Darvalics Races to First Asphalt Sprint Win at DeSoto
By Rick Anges
Bradenton, Fl. A last blast of cold weather blew through central Florida. The TBARA Sprint Cars were also in town and always a crowd favorite.
Former DeSoto Open Wheel racer D.J.Hoelzle was making his first run in a Sprint Car at the “High-Banks”. After destroying his car at New Smyrna during speed weeks he picked up the pace winning of the three heat races for the twenty-six cars. Other heat winners included Stephen Darvalics and Troy DeCaire.
Hoelzle started on the pole but it was Darvalics jumping out to the lead. Several drivers made a run at the young driver but he was not to be denied as he roared to his first ever asphalt-checkered flag. An out of breath Darvalics said in the winners circle; “I can’t believe this, this one is really sweet”!
Troy DeCaire came across the stripe in the second spot, third went to Stan Butler, fourth was Larry J.Brazil and in fifth Dude Tate.
HEAT 1 1) 68 Troy DeCaire 2) 19 Keith Butler 3) 80 Wendy Mathis 4) 99 Brian Gingras 5) 1B Brian Maddox 6) 1 Steven Bradley 7) 47 Richard Waddell 8) 55 Tommy Nichols 9) 11 Eric MacMillan
HEAT 2 1) 32 Steven Darvalics 2) 16 Ben Fritz 3) 0 Dude Teate 4) 29 Gary Gimmler 5) 9X Michael Smith 6) 42 Paulie Milum 7) 44 Bill Pettijohn 8) 41 Shane Butler 9) 01 Ricky Burnett - DNS
HEAT 3 1) 15 D.J. Hoelzle 2) 21B Larry Brazil Jr. 3) 21 Jim Alvis 4) 18 Stan Butler 5) 51 Mark Gimmler 6) 39 Charles Ladner 7) 00M Danny Martin Jr. 8) 75 Curtis Sutton DNS
FEATURE 1) 32 Steven Darvalics 2) 68 Troy DeCaire; 3) 18 Stan Butler; 4) 21B Larry J Brazil Jr.; 5) 0 Dude Teate; 6) 41 Shane Butler; 7) 15 D.J. Hoelzle; 8) 19 Keith Butler; 9) 51 Mark Gimmler; 10) 00M Danny Martin Jr.; 11) 29 Gary Gimmler; 12) 9X Michael Smith; 13) 39 Charles Ladner; 14) 1 Steven Bradley; 15) 11 Eric MacMillan; 16) 80 Wendy Mathis; 17) 42 Paulie Milum; 18) 21 Jim Alvis (DNF); 19) 1B Brian Maddox (DNF); 20) 44 Bill Pettijohn (DNF); 21) 16 Ben Fritz (DNF); 22) 75 Curtis Sutton (DNF); 23) 99 Brian Gingras (DNF); 24) 01 Ricky Burnett (DNF); 25) 47 Richard Waddell(DNF) The 55 of Tommy Nichols did not start the feature race.
Manatee Lumber Bombers Point’s leader Micheal “The Punisher” Crooks won the $100.00 bonus put up by G&E Transmissions and roared to the win in the bomber feature. There were some scary moments during the always highly competitive class as Roy Tetrick Jr. went around coming out of turn four and was T-Boned by Scott Dawley who was at full throttle. Dawley walked away from his mangled ride while Terick was taken to a local hospital to be checked out. He returned later in the evening very sore but other wise OK.
Ken “BoneHead” Smith moved up into the second spot after Bobby Frisch was Dqed in Tech. Third went to “Radical” Rick Germony, fourth “Pistol” Pete Barr and fifth Ronnie Sorensen.
International Contractors Street Stocks The fans once again held their breath during the twenty five-lap features. Alex Abbott slammed into the turn three wall after an apparent throttle sticking. The severely damaged car came to rest in turn four and burst into flames. The safety crew was on the scene and Abbott was able to bale out of the flaming car but the fuel was not shut off causing a stream on high-octane burning gas to flow out. After was seemed like an eternity the flames were extinguished and the race continued.
Duane Best Held off a late race charge by Joey Barnes to take the victory. Barnes was second, third was a smoking Dennis Wilson, fourth went to Jimmie Best and fifth Jamie Cassidy.
Manatee Lumber Pure Stocks Pos Driver Car # 1 DUANE BEST 2 JOHN BROWN 3 TYLER LAU 4 DARRIN ELLIS 5 KEITH THORBIN
Mod-Minis Pos Driver Car # 1 GLENN KELLEY 2 RICK PARTRIDGE 3 MATTHEW PERKINS 4 CHRIS ZIMMERMAN 5 MIKE KERRIVAN
Q-Auto and Injury Attorneys OW Pos Driver Car # 1 MARK NELSON 2 RICHARD SHEPHERD 3 SCOTT McDANIEL 4 BOBBY BALDWIN 5 BRUCE RIGGIO
Magic-4’s Pos Driver Car # 1 CHELSEA LAJOIE 2 DYLAN BIGLEY 3 ALBERT NAIL 4 ALEX PATTEN 5 ANDREW PRATT
