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The Classic Is So Much More Than Just A Race At Sungold Stadium
Monday, January 25, 2010 by Gavin White
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The 38th running of the Warrnambool Standard Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic presented by APCO provided plenty of highlights with American Shane Stewart taking his maiden win while three time Classic winner Brooke Tatnell finished a gallant runner up.
The pair traded the lead on numerous occasions as they raced hard and clean before Stewart edged his way clear at a late race stoppage to win over Tatnell with a fast finishing Ryan Farrell in third ahead of young gun James McFadden and Classic legend Danny Smith in fifth.
The fans enjoyed a great Breakfast with the stars at the Flying Horse Bar and Brewery before Jeremy Rae the Good Guys presented the popular Fan Appreciation Day in the Home Makers Centre. Giveaways, interviews, merchandise, the big screen and a restored Bob Trostle Sprintcar to name but a few of the attractions at the morning experienced by thousands of fans.
Tennessee Outlaw Jason Sides kick started the weekend on track when he won the Lucas Oil Products/Smiley’s Racing Products Quick Time award by recording a 10.841 second lap which also added his name to the Allan Pollard Memorial plaque. $1,000 was also awarded to Sides for his efforts.
Queenslander Andrew Scheuerle picked up the $1,500 R&M Security Best Presented Car and Crew Award as voted on by the Premier Speedway Maintenance Committee. The same people that present Sungold Stadium in such an immaculate fashion each and every event voted on Scheuerle’s Ausdeck Patio’s and Roofing #25 and his crew as the best of a very worthy field of contenders on Sunday night.
Three time Classic winner Kerry Madsen scorched through the A-main field to finish sixth from his 18th starting spot picking up the Skwid Signs Hard Charger Award in the process valued at $2,000. Madsen’s Classic tilt started to head south when he suffered throttle issues in his final heat that eventually sentenced him to the B-main. A stirring run past local Darren Mollenoyux to the final transfer position ensured Madsen would be on the charge from the back. The ‘Mad Man’ didn’t disappoint his legion of fans.
Not only did Shane Stewart win the Australia/America Challenge on Saturday night that was worth a cool $6,000 to win he also backed that up in the ‘big dance’ pocketing a whopping $30,000 for his awesome 40 lap performance on Sunday night!
What can you say about the RAAF Roulettes? The six plane display was simply breathtaking as they replicated the speed, skill and precision that was shown on track throughout the weekend but this time in the air. It was simply a wonderful way to open night 2 of the Classic with a display that is normally reserved for V8 Supercars, Formula 1 or Indy Car events.
Margaret Lee was awarded the privilege to signal the Classic field to go four wide following the recent passing of her husband and long time Premier Speedway member, Ron. It was a touching moment that I am sure Margaret and the Lee family will cherish in memory of one of the sports ‘super fans’. Darren Mollenoyux was the recipient of $150 cash courtesy of the Lee family for being fifth in the B-main and the first reserve for the Classic final.
As always the support racing on the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic weekend ensures both Sprintcar racers and fans alike enjoy a brief break from the intense action. Night 1 saw the Australian Wingless Sprints provide some great racing while the popular Super Rods returned for Sunday night’s finale.
Simpson’s Luke Weel kicked off the AWS racing on Saturday night with a heat race win in front of his uncle and PWR Performance Products boss Kees Weel. Andy Hibbert sporting an onboard camera raced into second place from position eight while David McKay sped from tenth to third in a sign of things to come.
A lot of interest surrounded the debut of Michaela Dumesny; daughter of Sprintcar icon Max and younger sister of Mitchell in her Hoosier backed machine. Numerous incidents in the first heat saw her slip back in the field while she showed she had the speed to run with the boys.
Both Ash Hawkins and Shawn Skene suffered damage following contact together in the opener and had to watch from the infield as Weel won the heat.
From pole McKay romped to the second heat win while Hibbert’s consistency showed when he finished second again ahead of Stephen Hodder. Weel charged to fourth from the rear while Dumesny impressed as she finished fifth.
McKay and Hibbert would start the final from the front row and rightly so as Weel would start from three. Without a stoppage McKay handled the talented lineup as he relished to chance to race in front of a huge crowd on night 1 of the Classic.
Weel took the win ahead of Luke Weel who raced into second ahead of Glenn Watts in third. Fourth was Hodder while Hibbert looked set for a podium finish before the fire went out on his immaculately prepared #17 mid race.
Night 2 got underway with Shaun Toulmin streaking to the win as the Super Rods rumbled their way around the venue. Following Toulmin to the line in the non-stop opener was Jason Grayland, Geoff Leigh, Daryl Nelson and Wayne Williams in fifth.
Leigh rebounded in heat 2 as he scored a strong win ahead of Howard Stansfield who was at the wheel of son Grant’s #29. Matt Clark finished third in his best result of the night while Nelson was fourth again with Toulmin coming from eleventh to fifth.
A torrid final saw Wayne Williams and Matt Clark fail to finish while Leigh eventually wore down race long leader Shaun Toulmin to claim the win. Leigh has enjoyed a great season as he continues to rack up the victories while Toulmin was impressive in second ahead of the speedy Jason Grayland. Howard Stansfield rounded out the top four finishers.
Once again the support classes were also on display at the Fan Appreciation Day and were a very important part of making the 2010 Classic the success that it was.
A reminder that the Race Info Line 9513 5555 contains all the information for upcoming events.
For more details phone General Manager David Mills 0408 529 625
Website – www.premierspeedway.com.au
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Sungold Stadium, Premier Speedway is located 3 hours South West of Melbourne near the beautiful coastal city of Warrnambool. Steeped in tradition Sungold Stadium is a AAA rated venue offering excellent facilities for competitors, spectators and officials alike.
Located only a short driver from the internationally acclaimed Twelve Apostles on the Great Ocean Road, there is loads for tourists to the area to see and do.
