The team opened the Friday night show with a poor qualification attempt, qualifying 37th out of 57 entries. "We kind of missed on our set-up," said Chris Mars. "This track is a little bit like asphalt. We didn't have the right air pressure in the tires and the car ended up being too tight." The team failed to qualify for the main event on Friday night.

On Saturday the team performed better by qualifying 18th out of 51 entries. "Overall things were a lot better on Saturday,'' stated Jimmy. "We got pushed off the track in the heat and couldn't make it back up to a transfer spot. We ended up finishing 7th and had to run the second consolation event."

Mars was able to qualify for the main event by locking up the final transfer spot in the Polaris ATV's consolation.

"We were running really strong in the feature, and I think we had made it into the top-ten. Then a couple of drivers hit hard in front of me and I end up hitting them. I pushed the nose in hard enough that I had to pull in to the infield to get it fixed. We weren't able to continue," said Jimmy. Mars was credited with the 19th position in the main event.

The team now heads to East Bay Raceway in Gibsonton, FL where they will open the 2000 Speedweeks events with a STARS series race on Monday night February 7th. They will race there every night through Saturday February 12th. "The car is really fast and everything is working good, we just need to get a little luck on our side." added Jimmy.

(Article by John Strand)

OFFICIAL RESULTS: (60-LAP MAIN EVENT)

POS STRT CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN CAR LAPS $ WON
1. 2 24 Rick Eckert York, PA Pont. 60 $10,000
2. 4 00 Freddy Smith Knoxville, TN Chev. 60 $6,000
3. 5 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY Chev. 60 $3,000
4. 7 28 Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL Chev. 60 $2,500
5. 8 99 Donnie Moran Dresden, OH Pont. 60 $2,000
6. 12 31 Skip Arp Georgetown, TN Chev. 60 $1,800
7. 16 6s Jimmy Sharp Vidalia, GA Chev. 60 $1,600
8. 9 15b Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA Pont. 60 $1,400
9. 11 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC Ford 60 $1,200
10. 15 66 Bill Frye Greenbrier, AR Pont. 60 $1,100
11. 20 E1 Mike Balzano Parkersburg, WV Chev. 60 $1,000
12. 14 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR Pont. 60 $950
13. 19 30 Steve Shaver Parkersburg, WV Pont. 60 $900
14. 3 6m Wendell Wallace Batesville, AR Pont. 60 $875
15. 13 111 Bo Shirley Gadsden, AL Chev. 60 $850
16. 18 2 Dennis Franklin Gaffney, SC Chev. 60 $825
17. 23 17m Dale McDowell Rossville, GA Chev. 48 $800
18. 21 84 Roger Best Maryville, TN Chev. 42 $750
19. 22 1m Jimmy Mars Elk Mound, WI Chev. 42 $700
20. 17 01 Jack Pennington Ninety-Six, SC Chev. 41 $700
21. 1 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN Ford 21 $700
22. 24 1 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL Ford 13 $700
23. 6 70 Jeff Smith Dallas, NC Chev. 0 $700
24. 10 s9 Dan Schlieper Pewaukee, WI Chev. 0 $700

ENTRIES: 51
LEAD CHANGES: 1
LAP LEADERS: Bloomquist, 1-21; Eckert, 22-60
LAPS LED: Eckert, 39; Bloomquist, 21
CAUTIONS: 7
PROVISIONALS: McDowell and Pearson
HAV-A-TAMPA SHOOTOUT INVITEES: F. Smith, Erb, Moran, Arp, Balzano, and Pearson (Promoter’s Choice)

QUALIFICATIONS:

