Team Toomer (57) battles Team Excel (42) in an EBC Brakes Endurance Racing Challenge at Daytona International Speedway circa 1991. (Larry Lawrence photo)

Team Toomer (57) battles Team Excel (42) in an EBC Brakes Endurance Racing Challenge at Daytona International Speedway circa 1991.

I think this may have been the race where Toomer, behind the strong riding of Michael Barnes and Jon Roberts, built a good lead when their Yamaha ran out of gas. Roberts had to push the bike all the way from the east banking back to the pits. Glenn Barry took over and was trying to chase down Northstar Racing’s Scott Zampach, who was battling an overheating problem on his bike. With two laps to go the Northstar Yamaha rolled to a stop and Toomer went on to a comeback victory.

Team Toomer was based out of Bartow, Florida, and was owned by Bill Toomer. The team won GTU titles in 1989 and 1991. I’m not clear on the details, but I know Toomer also fielded a GTO team at times. In 1990 I think a Team Toomer GTO squad with Barnes and Barry finished a surprising second to Dutchman Racing’s Tom Kipp and Dale Quarterley at the 1990 March Daytona event.