After a 4 day break, the TBARA pavement pounders regrouped at Desoto Super Speedway on Saturday, February 18, 2006. Some of the cars had still not repaired the damage from the previous weekends racing, but there were still 27 at the track for the event.
The 47 of Richard Waddell and the 80 of Wendy Mathis took to the track to form the front row for the start of the first heat race. The 80 took the lead going in to turn one and led the race for two laps until she was passed by Charlie Ladner in the number 4 car that had started the race in fourth position. The number 4 took the heat win and David Steele who had started in 7th place in the 91 car took second place.
The second heat saw the 51 of Mark Gimmler and the 3X of Bo Hartley on the front row. It was the 3X that took the race lead on the first lap and held the lead to take the win. The 51 car finished in second place. The 5W driven by Randy Woodall and the 88N driven by Frank Neill formed the front row for the third and final heat race. As with the second heat, it was the outside car, the 88N, that took the lead and went on to win the heat with the pole sitter car, the 5W finishing in second.
The 5W of Randy Woodall had the pole for the start of the 30 lap feature race. Alongside him on the front row was Wendy Mathis in the number 80 car. After performing the signature 4 wide parade lap that is the TBARA drivers salute to the fans, the cars lined back up 2 abreast for the start of the feature event. As the race went green, Randy Woodall was able to hold on to that first place starting position and took the race lead. On race lap 4, the 19B driven by Shane Butler stopped on the back straightaway, bringing out the caution flags.
After a quick check over by the race officials, the car was pushed back off. Under the caution flag, the 51 of Mark Gimmler exited to the pits with a flat tire. The cars lined back up and passed the flag stand for the restart of the race. In turns 3 and 4 under the restart, the 88N of Frank Neill slid up the track, possibly after making contact with another car, and made contact with the 19 of Keith Butler, causing the 19 car to spin and make contact with the 66. The 19 and the 66 ended up stopped in the middle of the track and the caution flags were bought out again while the 19 was removed from the track. The 66 was able to restart and rejoin the line up.
The 88N retired to the infield under the caution. Due to the additional delay caused by the crash on the restart, the 51 was able to change the tire and rejoin the race. Under the rules, the cars can rejoin the race as long as one full green lap has not been run since that car left the track. With the 66 and the 51 both pushed back off and lined up, the race got back underway. On race lap 6, the 6X driven by Skeeter Falconer retired to the infield, followed on lap 11 by both the 6 driven by Dan Statter and the 3Y of Sonny Hartley.
The 11X driven by Erik MacMillan in his first race with the TBARA was retired to the infield on race lap 15 when he became 3 laps down. The number 8 car driven by Nick Manikis was retired on race lap 18 for also be? ing 3 laps down. On lap 23, twelve place starter David Steele in the number 91 car challenged the race leader, the 5W and won, taking over the race lead. The 47 of Richard Waddell went 3 laps down on race lap 27 but there was not enough time remaining in the race to safely remove him from the track before the checkered flag.
The race was won by David Steele, to make it three wins in a row for Steele in the 91 car. The 5W had to settle for second place, having led the race for 22 laps. Bo Hartley in the 3X finished in third position, followed by Troy DeCaire in the 41 car and Charlie Ladner in the number 4.
The next TBARA event is at Charlotte County Speedway on March 11.
1) 91 David Steele; 2) 5W Randy Woodall; 3) 3X Bo Hartley; 4) 41 Troy DeCaire; 5) 4 Charlie Ladner; 6) 68 Larry J. Brazil Jr.; 7) 80 Wendy Mathis; 8) 37 Hank Lower; 9) 67 Scott Adema; 10) 7 John Gilbert Jr.; 11) 88 Brad Davis; 12) 66 Ray Bragg; 13) 19B Shane Butler; 14) 1X John Anderson; 15) 42 Paulie Milum; 16) 9X Michael Smith; 17) 51 Mark Gimmler; 18) 47 Richard Waddell; 19) 8 Nick Manikis (DNF); 20) 11X Erik MacMillan (DNF); 21) 3Y Sonny Hartley (DNF); 22) 6 Dan Statter (DNS); 23) 6 Skeeter Faulconer (DNF); 24) 19 Keith Butler (DNF); 25) 88N Frank Neill
The 18 of Stan Butler and the 21 of Jim Alvis did not start the feature race.
