Okeechobee, FL; 3/24/01 - Race number two of the 18-race, FLSCA Sprint Car season was every bit as good as night one, maybe better. With a little drought relieving rain the week before, the surface stayed a little wetter and stickier than the first night. This brought even more exciting side-by-side battles in the heat and the feature.
Heat race action was hot as #51 Mark Gimmler got out front and stayed there. Behind him, #63 Dean Bartholemew, #14 Ralph Wheeler, #7 Gary Gimmler ran very tight, putting on a great show.
The feature lined up with Mark Gimmler on the pole and #02 Matt Gast outside leading the field into turn 1. M. Gimmler jumped out front with Gast in 2nd being dogged by #56v Steve Wheeler, nursing an ailing arm, and the rest of the field tightly bunched behind. S. Wheeler slipped up going into turn one and banged wheels with Gast to take that spot, but then spun the next lap going into turn 3, bringing out a caution.
On the restart, #7 Gary Gimmler spun going into turn one. When the green flew, Bartholemew dogged leader M. Gimmler as #11 Billy Grace was making his presence felt from his last place starting spot. Grace got by Gast on the bottom and #14 R. Wheeler followed him under, because Mr. Gast was not giving up the top.
Bartholemew grabbed the lead under M. Gimmler, then Mark lost it and spun going into turn one, collecting Grace in the process. But, Grace stayed on the throttle and never stopped, allowing him to get second spot back on the restart. Grace dogged leader Bartholemew finally grabbing the lead and looking like he might make it two in a row.
Close behind them, R. Wheeler and #24 Bob Bradley were busy running side by side trying to make it a 4-car race for the lead. Bartholemew followed Grace for a few laps sizing him up before moving under him, coming down for the white flag, taking the win, and making another exciting finish for the young Thunder Sprint Club.
Heat 1. 51 Mark Gimmler 2. 63 Dean Bartholemew 3. 14 RalphWheeler 4. 7 Gary Gimmler 5. 02 Matt Gast 6. 11 Billy Grace 7. 56v Steve Wheeler 8. 24 Bob Bradley
Feature 1. 63 Dean Bartholemew 2. 11 Billy Grace 3. 24 Bob Bradley 4. 14 Ralph Wheeler 5. 51 Mark Gimmler 6. 56v Steve Wheeler 7. 02 Matt Gast 8. 7 Gary Gimmler
