hartley in hot pursuit.

As the first lap was completed, 1999 TBARA Champ Dude Teate had something break on his #0, bringing out the first of three cautions during the event. The restart had Mercer leading Sonny Hartley, Bo Hartley, and Stan Butler. On lap four the yellow flew again as Wendy Mathis spun in turn four. The restart once again had Mercer leading. Bo Hartley passed father Sonny on lap seven to take the second position. Lap nine saw the caution flag fly for the third and final time for Wendy Mathis spin.

The Lap nine restart order was Mercer on the point with Bo Hartley in second,Stan Butler, Wayne Reutimann and Sonny Hartley in fifth. The race stayed green to the finish with great battles all over the speedway. When the checkered flew, Mercer won his first ever TBARA Feature, The Barfield Clean Sweep Bonus, and clinched the Rookie of the Year award. A jubilant Mercer was greeted in Victory Lane by his family and crew. This was the first race for Matt since his devastating crash and fire at DeSoto Speedway a few weeks back.

The Eagle Jet - GMS Motorsport Hard Charger Award was a tie between Sport Allen and the newly crowned 2001 TBARA Champion Wayne Reutimann in the 2001 TBARA Car Owner Champion Don Heckman Motorsports #22.

This great night of racing has wrapped up the best season ever for the TBARA Winged Sprint Series.The TBARA would like to thank every driver and car owner who participated this season.

Winner;
Heat Race One; Matt Mercer
Heat Race Two; Kevin Cahill
Heat Race Three; Dude Teate


Official Feature Finish
1. Matt Mercer #10
2. Bo Hartley #3X
3. Wayne Reutimann #22
4. Stan Butler #68
5. Sport Allen #88
6. Keith Butler #19
7. Wayne Reutimann Jr. #00
8. Shane Butler #18
9. Kevin Cahill #87
10, Rick Baker #4
11.Scott Adema #2s
12. Ben Fritz #16
13. Tommy Gainey #45
14 Skeeter Faulconer #6
15. David Lawrence #14
16. Sonny Hartley #32
17. Wendy Mathis #80
18. Scott Steffe #61
19. Russell Hand #2
20. Dude Teate #0
21. Jeff Daneau #4J - D.N.S.
22. David Steele #21 - D.N.S.

-Larry Lype

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