The TBARA Sprint Series presented by Safety-Kleen was at Desoto Super Speedway for the second time of the 2012 season on April 14^th.  Twelve cars made the trip to Bradenton Florida for the fifth stop on the TBARA tour.  The cars were split into two groups to give the fans a pair of 8 lap heat races.

K&N Filters heat one saw Dean Bartholomew and Jason Bradford on the front row.  As the field charged towards the green flag, it was John Gilbert Jr. making the daring move to make it three wide as they entered turn one.  Gilbert Jr. pulled away coming off turn two and would lead all 8 caution free laps.  Gilbert Jr. was followed to the stripe by Johnny Gilbertson, Bartholomew, Bradford and Skeeter Faulconer.  Rod Anderson was unable to start.

Alan Randisi and former IndyCar campaigner, Mike Koss, made up the front row for heat 2.  As the green flag waved to bring the field to life, it was Jimmy Alvis Jr. making a bold move from his third starting spot to slip under the front row before entering turn 1.  Koss pursued Alvis Jr. tightly until a broken driveshaft would retire him to the infield.  Alvis Jr. held off the charge from Larry J. Brazil Jr. to pick up the win in the caution free affair.  Following Alvis Jr. and Brazil Jr. to the checkers was Rex Hollinger, Randisi and Bill Pettijohn.  Koss did not finish.

The field was set to battle for a thirty lap feature around one of Florida’s fastest 3/8 mile tracks.  Mike Koss and Dean Bartholomew made up the front row and would bring the field to green.  From his sixth starting spot, it was Johnny Gilbertson using the high groove of the race track through turns 1 and 2 to take the lead on lap one.  Bartholomew chased Gilbertson for the first 5 circuits before being overtaken by John Gilbert Jr. on lap 6. The only caution flag would come out on lap 10 for Bartholomew who had ran through the infield in turns 3 and 4, throwing debris onto the track.  The field was realigned behind Gilbertson, Gilbert Jr. and Jimmy Alvis Jr.  Gilbert Jr. made numerous attempts at taking the lead from Gilbertson, but was unsuccessful.  The remaining 20 laps went caution free.  Following Gilbertson and Gilbert Jr. to the double checkered flags was Alvis Jr., Larry J Brazil Jr. and Bartholomew.

TBARA

Josh Wichers

352.303.5672

TBARAmedia@gmail.com

The TBARA Sprint Series presented by Safety-Kleen made their triumphant return to Punta Gorda Speedway in Punta Gorda Florida on April 7, 2012.  It had been over five years since the southeast’s premiere touring series had visited the south Florida track deemed “too tough to tame”.

Seventeen teams were on hand to put on a show in front of a nearly sold out crowd.  The field was split into three heat races.  K&N Filters heat 1 saw Jason Bradford and Larry J. Brazil Jr. on the front row.  Brazil Jr. charged into turn one and took the lead from Bradford.  Brazil Jr. would go on to lead all 8 caution free laps.  Following Brazil Jr. to the checkers was Brian Gingras and Bradford.  Jimmy Alvis Jr. and Ric Voisey brought the his way under Voisey to take the lead down the back stretch on lap 1.  Alvis Jr. stayed out front to take the win.  In pursuit of Alvis Jr. was Mickey Kempgens and Ben Fritz.  Heat 3 was lined up behind Rex Hollinger and his teammate Johnny Gilbertson.  It was Hollinger getting the better start and taking the early lead.  Hollinger would lead the first 3 circuits around the tricky ¼ mile bullring before a minor slip in turn 2 allowed John Gilbert Jr. grab the front spot.  Despite a valiant charge by Hollinger, Gilbert Jr. held fast to the lead to pick up the win.  Following Gilbert Jr. and Hollinger to the stripe was Mike Koss.

As a full moon arose over the horizon in turn 4, the pavement pounders made their way onto the track for their driver introduction and 30 lap main event.  The grandstands were electric with anxiety.  As the engines fired off one by one, the capacity crowd came to their feet.  After a few hot laps, the field rejoined to give fans one of the greatest spectacles in racing, the 4 abreast salute to the fans.  Jason Bradford and Jimmy Alvis Jr. made up the front row and brought the roaring field to the green flag.

