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Riddle Memorial Is Tonight

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 29, 2007

The winged open-wheeled sprint cars of the Tampa Bay Area Racing Association (TBARA) will headline racing action tonight at DeSoto Super Speedway near Bradenton with the running of the inaugural Frank Riddle Memorial.

The race honors the Florida racing legend who passed away in March after an illustrious career which began at the old Phillips Field in Tampa.

Riddle won his first feature event in 1952. He won 95 feature events with the TBARA during the 1970s and 1980s and became the oldest United States Auto Club sprint car Rookie of the Year in 1980 at age 51. He was a five-time pole winner in paved sprint car racing's biggest event, the Little 500 in Anderson, Ind., and a two-time winner of that prestigious event. He was inducted into The Little 500 Hall of Fame in 1966.

At least 24 of the state's top asphalt cars are expected to challenge the one-third-mile banked oval in at speeds of more than 100 mph in a program of heat races and a 50-lap feature event. DeSoto's Open Wheel Modified, Pure Stock, Street Stock, Modified Mini, Bomber and Truck divisions will also be in action.

Tampa's Terry DeCaire is the TBARA points leader entering tonight's event against three-time TBARA champion Dude Teate, Stan Butler, Keith Butler and Mark Gimmler.

DeSoto Super Speedway is located on SR 64 nine miles east of Interstate 75. For tickets or information call (941) 748-3171.

Gary Ardrey

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