| Keith Butler Outduels Steele and Hevron at Citrus County | BY Curtis Whalin
 After a 6 week break, the TBARA winged sprint cars burst back to the racing scene at Citrus County Speedway on Saturday night. A great turn out saw 25 cars at the track, including three new Rookie Drivers Lance Taylor in the 21 car of Jimmy Alvis, Steven Bradley in the 1 car and Daryl Smith in the #3.
Wendy Mathis in the 80 car took the pole for the first of 3 8-lap heat races. On the first lap, John Sambor in his 33C car got together with Nick Manikis in the number 8 machine at turn 3 and both spun out.
The number 8 car retired from the heat following the incident but the 33C rejoined the pack for the complete restart. The restart put Bo Hartley in his 3X in the second place starting position that had previously been occupied by the number 8. Bo used this to take an early lead at the start of the race. Bo held the lead for 2 laps until Dude Teate caught him in the 68. The cars raced side by side for most of the third lap until Dude was able to complete the pass and take the lead. Dude won the heat in the 68 car with Bo Hartley in second place in the 3X.
As the cars took to the track for the second heat, the 16 car driven by Ben Fritz appeared to be smoking and he pulled off to the pits. Curtis Carter had the pole position for the start of the race but was passed at the start by third place starter Wayne Reutimann Sr in the 99 to take first lead in the race. Wayne led the race for 2 laps until David Steele passed him in the 91 who went on to win the heat with Doug Heveron in the 22 taking second place.
The third and final group of cars were pushed off for heat three and during the hot lap session, Steven Bradley spun the number 1 car on the front straightaway. He was pushed back off and rejoined the field for the start of the heat. Ray Bragg in the 66 car had the pole alongside John Gilbert Jr in the number 7 car. The heat was restarted twice due to untidy starts, and when a clean start was made, it was Ray Bragg in the 66 that managed to hold on to first place from start to finish with third place starter Gary Gimmler in his 29 car taking second place.
The feature race gave Ray Bragg his second pole starting position of the evening, this time with Troy DeCaire in the 6 car alongside. Ray was again able to make a good start and took the race lead.
The 16 car driven by Ben Fritz spun through the infield on the first lap and came to a stop. The 3X car retired to the infield after one lap. On lap 3, David Slawiak spun the 79 car bringing out the first caution flag of the race.
The number 6 car retired to the pits under the caution flag. The 79 and the 16, which had spun out on lap 1, were restarted and the race got back underway. On lap 4, Keith Butler in his number 19 car made a pass on the 66 to take race lead.
On lap 8, the 80 car driven by Wendy Mathis spun at turn 2, bringing out the caution flag whilst the car was retired from the race with steering problems. The race got back underway for another 3 laps until John Sambor in the 33C spun at turn 4 bringing out another caution. During the caution, the 44 car of Bill Pettijohn retired to the infield and the 33C was re-fired.
The race got back underway for another 3 laps when the 118 of Stan Butler stopped on the high side of the track at turn one. He was pushed off to the pits, and under the caution flag, Ben Fritz retired the 16 car to the infield.
The race got back underway with Keith Butler still in the lead and David Steele in the 91 car close behind. Several laps of close driving between the two lead car followed, until John Sambor in the 33C and John Gilbert Jr in the 7 got together at turn 3.
Gary Gimmler had to spin his 29 car to avoid the two other cars and he also stopped. The 33C and 7 cars were caught together and a red flag was thrown while they were separated. The 33C did not make the restart.
The final five laps saw a great battle at the front between Keith Butler in the 19 car, David Steele in the 91 car and Doug Heveron in the 22. Keith took the win, with David Steele in second, Doug Heveron in third, Dude Teate in the 68 car got fourth and Wayne Reutimann Sr rounded out the top 5 in the 99 car.
The TBARA will be racing again next weekend at Ocala Speedway on June 26.
FEATURE:
1) 19 Keith Butler; 2) 91 David Steele; 3) 22 Doug Heveron; 4) 68 Dude Teate; 5) 99 Wayne Reutimann Sr; 6) 96 Sport Allen; 7) 10 Matt Mercer; 8) 79 David Slawiak; 9) 66 Ray Bragg; 10) 47 Richard Waddell; 11) 21 Lance Taylor; 12) 29 Gary Gimmler; 13) 6F Skeeter Faulconer; 14) 1 Steven Bradley; 15) 7 John Gilbert Jr; 16) 3 Daryl Smith; 17) 2C Curtis Carter; 18) 8 Nick Manikis; 19) 33c John Sambor; 20) 118 Stan Butler; 21) 16 Ben Fritz; 22) 44 Bill Pettijohn; 23) 80 Wendy Mathis 24) 6 Troy DeCaire; 25) 3X Bo Hartley.
HEAT 1
1) 68 Dude Teate
2) 3X Bo Hartley
3) 118 Stan Butler
4) 10 Matt Mercer
5) 33C John Sambor
6) 47 Richard Waddell
7) 80 Wendy Mathis
8) 3 Daryl Smith
9) 8 Nick Manikis
HEAT 2
1) 91 David Steele
2) 22 Doug Heveron
3) 19 Keith Butler
4) 6 Troy DeCaire
5) 99 Wayne Reutimann Sr
6) 2C Curtis Carter
7) 44 Bill Pettijohn
8) 16 Ben Fritz
HEAT 3
1) 66 Ray Bragg
2) 29 Gary Gimmler
3) 79 David Slawiak
4) 96 Sport Allen
5) 7 John Gilbert Jr
6) 6F Skeeter Faulconer
7) 21 Lance Taylor
8) 1 Steven Bradley
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