Steve Wheeler Makes 5 Races and 5 Winners in FLSCA Thunder Sprints
The wingless sprint club rolled into town Saturday night and excitement filled the air from the start. Two new cars graced the pits. Mark Hysong and Shane Kreidler had beautiful new cars on hand, and the young Sprint Club continues to grow.
For the first time two heat races were held. In the first race #63 Dean Bartholemew held off a hard charging #56v of Steve Wheeler and #11 Brother-in-law Billy Grace. In the second race #24 Bob Bradley drove a flawless race as #14 Ralph Wheeler tried every move in the book but could not get by.
The all Wheeler front row brought 'em down for the start of the feature. #51 Mark Gimmler jumped over Bob Bradley and walled the car hard in turn 4 aborting the first one causing a complete restart. Once under green Ralph Wheeler was dogging big brother Steve hot 'n heavy and they were pulling out on the field. But Billy Grace caught the wall on the back stretch and brought out a caution. On the restart heat winner Bartholemew tagged the younger Wheeler who lost it, did a complete 360 and kept on trucking at the tail end of the field. Bartholemew moved up to challenge the elder Wheeler but #7 Gary Gimmler was moving up to take 2nd and challenge Wheeler for 1st. It looked like their old midget days as best friends #56v Steve and #7 Gary ran side by side to the finish with Steve taking the win. Behind them #47 Richard Waddell, and from the back Ralph Wheeler, moved up to challenge Bartholemew for 3rd. Waddell took the spot at the line as these 3 finished under a blanket.
