Break from winged sprints still successful for Butler
By LOGAN NEILL
Published April 8, 2003
Even though he's not a regular at Citrus County Speedway, sprint car ace Shane Butler knows his way around the tight three-eighths-mile oval quite well.
He has raced every Tampa Bay Auto Racing Association winged sprint event the Inverness track has hosted, posting one win and four top-five finishes.
Saturday night, the 21-year-old from Bushnell was at the track for inaugural welcome of the FASTsprints cars, a series which runs tuned down, wingless open-wheel machines. It didn't take long for Butler to show his prowess.
Taking on a quick 15-car field from the eighth starting spot, Butler wasted little time carving his way toward the front. By the 10th lap he was within striking distance of leader Skeeter Falconer.
The two dueled hard for several laps until Butler finally snuck the nose of his No. 18X ahead of Falconer heading into Turn 3. From there Butler cranked up the throttle and pulled away from his rival.
For Butler, the reigning TBARA champion, the chance to pilot the smaller-displacement sprint cars is more a novelty than anything else.
The cars have about a third less horsepower than the alcohol-fueled monsters he normally drives, so the thrill comes with the closeness of the competition.
"These guys are a lot of fun to drive with," said Butler. "For me, it's pretty relaxing racing, and really competitive."
Falconer drove his No. 6 car to the runner-up spot just ahead of Lee Cipray. Rounding out the top five were Bill Pettijohn and Kevin Cahill.
GANN REPEATS: Returning this season after a yearlong hiatus, Johnny Gann has turned up the heat in his bid for his first Sportsman championship.
Saturday night the Brooksville driver posted his second win in as many weeks, allowing him to move within six points of division leader Mike Veltman.
YOAKAM WINS: Though the defending Mini Stock champion has been frequently absent at his home track while he competes in regional racing around the state, he proved he still knows how to get the job done.
Yoakam roared from midfield to overtake Rob Wheatley on the 18th of 25 laps in the feature to become the first double winner of the season. Wheatley's second place moved him from fifth to second in points behind Chris Thornton.
Saturday's feature results
FASTSPRINTS: 1. Shane Butler. 2. Skeeter Falconer. 3. Lee Cipray. 4. Bill Pettijohn. 5. Kevin Cahill.
SPORTSMAN: 1. Johnny Gann. 2. Johnny Sanders. 3. Mike Bell. 4. J.D. Goff. 5. Bill Oesterreicher.
STREET STOCK: 1. Joe Viverito. 2. Travis Nichols. 3. Ernie Reed. 4. Scott Guthman. 5. Brett Flagg.
MINI STOCK: 1. Robbie Yoakam. 2. Rob Wheatley. 3. George Neumann. 4. Chris Thornton. 5. Phillip Joyner Jr.
HOBBY STOCK: 1. Sport Wilson. 2. Wes Wilson. 3. Curtis Neumann. 4. Dean Lawyer. 5. Curtis Yoamans.
THUNDER STOCK: 1. Tim Wilson. 2. Robin Bauer. 3. Pat Quick. 4. Lee Keller. 5. Larry Triana.
[Last modified April 18, 2003, 12:54:24]
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