From Marty Little
BRADENTON, Fla. – Larry Brazil, Jr. held off the late race challenges of Dude Teate to win Saturday night’s 30 lap TBARA feature event at DeSoto Super Speedway.
Pole sitter David Retzlaff hustled into an early lead over Johnny Gilbertson and Brazil but the first yellow of the night waved on lap six for D.J. Hoelzle’s flat tire. On the restart it was Retzlaff still in commad but Brazil had taken up the challenge with Teate a close third. Less than a lap was complete before Tommy Nichols jumped a wheel of Shane Butler’s No. 18 and ricocheted hard into the outside wall to bring out the red flag. Nichols was unhurt but finished for the evening.
The green waved to begin lap seven with Retzlaff, Brazil and Teate in line at the front but Sonny Hartley’s mount shredded a right rear tire and the yellow waved once again. On the restart Brazil got a jump on Retzlaff and made the pass for the lead into turn one with Teate gaining the runner up spot.
Brazil continued to pace the event but Teate shadowed his every move looking for a way past. Finally, on lap 23 Teate used a lap car as a pick and took the top spot only to have the yellow wave for the spinning car of Joey Aguilar. The lineup revered back to the last green flag lap and Brazil went back in front over Teate, Butler and Bo Hartley.
The last seven laps were without incident and Brazil scored his first victory of the season. Teate claimed runner up money over Butler, Bo Hartley and Ben Fritz. Aguilar recovered to checker sixth ahead of Retzlaff, Steve Heisler, Jimmy Alivs and Gilbertson.
Heat races were won by Brazil, Butler and Retzlaff.
The 2010 tour’s next event is back at DeSoto on Saturday, April 17.
– 30 –
First heat (8 laps) – 1. Brazil, 2. DeCaire, 3. Aguilar, 4. Fritz, 5. Heisler, 6. Alvis.
Second heat (8 laps) – 1. Butler, 2. Nichols, 3. Teate, 4. Gilbertson, 5. Darvalies, 6. Faulconer, 7.Stephens.
Third heat (8 laps) – 1. Retzlaff, 2. Hoelzle, 3. S. Hartley, 4. B. Hartley, 5. Hurst, 6. L. J. Brazil
Feature (30 laps) – 1. Larry Brazil, Jr., 2. Dude Teate, 3. Shane Butler, 4. Bo Hartley, 5. Ben Fritz, 6. Joey Aguilar, 7. David Retzlaff, 8. Steve Heisler, 9. Jimmy Alvis, 10. Johnny Gilbertson, 11. Troy DeCaire, 12. Steve Darvalies, 13. Sonny Hartley, 14. Tommy Nichols, 15. D.J. Hoelzle, 16. Frankie Hurst, 17. Larry J. Brazil, 18. Skeeter Faulconer. DNS – Dakotah Stephens.