POS CAR# DRIVER HOMETOWN CHASSIS CAR MAKE ENGINE TIME
1 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY Rocket Monte Carlo Russell Baker 16.885
2 S9 Dan Schlieper Pewaukee, WI Rayburn Monte Carlo Pro Power 16.92
3 6m Wendell Wallace Batesville, AR GRT Grand Prix Russell Baker 17.072
4 99m Donnie Moran Dresden, OH MasterSbilt Grand Prix Fisher 17.163
5 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN Warrior Mustang Custom 17.236
6 24 Rick Eckert York, PA Rocket Grand Prix Custom 17.248
7 96e Terry English Benton, KY Rayburn Monte Carlo Hatfield 17.298
8 00 Freddy Smith Knoxville, TN GRT Monte Carlo Custom 17.312
9 15b Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA GRT Grand Prix Russell Baker 17.319
10 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR GRT Grand Prix Clements 17.349
11 28 Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, ILL Rayburn Monte Carlo Hatfield 17.367
12 31 Skip Arp Georgetown, TN GRT Monte Carlo Russell Baker 17.452
13 11db Donnie Barnhart N. Little Rock, AR GRT Grand Prix Markes 17.487
14 70 Jeff Smith Dallas, NC GRT Monte Carlo Mix 17.494
15 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC GRT Mustang Cornett 17.523
16 18b Shannon Babb Decatur, IL Rayburn Monte Carlo Pro Power 17.523
17 01 Jack Pennington Ninety-Six, SC GRT Monte Carlo Clements 17.532
18 1m Jimmy Mars Elk Mound, WI Rocket Monte Carlo Chevy 17.548
19 30 Steve Shaver Parkersburg, WV Rayburn Monte Carlo Malcuit 17.553
20 6 Jimmy Sharp Vidalia, GA Barry Wright Monte Carlo Clements 17.574
21 111 Bo Shirley Gadsden, AL Stinger Grand Prix Russell Baker 17.587
22 12s Jason Smith Laurel, MS GRT Mustang Cornett 17.599
23 66 Bill Frye Greenbrier, AR Warrior Grand Prix Custom 17.655
24 89 Marshall Green Dalton, GA Warrior Monte Carlo Hatfield 17.655
25 W7 Thomas Ware Cynthianna, KY Rocket Monte Carlo Russell Baker 17.682
26 E1 Mike Balzano Parkersburg, WV Rocket Monte Carlo Russell Baker 17.781
27 17le Lance Elson (R) Wellsburg, WV Mastersbilt Grand Prix Fisher 17.835
28 45 Dewayne Johnson Midland, GA TnT Monte Carlo Clements 18
29 56 Gary Webb Bluegrass, IA GRT Monte Carlo Clements 18.007
30 9 Frank Ingram Acworth, GA Warrior Monte Carlo Hunt 18.087
31 3T Andy Taylor Waycross, GA Rayburn Monte Carlo Clements 18.127
32 17m Dale McDowell Rossville, GA GRT Monte Carlo Custom 18.14
33 4 Vernon Smith (R) Rome, GA GRT Monte Carlo RED 18.16
34 10 Pete Parker Kaukauna, WI Fegers Grand Prix Pro Craft 18.168
35 88i Petey Ivey Union, SC Newman Monte Carlo Clements 18.172
36 2F Dennis Franklin Gaffney, SC Barry Wright Grand Prix Clements 18.183
37 5J Ronnie Johnson Chattanooga, TN GRT Grand Prix Clements 18.183
38 17g Mike Gault (R) Gaffney, SC Warrior Grand Prix Clements 18.187
39 3 Steve Smith Powell, TN Rayburn Monte Carlo Custom 18.342
40 CV3 Clayton Christenberry Knoxville, TN GRT Monte Carlo Custom 18.356
41 55 Jeep Van Wormer Pinconning, MI Warrior Mustang Custom 18.358
42 11 David Smith Inmon, SC Warrior Monte Carlo Clements 18.403
43 1 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL Rayburn Taurus Dingler 18.561
44 8g Gene Kinard (R) Lexington, SC Rayburn Monte Carlo Gant 18.668
45 28r Bill Reed Knoxville, TN Fast Monte Carlo Clements 18.856
46 G2 Rodney Greenway Destin, FL Barry Wright Monte Carlo Heath 19.908
47 64L Dan Leatherman Muskogee, OK GRT Monte Carlo Russell Baker 20.622
48 91x Danny Ahrens Jr. Floral City, FL Swartz Mustang Ahrens 20.863
49 24c K.C. Carpenter Adairsville, GA Warrior Monte Carlo Hunt NT
50 25 Jody Summerville Rome, GA Rocket Monte Carlo Draime NT
51 84b Roger Best Maryville, TN Warrior Monte Carlo Clements NT

BORLA PERFORMANCE (Top 4 Transfer To Main Event):

1ST HEAT: 1. Bloomquist; 2. Francis; 3. Birkhofer; 4. Shirley; 5. Pennington; 6. Ware; 7. V. Smith; 8. R. Johnson; 9. Barnhart; 10. Reed; 11. Van Wormer; 12. Webb.

2ND HEAT: 1. Eckert; 2. Je. Smith; 3. Schlieper; 4. Moyer; 5. Balzano; 6. Ja. Smith; 7. Mars; 8. Gault; 9. Greenway; 10. Parker.

3RD HEAT: 1. Wallace; 2. Erb; 3. Cook; 4. Frye; 5. Shaver; 6. Elson; 7. S. Smith; 8. Ivey; 9. Ingram; 10. Best; 11. Taylor; 12. Pearson.

4TH HEAT: 1. F. Smith; 2. Moran; 3. Arp; 4. Sharp; 5. Franklin; 6. Christenberry; 7. McDowell; 8. Babb; 9. D. Johnson; 10. Green; 11. Ahrens.

CONSOLATION RACE RESULTS (12-Laps, Top 3 Transfer To Main Event):

RENEGADE TRANSPORTERS 1ST CONSY: 1. Pennington; 2. Shaver; 3. Best; 4. R. Johnson; 5. Webb; 6. V. Smith; 7. Van Wormer; 8. Reed; 9. Taylor; 10. Ingram; 11. Ware; 12. Pearson; 13. Barnhart; 14. English; 15. Elson; 16. S. Smith.

POLARIS ATVs 2ND CONSY: 1. Franklin; 2. Balzano; 3. Mars; 4. McDowell; 5. Ja. Smith; 6. Babb; 7. D. Johnson; 8. Gault; 9. Christenberry; 10. Green; 11. Ahrens Jr.; 12. Parker.

HAV-A-TAMPA DIRT LATE MODEL POINT STANDINGS THROUGH 2/5/00:

POS CAR # DRIVER POINTS
1. 24 Rick Eckert 360
2. 15 Steve Francis 329
3. 00 Freddy Smith 308
4. 15b Brian Birkhofer 307
5. 53 Ray Cook 293
6. 6m Wendell Wallace 291
7. 66 Bill Frye 284
8. 31 Skip Arp 280
9. 99 Donnie Moran 273
10. 6s Jimmy Sharp 267
11. 30 Steve Shaver 266
12. 28 Dennis Erb Jr. 263
13. E1 Mike Balzano 254
14. 0 Scott Bloomquist 251
15. 17m Dale McDowell 247
16. 21 Billy Moyer 236
17. 2 Dennis Franklin 226
18. 70 Jeff Smith 216
19. 1 Earl Pearson Jr. 210
20. 96 Terry English 207