Victorians Clarke and Tindall stun the guns and top the V8 Dirt Modified Twin features on night 1 of the Australian Championship at Sungold Premier Speedway tonight.
V8 Dirt Modifieds
Warrnambool Isuzu Ute Heat 1. A tough heat, David Clark on pole with Kevin Britten, Mark Robinson and Andrew Pezzutti all in the field – All former or current Aussie Champions.
From outside pole Britten grabbed the lead and Clark kept the pressure on the whole way. Behind them Brock Gardiner and Brayd Stephenson were leaning on each other lap after lap and further back Robinson and Pezzutti were in their own battle. Blake Eveleigh had a big moment early in the race when his pristine machine took a bike in turn three.
Line Marking Warrnambool Heat 2. Chris Corbett followed Matt Reddecliffe across the line on the first lap only but from there he edged away. Redddecliffe and Daryl Hickson then engaged in a solid battle for the minors.
Mark Kirchner Food Services Heat 3. After a false start that saw Scott Canon quickly into second place, the do-over was almost the end for Canon. This time his start wasn’t as good, and they went three wide in turn 2 and he rode a wheel but luckily escaped serious damage. On lap 3 Marcus Reddecliffe halted the race as fuel began to poor from the fuel cell. Brett “Boots” Clarke took advantage of the restart to grab 2nd which he consolidated after a close battle with Canon. Boots was the quickest car on the track but couldn’t quite run down winner Paul Tindall.
C&K Smith Concreting Heat 4. Pezzutti made the most of his pole start to take the win from Jack Smith while the Boots Clarke and Robinson battle was a cracker with Boots on the highline and Robinson on the bottom. Robinson just getting the placing.
Warrnambool Trailers Heat 5. Newby Zac McDonald stunned the crowd when he drove away from a heavily stacked field to win from Hickson, Britten, Eveleigh, Cannon and a wheel standing David Clark.
DirtX Industries Heat 6. The final heat was all Joshua Rose by a good margin from Gardiner, Stephenson and Seiton Young.
Island Couriers – Silver Dollar Feature 1.
While Britten was leading Tyler Scot took a hard ride into the front straight wall bringing on the reds.
Britten led the first 7 laps before Victoria’s leading hope Clarke took over the lead and actually drove away as the front of the race became a little spread out. Clarke scored the win by a phenomenal 2.9 seconds over Britten, Gardiner, Clark and McDonald.
The Spit Roast Boys – Silver Dollar Feature 2.
Tindall led the second feature and slowly edged away as Pezzutti and Stephenson grafted there way into the minor positions. On lap 12 with lapped cars ahead Tindall tagged the front straight wall but continued with a heavily reduced gap but the fierce full contact battle between Stephenson and Pezzutti saw the former get the show position.
It is all shaping up as an exciting conclusion Saturday night with a couple of locals showing absolute speed and contending for the national crown.
VMPA Modified Sedans
Custom Sprintcar Models Heat 1. Joel Berkley lead from pole until Dylan Barrow got on his tail. On lap 7 as they exited turn 4 Berkley had a steering issue and Barrow was under him and off as Berkley struggled to finish 6th. Victorian champ Brad Wicks started last and surprisingly that’s where he finished.
Red Ed’s Sheds Heat 2. After some messing around when front row starter Heath Ballie refused/couldn’t keep up with pole man Brody Christie to start the race he was eventually sent to the rear. Christie led from Brad Warren who’d stormed through and then set up a nice pass running high through turn four only to dive up the inside of Christie on the front straight to take the lead. At races end however Warren was put back for contact(!!!) and Christie was handed back the win.
R&M Security Heat 3. Kye Walters quickly hit the lead and held it to the end. Daniel Angus spun or was assisted into a spin early and then refused to go to the tail of the field for the restart so was given a black flag. On the last corner Jaryd Hooper blew a radiator hose and Jack Houlahan spun on the water backing into the wall hard.
