Doug Heveron takes last minute victory at Auburndale
Doug Heveron takes last minute victory at Auburndale
Round 9 of the TBARA winged sprint cars took the pavement pounders to Auburndale, where 17 cars turned out for the event, meaning two heat races of 8 laps each. The 3X car of Bo Hartley had the pole for the first heat but was forced to pull into the infield before the heat got underway with smoke issuing from the front left tire area of his car. This put Gary Gimmler in his 29 car on the pole for the start of the heat, but he was to finish the heat in second place behind the 22 car driven by Doug Heveron. In the second heat of the evening, the number 8 car of Nick Manikis had the pole, but he also retired to the infield before the race begun. The other front row car, the 33C of John Sambor crashed into the wall on the front straightaway again before the start of the race, breaking a front axle. With both front row cars out of the running before the heat race had even begun, it fell to third place starter Joey Aguilar in the 96 car to take the pole at the start and he went on to win the heat.
The 96 car with Joey Aguilar at the wheel also took the pole position for the start of the feature race. At the start of the race, Joey retained his pole position, despite fierce competition from Shane Butler in the 18 car. The number 8 car retired to the infield on lap 3, followed by Bo Hartley in the 3X on lap 6, who was still suffering smoke from the front left tire area of the car. The 59 and 33C cars pulled in on lap 8. On lap 11, the 66 car driven by Ray Bragg slowed down at turn 3 and came to a stop before it could reach the infield. A caution was thrown while the car was pushed clear of the track, and then racing recommenced, with Joey Aguilar in the 96 car still in the lead. On lap 23, and during a battle to regain second place, Shane Butler in the 18 car spun whilst going wide and high in an effort to pass Doug Heveron in the 22 car. Shane was able to keep his engine running, but as he had caused a caution to be thrown, he would have to start from the rear of the field on the restart. However, before the restart could take place, Shane was disqualified from the race for rough driving whilst under a yellow flag caution. The race was restarted with Joey Aguilar in the 96 car still in first place with the 22 car driven by Doug Heveron close behind. Joey maintained the lead until turn 3 of the last lap of the race when the 22 car was able to get below him, make a pass and take the checkered flag. Joey Aguilar took second place with Gary Gimmler in his 29 car only a split second behind in third. The TBARA race again next Saturday, May 3rd, at Hialeah Speedway.
HEAT 1
1) 22 Doug Heveron 2) 29 Gary Gimmler 3) 51 Mark Gimmler 4) 19 Keith Butler 5) 6 Skeeter Faulconer 6) 6F Bill Pettijohn 7) 3 Richard Burnett 8) 59 Dan Statter 9) 3X Bo Hartley
HEAT 2 1) 96 Joey Aguilar 2) 18 Shane Butler 3) 68 Dude Teate 4) 2 Scott Adema 5) 66 Ray Bragg 6) 78 Tim Sharrone 7) 33c John Sambor 8) 8 Nick Manikis
FEATURE
1) 22 Doug Heveron; 2) 96 Joey Aguilar; 3) 29 Gary Gimmler; 4) 2 Scott Adema; 5) 19 Keith Butler; 6) 68 Dude Teate; 7) 51 Mark Gimmler; 8) 6 Skeeter Faulconer; 9) 78 Tim Sharrone; 10) 3 Richard Burnett; 11) 6F Bill Pettijohn; 12) 66 Ray Bragg DNF; 13) 33c John Sambor DNF; 14) 59 Dan Statter DNF; 15) 3X Bo Hartley DNF; 16) 8 Nick Manikis DNF; 18 Shane Butler DQ
