After 2 months and 10 days absence due in part to the recent rainout's, the TBARA made their return to the racing season at Desoto Super Speedway on Saturday night. 23 TBARA sprint cars presented themselves at the track for 3 heat races and the 30-lap feature event.
The 3X of Bo Hartley had the pole for the first of the three heat races alongside Keith Butler in his number 19 car. As the cars came around and took the green flag, the number 7 car driven by John Gilbert Jr spun going into turn one bringing out the caution flag and a complete double file restart.
When the cars took the second green flag, it was the 3X that emerged as the race leader. Johnny Gilbertson retired the 21 car to the infield on lap 5 followed by Paulie Milum in the 42 on lap 7. The 3X led from start to finish and the 19 took second place.
Pole sitter for heat number two was Curtis Sutton in the number 75 car. Starting in second place was Jim Alvis in the 29T. The 29T made a better start and took the early race lead. The 29T lead for 5 laps until it was passed by Sport Allen in the 42X. On race lap 7, the left sideboard from the wing of the number 1 car of Steven Bradley came off at turn 2, bringing out the caution flag while the sideboard was retrieved from the back straightaway and the number 1 car was black flagged for safety reasons.
The race got back to green and Sport Allen maintained the lead in the 42X to take the win with Stan Butler in the 118 claiming second position.
The 5W of Randy Woodall had the pole for the start of the third and final heat race. Also on the front row was Mark Gimmler in his number 51 car. Forth place starter Ray Bragg in the 66 car took the race lead on the first lap, while TBARA newcomer Larry Jay Brazil Jr in the 21B retired on lap one. As the cars crossed the start-finish line at the end of lap 3, David Steele in the 91 car took the lead from the 66 and went on to win the heat race with the 66 having to settle for second place.
The number 1 car was not able to replace the wing sideboard and did not make the feature race.
The remaining 22 cars were pushed off for the start of the feature race just as it started to rain. The cars ran some slow laps under caution but the rain persisted and so the cars returned to the pits to refuel and wait for the rain shower to pass over. When the rain had cleared and the track was dried, the cars were pushed back out to run the feature race.
The 3X of Bo Hartley had the pole seat for the start of the feature race, with Mark Gimmler in the 51 car on the outside. The cars performed their signature 4 abreast salute to the fans parade lap and then lined back up double file for the start of the race.
The 3X made a good start and took the early race lead. The 21 car driven by Steve Heisler retired after a couple of laps, followed by teammate Johnny Gilbertson in the 21T on race lap 5. On race lap 11 the 42 of Paulie Milum retired to the infield with engine problems and the 59 car driven by Danny Statter also retired from the race.
On race lap 13, the 5W of Randy Woodall began to give off smoke as the engine blew. The caution flag was thrown as the 5W made it’s way to the infield. While the caution was out, the 75 of Curtis Sutton was black flagged for falling three laps down, and the 29T of Jim Alvis and the 1X driven by John Anderson both took the opportunity to retire to the infield.
The track was checked for any oil from the 5W and none was found so the cars lined up for the restart with Bo Hartley in the 3X still in the lead. On race lap 15, the number 7 car of John Gilbert Jr retired with a flat right rear tire. One lap later, the race leader began to give off smoke.
The caution flag was bought back out and the 3X was stopped on the front straightaway with what was later found to be a broke stud on a valve cover, which sent him to join the rest of the cars in the infield, and gave the race lead to Mark Gimmler in his number 51 car.
Also during this caution, the 21B car driven by Larry Jay Brazil Jr was black-flagged for running over the cone on the previous restart and the 66 of Ray Bragg retired with engine problems. The cars got lined back up and the race got back underway.
On the restart, David Steele in the 91 car who was running in second place made a great start and was able to pass race leader Mark Gimmler in the 51 car. On race lap 23, the 42X driven by Sport Allen retired from the race with an engine problem.
On race lap 20, the 2C car driven by Curtis Carter was black flagged for going three laps down but he did not pull off the track until lap race 23. On race lap 28, the 51 car of Mark Gimmler broke going into turn 2 putting him into the wall between turns 3 and 4, and bringing out another caution while the car was dragged off the track and the oil and water that had spilled on the track was cleaned off.
During the caution, the number 90 car of David Retzlaff was black flagged for being three laps down. When the track was cleaned, the race got back to green, but the 41 of Troy DeCaire was black flagged for running over the cone on the restart.
The last three laps ran without any further events and the 91 of Davis Steele took the checkered flag to earn his 7th TBARA feature win of the 2005 season and the Barfield Clean Sweep Award for wining both a heat race and the feature race.
Gary Gimmler in the 29 car took second place, with Stan Butler in the 118 in third, Dude Teate in the 68 in fourth and Keith Butler in the 19 car rounding out the top 5. The TBARA get straight back to racing next week, July 23, 2005 at New Smyrna Speedway.
HEAT 1
1) 3X Bo Hartley
2) 19 Keith Butler
3) 68 Dude Teate
4) 7 John Gilbert Jr
5) 1X John Anderson
6) 2C Curtis Carter
7) 42 Paulie Milum
8) 21 Steve Heisler
HEAT 2
1) 42X Sport Allen
2) 118 Stan Butler
3) 29T Jim Alvis
4) 21T Johnny Gilbertson
5) 41 Troy DeCaire
6) 90 David Retzlaff
7) 75 Curtis Sutton
8) 1 Steven Bradley
HEAT 3
1) 91 David Steele
2) 66 Ray Bragg
3) 51 Mark Gimmler
4) 29 Gary Gimmler
5) 5W Randy Woodall
6) 59 Danny Statter
7) 21B Larry Jay Brazil Jr
FEATURE
1) 91 David Steele; 2) 29 Gary Gimmler; 3) 118 Stan Butler; 4) 68 Dude Teate; 5) 19 Keith Butler; 6) 41 Troy DeCaire; 7) 51 Mark Gimmler; 8) 90 David Retzlaff (DNF); 9) 42X Sport Allen (DNF); 10) 2C Curtis Carter (DNF); 11) 3X Bo Hartley (DNF); 12) 66 Ray Bragg (DNF); 13) 21B Larry Jay Brazil Jr (DNF); 14) 7 John Gilbert Jr (DNF); 15) 5W Randy Woodall (DNF); 16) 29T Jim Alvis (DNF); 17) 1X John Anderson (DNF); 18) 75 Curtis Sutton (DNF); 19) 59 Danny Statter (DNF); 20) 42 Paulie Milum (DNF); 21) 21T Johnny Gilbertson (DNF); 22) 21 Steve Heisler (DNF)
The 1 car driven Steven Bradley did not start the feature race.
