The TBARA Sprint Series presented by Safety-Kleen was back in action after having a week off. May 19th marked the return of the pavement pounders to Desoto Super Speedway in Bradenton, FL. There were 18 of the southeast’s top teams and drivers on hand to give fans 3 heat races of 8 laps each and a 30 lap main event.

Scotty Adema and Rex Hollinger made up the row for K&N Filters heat 1. Adema took the lead as they entered turn one. From his 4th starting spot, Johnny Gibertson made it 3 wide to take over the 2nd position going down the backstretch. Adema and Gibertson gave fans an early preview of the main event as they fought for the win through lapped traffic. Adema held on to the lead to pick up the win over Gilbertson. Behind them at the checkers was Hollinger, Geoff Styner, Skeeter Faulconer, and Bill Pettijohn.

Dude Teate, scheduled to start on the pole for heat 2, suffered a broken crankshaft during practice and was unable to make the call. Teate’s misfortune awarded the pole to Jason Bradford. Alongside Bradford was Mike Tharp. When the green flew, it was Larry J Brazil Jr using the high banks to his advantage as he shot around the outside of front row to take the early lead.  Brazil Jr. would stretch his lead to nearly a straightaway before lap 5.  All eyes were on the battle for the third spot as Tharp did his best to hold off former IndyCar campaigner Mike Koss.  Tharp and Koss were side by side numerous times with Tharp edging out Koss at the line behind Brazil Jr. and Bradford.  Troy Knowles came home fifth in only his second race.  Teate did not start.

Heat 3 saw Ric Voisey and Jimmy Alvis Jr on the front row.  Alvis Jr. took the lead as they went into turn one and began to pull away.  John Gilbert Jr would soon catch Alvis Jr., but could not get the advantage to take away the top spot.  Alvis Jr. went on to get the win.  Behind Alvis Jr. was Gilbert Jr, Ray Bragg, Voisey and Frankie Hurst.  Alan Randisi pulled to the infield on lap seven and did not finish.

Scotty Adema and Rex Hollinger would bring the field to green for the 30 lap main event.  Adema would jump to an early lead as Hollinger slowed down the backstretch.  By lap 2, it was Johnny Gilbertson using the outside lanes to his advantage to move from his seventh starting spot up to second behind Adema.  Once again, it was Adema and Gilbertson battling for the top spot.  On lap 25, Gilbertson was able to get under Adema to take the leap, only to have the nights only caution come out before the lap was completed.  Alan Randisi had spun and come to a stop between turns 3 and 4.  With the field reset, it was Adema out front with Gilbertson, Jimmy Alvis Jr. and Jason Bradford in tow.  Despite numerous charges from Gilbertson, Adema would go on to take the double checkers and his first feature win of the 2012 season.  Mike Tharp finished fifth behind Adema, Gilbertson, Alvis Jr. and Bradford, but was later disqualified for not reporting to tech.

The Finish:

67 – Scotty Adema, 22 – Johnny Gilbertson, 21 – Jimmy Alvis Jr., 47 – Jason Bradford, 69 – Ric Voisey, 6 – Frankie Hurst, 15 - Geoff Styner, 27 – Troy Knowles, 44 – Bill Pettijohn, 7 – John Gilbert Jr., 61 – Skeeter Faulconer, 85 – Rex Holliger, 8 – Alan Randisi, 2 – Larry J. Brazil Jr., 66 – Ray Bragg, 37 – Mike Koss, J1 – Mike Tharp, 9 – Dude Teate (DNS)

REMINDER: There is a race this Saturday, May 19, 2012, at Desoto Speedway. Hope to see all of our fans there to support and cheer for their favorite driver and car.

TBARA Driver Points as of 4-16-2012.

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.

Reminder that there is a race this coming weekend, April 7, 2012 at Punta Gorda. Hope everyone comes out to support the racers. See everyone there.

PAYOUT AMOUNTS