From his 4^th starting spot, Larry J. Brazil Jr. took the lead away from Alvis Jr. as they came off turn 4.  Brazil Jr. would lead the 1^st nine laps before a broken driveline retired him to the infield.  Alvis Jr. inherited the lead.  Mickey Kempgens, who had started 10^th and made his way to 3^rd by lap 3, was in hot pursuit of Alvis Jr. On lap 13, Kempgens made the pass on Alvis Jr. in turn 3 to take the top spot.  As battles raged throughout the field, Kempgens, Alvis Jr and Brian Gingras diced their way through lapped traffic.  Gingras looked to be a late race contender until a flat left rear tire on lap 27 shunned his hopes.  Kempgens held off Alvis Jr. to pick up his 3^rd win of the 2012 season.  Behind Kempgens and Alvis Jr. were Ben Fritz, Mark Gimmler and John Gilbert Jr.

Fans were treated to a 30 lap feature that went green to checkers, caution free, in under seven minutes.

TBARA – Desoto Super Speedway, Bradenton, FL
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Sprint Car Feature Race Results

1) Mickey Kempgens
2) Troy DeCaire
3) Jason Cox
4) Ben Fritz
5) John Gilbert Jr.
6) Larry Brazil Jr.
7) Ric Voisey
8 ) Jason Bradford
9) Rex Hollinger
10) Johnny Gilbertson
11) Frankie Hurst
12) Brian Gingras
13) Skeeter Faulconer

Mickey Kempgens was Sunday night’s winner at New Smyrna Speedway and Troy DeCaire was Monday night’s winner at New Smyrna Speedway.

Full race results to follow.

2012 SPEEDWEEK IS HERE

The TBARA 2012 Race Season opens THIS WEEKEND  in New Smyrna with Speedweek. This Sunday and Monday, February 19 & 20, at New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna Beach, FL and Saturday, February 25, at Desoto SuperSpeedway in Bradenton, FL  will be the KICK OFF for our 2012 season. Stayed tuned in here for the results from this weekend’s racing excitement.

Heat wins went to Gary Gimmler and Brian Gingras.

The following are the race results for the 10.29.11 race at Desoto Speedway.

Race Results

1. Gary Gimmler

2. Dude Teate

3. Dave Steele

4. Shane Butler

5. Mickey Kempgens

6. Johnny Gilbertson

7. LJ Grimm

8. Mark Gimmler

9. Larry Brazil Jr

10. Ric Voisey

11. Francis Crowder

12. Jimmy Alvis Jr

13. Matthew Hall

14. John Gilbert Jr.

15. Rex Hollinger

16. Channing Conley

17. Jimmy Alvis Sr

Unfortunately the TBARA race at Desoto Speedway that was scheduled for August 20 was rained out.

Dave Steele was your winner at Desoto Speedway. Gene Marderness Photo.

The following are the official results for the TBARA race at Desoto Speedway on July 30, 2011.

1 91 Dave Steele
2 29 Gary Gimmler
3 68 Troy DeCaire
4 18 Shane Butler
5 2 Larry Brazil
6 22 Johnny Gilbertson
7 19 Keith Butler
8 81 Stan Butler
9 51 Mark Gimmler
10 221 Matt Hall
11 7 John Gilbert Jr
12 31 Channing Conley
13 9 Jimmy Alvis Jr
14 21 Jimmy Alvis Sr
15 69 Ric Voisey
16 0 Dude Teate

DNS
15 Rex Hollinger
8 Steve Heisler
41 Ray Bragg

Heat 1 Sponsored by Steele Performance
7 John Gilbert Jr

Heat 2 Sponsored by Landrum Springs
91 Dave Steele

Heat 3 Sponsored by Performance Fabrication
68 Troy DeCaire

Clean Sweep Sponsored by Performance Fabrication
91 Dave Steele