(Bradenton, FL; 10/29/2000) With a going-away win Mark Gimmler of Palm Beach Gardens locked up the points championship in the TQ Midgets feature event last Saturday night at DeSoto Speedway. Gimmler, who won his eighth race of the season, has won every race at Desoto Speedway in the Midgets except for one... a close loss to his brother Gary.

"All I had to do was start and I won the points," Gimmler said. "I just clinched the championship for the Florida Midget Racing Association and DeSoto Speedway championship."

Mike Elder of Bradenton, who placed second in the 25 lap event, clinched third in the points with his high finish. "I couldn't quite catch Mark," Elder said. "But we're trying. We're getting closer and closer. I'm tired of finishing in numerical order. Mark drives 51 and mine is 52."

The third place finish was also numerical. College student, Wendy Mathis of Ocala drove her #70 to third place. The charming nurse-to-be also showed her skills in the Midgets this year and locked up a second place standing in the points race. "Next year we'll be here on a limited scheduled," Mathis said. "We're going to run the full circuit in the Sprint cars and the Midgets when we can. I'm really excited about it."

In the Selective HR Solutions Sportsman feature event Bill Bathrick of Englewood grabbed his first win of the season. "We're hoping this class continues next year," Bathrick said. "This is only the second race this car's been in. But it was a heckuva race and a big win for Englewood." Points champion Lonny Miller of Bradenton took second in the feature with Gus Coorssen of Sarasota grabbing third place.

Rich Clouser of Grant took his first ever feature win in the the Express Personnel Service Street Stock 20-lap feature event. "I knew I had the fastest car on the track," Clouser said. "It took me a little to get around the white 8 (Sue Purington), but when I got around I started running Ben (Kelly) down. I was hoping for a caution and we got it. I got on them down the front stretch and cleared them down the backstretch. It was a good run." Ben Kelly of North Port took second, and Sue Purington of Nokomis placed third.

Mark Gill of Bradenton took the checkered flag in the Contemporary Cabinetry & Closet Concepts Pure Stock feature event. "I bought new tires and tried to make it work," Gill said. "Greg raced hard and he deserved to win it but he got loose on the last lap." Banach led most of the race with Gill pressuring him. On the last lap coming out of turn four Banach's car got loose, sideways and into the infield. Gill got the chance he was looking for and shot ahead for the win with Bob Petrilli of Sarasota in second and Brian Ambrose in third.

Tony Elrod Jr of Kathleen celebrated his birthday by taking the win in the Q Auto & Injury Attorneys Stock Minis feature event. "I was worried about it with about five laps to go," Elrod said. "I don't know if I'll be up here again. These guys are fast. I am looking for a sponsor. I'm goign to try to run a Mini and Mod Mini next year." Jesse Dutilly of Bradenton placed second and Greg Krom of Sarasota took third place.

-Ken Willis-

SELECTIVE HR SOLUTIONS SPORTSMAN
1. #9 Bill Bathrick, Englewood
2. #98 Lonny Miller, Bradenton
3. #41 Gus Coorssen, Sarasota
4. #11 Joe Shaver, Arcadia
5. #89 Jimmy Cook, Sarasota
6. #97 Brian Teeters, Palmetto
7. #28 David Myer
8. #21 James Carter, Bradenton
9. #75 Bill Close, Bradenton
10. #03 Barry Carlson, Largo
11. #17 Clyde Cole, Sarasota
12. #7 Patrick Mcginnis, Bradenton

HEAT: 1. #9 Bill Bathrick, Englewood
HEAT: 2. #03 Barry Carlson, Largo

EXPRESS PERSONNEL SERVICE STREET STOCK
1. #8 Rich Clouser, Grant, Fl
2. #9 Ben Kelly, North Port
3. #8 Sue Purington, Nokomis
4. #77 Scott Woodland, Bradenton
5. #05 Bruce Sherwood, Bradenton
6. #42 Dennis Wilson Jr, Bradenton
7. #38 Wallace Ramsey, Bradenton
8. #12 Casey Hall, Tampa
9. #18 Wayne Dove
10. #40 Mark Chapman, Sarasota
11. #65 Mike Johnson, Sarasota
12. #72 Jeff Paneay
13. #75 Brenda Close, Bradenton
14. #66 Craig Phillips, Sarasota
15. #16 Jack Robey
16. #99 Brent Louiso, Sarasota
17. #67 Shawn Best, Sarasota
18. #09 Don Tompkins
HEAT 1: #8 Rich Clouser, Grant
HEAT 2: #38 Wallace Ramsey, Bradenton

CONTEMPORARY CABINETRY & CLOSET CONCEPTS PURE STOCK
1. #54 Mark Gill, Bradenton
2. #4 Bob Petrilli, Sarasota
3. #17 Brian Ambers
4. #67 David Yahraus, Sarasota
5. #77 Ed Kratzert, Bradenton
6. #20 Greg Banach, Bradenton
7. #3 Peggy Hurst, Sarasota
8. #16 Jason Esposito
9. #13 Bill Currie
10. #56 Gary Flinn, Palmetto
11. #6 Danny Anderson, Bradenton
HEAT 1: #67 David Yahraus, Sarasota

Q AUTO & INJURY ATTORNEYS MINI-STOCK
1. #70 Tony Elrod Jr, Kathleen
2. #30 Jesse Dutilly, Bradenton
3. #35 Greg Krom, Sarasota
4. #9 Jeanne Whitted, Sarasota
5. #95 Clay Joseph, Bradenton
6. #98 Arlin Pope, Bradenton
7. #14 Jon Bailey, St. Petersburg
8. #23 Mike Gayle, Sarasota
9. #4 Tommy Huffstutler, Bradenton
10. #9 Andy Whitted, Sarasota
11. #34 Eric Anderson, Bradenton
12. #8 Steve Glover, Bradenton
13. #84 Robert Haygood, Bradenton
14. #1 Richard Kingberry
15. #97 Buddy Traylor
HEAT 1: #34 Eric Anderson, Bradenton
HEAT 2: #70 Tony Elrod Jr, Kathleen

DESOTO SPEEDWAY TQ MIDGETS
1. #51 Mark Gimmler, Palm Beach Gardens
2. #52 Mike Elder, Bradenton
3. #80 Wendy Mathis, Ocala
4. #3 Jack Duggy, Sarasota
5. #16 Rod Anderson, Tampa
6. #15 Ralph Wheeler, Royal Palm Beach
7. #33 Kenneth Busch, Sarasota
8. #24 Dick Stoler
9. #54 Norman Johnson, Zephryhills
10. #4 Ted Durfee, Bradenton
11. #7 Jack Anderson
12. #6 Freddie Stutz, Lauderhill
13. #5 Murray Hall
HEAT 1: #51 Mark Gimmler, Palm Beach Gardens

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