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| Saturday, November 10, 2007
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Ben Fritz Finally Finds TBARA Winners Circle
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Wins At Ocala Speedway With Furious Charge
 Earlier this year at Ocala Speedway Ben Fritz ran second to #18 Stan Butler, coming oh so close to his first win in the TBARA Sprint Cars. Tonight it was no contest, second place racer Kip Beard saying afterwards, "I had nothing for him tonight."
Nobody in the 25 car field had anything for Ben Fritz as he finally held the checkered flag he has wanted so badly. "These are the best race car drivers in the state of Florida, so to win here is a huge accomplishment for me. I wanted to win the last asphalt race here at Ocala, I got my victory and we did what we came to do."
Fritz outran Johnny Gilbertson in his heat race, and started on the pole for the 30 lap feature at Ocala. Gilbertson started outside pole but right out of the starting blocks, Fritz was flying. Kip Beard, starting his #66 in fourth quickly moved into second and appeared to be the only driver who could run with Fritz.
The first of two cautions came on lap 12 when Dude Teate's car started smoking as he came off turn four and then flames poured out the back of the car, he quickly exited to the pits where the safety team took the appropriate action.
On the restart, Fritz blew out to a huge lead, and his run to the checkered flag was only interrupted by the second caution, Tommy Nichols spinning out of turn two at lap 22.
On the restart, Fritz looked even stronger, and won handily.
The #66 of Kip Beard, #3X Bo Hartley, #18 Stan Butler and the apparent 2007 Champion Troy DeCaire in the #68 battled briefly for the second and third spots but Beard pulled away to secure second place.
Saturday night the season winds up at Citrus County Speedway with heats and the 30 lap feature.
Ocala Speedway will return to being a dirt track in 2008, so this may have been the last time the series will race at the track.
FEATURE:
1) 16 Ben Fritz; 2) 66 Kipp Beard; 3) 3X Bo Hartley; 4) 18 Stan Butler; 5) 68 Troy DeCaire; 6) 51 Mark Gimmler; 7) 21B Larry J Brazil Jr; 8) 99 Brian Gingras; 9) 21T Johnny Gilbertson; 10) 29 Gary Gimmler; 11) 19 Keith Butler; 12) 55 Tommy Nichols; 13) 21 Jim Alvis; 14) 56 Bobby Rose; 15) 9X Michael Smith; 16) 80 Wendy Mathis; 17) 14 Shane Butler; 18) 0Z Charles Ladner; 19) 0 Dude Teate; 20) 10s Matt Stegeman; 21) 41 Steve Heisler; 22) 27 Sonny Hartley; 23) M80 Josh Wichers; 24) 78X Gil Granda; 25) 15T Heather Rehm
HEAT 1
1) 19 Keith Butler
2) 68 Troy DeCaire
3) 3X Bo Hartley
4) 14 Shane Butler
5) 55 Tommy Nichols
6) 9X Michael Smith
7) 10s Matt Stegeman
8) 56 Bobby Rose
21K Richard Kissinger - DNS
HEAT 2
1) 16 Ben Fritz
2) 21T Johnny Gilbertson
3) 66 Kipp Beard
4) 29 Gary Gimmler
5) 21B Larry Brazil Jr.
6) 99 Brian Gingras
7) 80 Wendy Mathis
8) M80 Jeff Kulniszewski
9) 15T Robbie Hackett
HEAT 3
1) 21 Jim Alvis
2) 51 Mark Gimmler
3) 18 Stan Butler
4) 0 Dude Teate
5) 27 Sonny Hartley
6) 0Z Charles Ladner
7) 78X Michael Jenkins
8) 41 Steve Heisler
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