IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

July 11, 2004 FSCR Reutimann Takes Feature TBARA Win at Desoto TBARA Desoto Speedway, July 10, 2004 HEAT 1 1) 66 Ray Bragg 2) 29 Gary Gimmler 3) 68 Dude Teate 4) 19 Keith Butler 5) 80 Wendy Mathis 6) 47 Richard Waddell 7) 1 Steven Bradley HEAT 2 1) 96 Sport Allen 2) 118 Troy DeCaire 3) 22 Doug Heveron 4) 7 John Gilbert Jr 5) 3 Daryl Smith 6) 5W Randy Woodall 7) 6 Skeeter Faulconer HEAT 3 1) 99 Wayne Reutimann Sr 2) 51 Mark Gimmler 3) 79 David Slawiak 4) 2C Curtis Carter 5) 6F J.J. Dutton 6) 3X Bo Hartley (DNS due to brake failure) FEATURE 1) 99 Wayne Reutimann Sr; 2) 19 Keith Butler; 3) 79 David Slawiak; 4) 22 Doug Heveron; 5) 68 Dude Teate; 6) 7 John Gilbert Jr; 7) 29 Gary Gimmler; 8) 51 Mark Gimmler; 9) 5W Randy Woodall; 10) 1 Steven Bradley; 11) 47 Richard Waddell; 12) 80 Wendy Mathis; 13) 118 Troy DeCaire DNF; 14) 2C Curtis Carter; 15) 3 Daryl Smith DNF; 16) 66 Ray Bragg DNF; 17) 6 Skeeter Faulconer DNF; 18) 3X Bo Hartley DNF The 96 driven by Sport Allen was disqualified from the feature race after it failed the post race tech inspection. The 6F driven by J.J. Dutton in the heat races did not start the feature race due to engine problems. The TBARA pounded the pavement at Desoto Speedway on Saturday, July 10. The club had 20 cars at the track for three 8-lap heat races and a 25-lap feature event. A hot day with no rain provided the fans with an uninterrupted race schedule. Wendy Mathis in the 80 car had the pole for the first heat race of the evening. She made a good start and led for the first two laps of the race until she was passed by Ray Bragg in the 66 car, which had started in third place. Ray went on to win the heat with Gary Gimmler in the 29 bringing in second place. The 7 car of John Gilbert Jr sat on the pole for the second heat race alongside the 96 driven by Sport Allen, Sport made the better start and took the race lead. While Sport stretched out a short lead there was a close battle for second place between John Gilbert Jr in the 7 and Troy DeCaire in the 118 car, with the two cars driving side by side for almost 2 laps. Troy in the 118 won the battle to finish in second place behind Sport Allen. The 2C of Curtis Carter started on the pole for the third and final sprint car heat. The 99 driven by Wayne Reutimann Sr took an immediate lead at the start of the race. On lap 2, the 2C spun by itself bringing out the caution flag. While under caution, the 6F pulled into the infield and retired from the evenings racing. When the race was restarted, the 79 driven by David Slawiak passed the car in front of it before crossing the start/finish line at the restart, so the restart was aborted and the 79 was sent to the back of the field. A second restart got away smoothly and Wayne Reutimann Sr brought his 99 car to win the heat followed by Mark Gimmler in the 51 and David Slawiak in the 79. The feature race line up put John Gilbert Jr in the 7 car on the pole for the start of the race alongside Ray Bragg in the 66. Ray got a good start and took an early race lead. After one lap, the 3X driven by Bo Hartley retired to the infield with continued brake problems, and he was joined by Skeeter Faulconer in the 6 car on lap 8. On lap 9, the race leader, Ray Bragg in the 66 was coming up to lap the number 3 driven by Daryl Smith at turn 4 when Ray ran up on the back tire of the number 3 and spun himself out. The 3 did not have to stop. The 66 was restarted and sent to the back of the field for causing a caution. This gave the race lead to Sport Allen in the 96 car. The race got back underway and after only another two laps, Ray spun the 66 in the dirt at turn 4 sending up a large dust cloud from turn 4 to half way down the front straightaway, and bringing out the caution flag. The 66 car was then black flagged for causing 2 race cautions. The race again got back underway with Sport Allen in the 96 still in the lead. On lap 16 the number 3 car driven by Daryl Smith retired to the infield and he was joined on lap 23 by Troy DeCaire in the 118. In a close finish, Sport Allen in the 96 took the checkered flag. In the post race tech inspection, the wing on the car was found to be over the left rear tire, which is an infraction of the club rules, and the car was disqualified from the feature race. Therefore, the final finish of the race gives the race win to Wayne Reutimann Sr in the 99 car, followed by Keith Butler in the 19, David Slawiak in the 79, Doug Heveron in the 22 and rounding out the top five is Dude Teate in the 68. The next chance to see the TBARA is at Colombia Motor Sports Park in Lake City on July 24. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! news@karnac.org or send a letter to the editor!