Desoto Super Speedway Results 6-19-2010

By Marty Little

BRADENTON, Fla. – Mickey Kempgens proved to be the perfect substitute driver in George Rudolph’s purple No. 68 Saturday night at DeSoto Super Speedway as he led wire to wire to garner his first 30 lap TBARA  sprint car feature event of the season.

 Starting on the outside of the front row, Kempgens took advantage of not having to work traffic in the early laps and quickly built a lead over fifth starting point leader Shane Butler as the 15 car field worked the high banked 3/8 mile oval. Ben Fritz challenged Butler early on as the top three spots were providing much of the closest action.

 The first of two yellow flag waved on lap 13 as a couple of backers got together but were able to restart. Meanwhile up front, Fritz worked by Butler and set his sights on leader Kempgens. Five laps later the second of two cautions regrouped the field with the green flag back in the air to start lap 19. Kempgens was up to the task and quickly rebuilt his lead as Fritz and Butler continued their battle running second and third.

As the laps wound down Butler worked by Fritz for second and began to reel in Kempgens but it was not to be as Kempgens checkered first over Butler, Fritz, Bo Hartley and Larry Brazil, Jr. Kempgens’ victory was the third this season for owner Rudolph who’s regular driver, Troy DeCaire, was racing in the Midwest.

Heat race victories went to Bo Hartley and Dakotah Stephens. The series is idle until July 30 and 31 when a Friday-Saturday doubleheader will go at Orlando Speed World and New Smyrna Speedway.  

 Feature (30 laps) – 1. Mickey Kempgens, 2. Shane Butler, 3. Ben Fritz, 4. Bo Hartley, 5. Larry Brazil, Jr., 6. Dude Teate, 7. Sonny Hartley, 8. Bryan Riddle, 9. Johnny Gilbertson, 10. Tommy Nichols, 11. Amanda Ferguson, 12. Larry Brazil, 13. Keith Butler, 14. Dakotah Stephens, 15. Steve Heisler.

About

The premier pavement sprint car series in the South, and some would say in the country, the Tampa Bay Area Racing Association (TBARA) has been racing from 1973 through 2009 and is preparing for its 40th season. Known as "the ground pounders," these purpose-built pavement sprint cars are powered by fire-breathing 360 motors and piloted by some of the best drivers in the country.

Current drivers include two-time USAC Silver Crown champ Dave Steele, two-time TBARA champ Troy DeCaire, and past race winners Bo Hartley, Dude Teate, Larry Brazil Jr. and the first female to win a sprint car feature with a major touring series in the southeast, Wendy Mathis.