R & M Security Heat 4. Shaun Thompson scorched away from the green flag and looked good until Stuey Robinson and Lachlan Fitzpatrick and others got together with Robinson spinning and stalling with damage. Berkley was now in 2nd and was looking quick. Berkley piled on the pressure desperately needing the points and after a couple of laps of immense pressure and side by side racing finally got the win from the back of the pack.
Australian Racing Products Heat 5. Brad Wicks was on pole and led away with Barrow quickly on his tail as they broke away from the pack. Barrows Mustang poked and prodded and drew alongside but couldn’t get the job done over the Victorian champ.
Colac Wreckers Heat 6. Tristan McGraw drove around Angus at the start of heat 6 and into the lead. Warren was quickly up to 2nd until Christie came storming through and squeezed Warren into the front straight wall. McGraw however had good speed too and took the win.
Thomo’s Race Graphix Dash 1. Wicks won. Brad led from start to finish ahead op the f McGraw, Thompson and Caleb Lincoln.
Thomo’s Race Graphix Dash 2. Darren Cockerill and Rachel Pratt had a huge side by side battle until she hit the front then Fitzpatrick took up the challenge but try as he might he couldn’t dislodge Pratt from the win.
Australian Racing Products Pole Shuffle.
First pairing off the rank was Pratt and Wicks.
Wicks went on to take on Berkley and the pair spent the entire 2 laps side by side with Wicks getting it by the slimmest of margins.
Next to fall to Wicks was Walters and then Tasmanian Jacobe Jetson.
Warren forced Wicks to the start on the outside and one of the two sounded very bad but both cars were quick so maybe it was a broken exhaust.
Wicks then took on Christie who gave him absolutely no room and ended the Victorian Champs solid run.
The final pairing was Christie and Barrow.
Christie lent hard on Barrow down the back straight to the point that Barrow was totally sideways and was then awarded the pole courtesy of the correct stewarding decision.
Coates Hire A-Main.
24 cars contested the 30 lap feature with the front of the field set by the pole shuffle and a few more fast cars just a bit further back.
Barrow was leading marginally from a braille driving Christie until lap three when the yellows flew for an errant bumper on the track in turn 4.
Using a Delaware restart – two wide except the lead car, Barrow brought them back to the green as Wicks pounced and led by the time they hit the flag stand next time around.
The lead pair opened a 2 second gap on Jetson, Christie, Warren, Berkley and co. who were having a huge battle.
11 laps in and Barrow retook the lead with Wicks now the challenger until the yellows flew when Scott Angus spun in turn 3 on lap 12.
Under yellows Barrow pulled infield scaring his fans but it was only to get a bit of flapping rear bumper removed.
Delaware restart #2 with 18 to run.
On the restart Anthony Wilson didn’t even get to the restart line as he was turned around and disastrously Wicks pulled infield and out of the race with a broken header pipe getting worse and now losing engine power.
Walters was the next retirement as the race ran on without stopping.
Lap 17 and Warren slowed trying to keep the race flowing but eventually coming to a stop on track.
With 12 to run it was another restart as Warren restarted but now at the tail of the field.
Jetson was now on second but under huge pressure from Christie, Berkley and Thompson.
Suddenly a flat left rear took Jetson out of the race and then McGraw spun when he and Fitzpatrick made slight contact.
Still with 9 to run a single file restart was called with Barrow leading a damaged Berkley, Thompson and Christie.
Christie only lasted a lap or two before slowing and dropping onto the infield.
Barrow went on to take his second series round win in succession by 1.1 seconds from Berkley, Thompson, Fitzpatrick and Pratt.
Tomorrow night (Saturday) will be a triple treat with the V8 Dirt Modified Australian Championship decider, 360LS Sprintcars and the bellowing Late Model Sedans.
It promises to be a fantastic Summer Night at the Speedway.
Sungold Stadium Premier Speedway
10275 Princes Highway
Allansford
www.premierspeedway.com.au