IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

May 1, 2005 FSCR Keith Butler tops TBARA at New Smyrna Speedway New Smyrna Speedway April 30, 2005 The TBARA winged sprint series made their first return to New Smyrna Speedway since the February Speedweeks on Saturday April 30th. A strong field of 23 cars came to the track for the event. Keith Butler in his number 19 car had the pole position for the start of the first heat race alongside Troy DeCaire in the 118. Keith made a better start and took the race lead. The number 6 car driven by Skeeter Faulconer retired to the infield on the first lap. On lap 6, both the 66 that was being driven by Sonny Hartley this week and the 21 driven by Johnny Gilbertson pulled into the infield and out of the heat race. The race ended as it had begun, with Keith Butler taking the win in the 19 and Troy DeCaire taking second place. The 51 of Mark Gimmler took the pole for the start of the second feature with Shane Butler in the 18 taking the other front row position. It was the 18 that made the best start and took the early race lead and was followed closely by David Steele in the 91 car that had started in fourth place. After 3 laps of close fought racing the 91 was able to pass the 18 and take the lead. The 3Y driven by Greg Pipkin retired from the heat on race lap 5 and David Steele in the 91 went on to win the heat with Shane Butler settling for second place. The third heat race of the evening saw J J Dutton in the 6F on the pole and Gary Gimmler in the 29 starting in second. It was the 29 that made the best start as Gary Gimmler took the race lead. On lap 4, the 59 driven by Dan Statter pulled off into the pits. Gary Gimmler was able to hold off the rest of the field and take the win, followed by Bo Hartley in the 3X in second place. The feature race line up put the 6F driven by J J Dutton back on the pole, with heat one winner Keith Butler in the 19 car alongside in second. The cars performed their signature 4-abreast parade lap that is their salute to the fans, and then got back into the 2-abreast formation for the start of the race. As the leaders took the green flag, David Retzlaff in the number 90 car slowed to the back of the field and pulled into the infield and out of the race. Back at the front of the field, it was Keith Butler in the 19 car that came out of turn one as the race leader with brother Shane in the 18 car in hot pursuit. On lap 3, the 21T driven by Nick Manikis retired to the infield and was followed one lap later by Skeeter Faulconer in the 6 car. On race lap 6, both the 3Y driven by Greg Pipkin and the 21 driven by Johnny Gilbertson retired to the infield. The race leaders continued to battle it out at the front of the field. Bo Hartley retired the 3X on lap 10 due to motor problems. The 59 driven by Dan Statter pulled off on race lap 12 followed by the 41 driven by Mickey Kempgens on race lap 15. On lap 17, Troy DeCaire retired the 118 car with an oil leak. On race lap 18 Bill Pettijohn retired the 44 car. On lap 20, the first caution flag of the race came out when Sport Allen stopped the 42X on the back straightaway when he lost oil pressure. He was pushed off the track and the cars got lined up for the restart. Keith Butler was still the race leader in the 19 car, with Shane Butler behind in 2nd and David Steele in the 91 car running in 3rd. As the track went green for the restart, the cars went wide open. The 68 car driven by David Slawiak spun coming out of turn 2 bringing the caution flag straight back out. He did not rejoin the field and was instead pushed back to the infield. During this caution, the 6X driven by Curtis Carter also retired to the infield. The race got back to green with the leaders all now bunched together. On lap 25, David Steele was able to take second place and was set to chase down the leader when the 42 driven by Paulie Milum pulled into the pit lane on lap 26 due to lost oil pressure, but stopped too close to the pit lane entrance bringing out the caution flag for the third and final time of the race. The cars lined up again, this time with the 91 in second place and the 18 in third for the final 5 laps of the race. As the track went to green, there was an immediate fight for the race lead. There was 5 laps of bumper to bumper racing and as the 91 launched an effort at the last turn of the last lap, it was Keith Butler in the 19 car that took the win by less than half a car length. David Steele took second place and was followed by Shane Butler in the 18 car, Dude Teate in the 0 and Jim Alvis in the 29T. Shane Butler was later disqualified from the race promoting all those behind him by one place and giving fifth place to Gary Gimmler in the 29 car. Keith Butler also wins the Barfield Clean Sweep Award for winning both a heat race and the feature race. The next TBARA race will be this FRIDAY, MAY 6 at Orlando Speedworld in Bithlo HEAT 1 1) 19 Keith Butler 2) 118 Troy DeCaire 3) 42 Paulie Milum 4) 68 David Slawiak 5) 42X Sport Allen 6) 66 Sonny Hartley 7) 21 Johnny Gilbertson 8) 6 Skeeter Faulconer HEAT 2 1) 91 David Steele 2) 18 Shane Butler 3) 0 Dude Teate 4) 29T Jim Alvis 5) 51 Mark Gimmler 6) 6X Curtis Carter 7) 3Y Greg Pipkin 8) 21T Nick Manikis - DNS HEAT 3 1) 29 Gary Gimmler 2) 3X Bo Hartley 3) 6F J J Dutton 4) 90 David Retzlaff 5) 41 Mickey Kempgens 6) 44 Bill Pettijohn 7) 59 Dan Statter FEATURE 1) 19 Keith Butler; 2) 91 David Steele; 3) 0 Dude Teate; 4) 29T Jim Alvis; 5) 29 Gary Gimmler; 6) 6F J J Dutton; 7) 66 Sonny Hartley; 8) 51 Mark Gimmler; 9) 42 Paulie Milum (DNF); 10) 68 David Slawiak (DNF); 11) 42X Sport Allen (DNF); 12) 6X Curtis Carter (DNF); 13) 118 Troy DeCaire (DNF); 14) 44 Bill Pettijohn (DNF); 15) 41 Mickey Kempgens (DNF); 16) 59 Dan Statter (DNF); 17) 3X Bo Hartley (DNF) 18) 3Y Greg Pipkin (DNF); 19) 6 Skeeter Faulconer (DNF); 20) 21 Johnny Gilbertson (DNF); 21) 21T Nick Manikis (DNF); 22) 90 David Retzlaff (DNF) The 18 of Shane Butler finished the race in 4th position but was subsequently disqualified. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! news@karnac.org or send a letter to the editor!