From Western Springs Speedway
New Zealand’s Brad Mosen won an action packed and controversial third round of the Samsung International Midget World Series on Saturday night (Jan. 2).
A stunning race saw Mosen, Shane Alach, Michael Pickens, IMWS points leader Jerry Coons Jnr, and Kevin Swindell all racing wheel to wheel on a surface ideal for side by side Midget action. With positions constantly changing at both ends of the racetrack on at least three lanes, it came down to Pickens and Mosen making a last lap run to the chequered flag for the win. Into turn one, Mosen went to the inside of Pickens, with the pair making contact, which then saw the Pickens machine roll over and out of the race. Mosen managed to continue on, but went to the infield after mistaking a ROF (rear of the field) board for off. After some time, Mosen was restarted and retook the lead for the restart, albeit running ‘under protest’ under Speedway NZ rules. Mosen led the final run to the flag for the win from Alach, and Swindell. Points leader Coons Jnr finished fourth, ahead of a stellar effort from Midget rookie Hayden Williams, and another strong run for Michael Brunt in sixth. After some post race deliberation from the SNZ officials, Mosen was announced as the winner.
Earlier on in the night the Western Springs Team won the Ampro Tools Midget Test Series versus the World Select Team 2 – 1. The total points were Western Springs 85 to The World Selects 80. American Jerry Coons Jnr was the top individual points scorer from the three tests, winning the Herman Tros Memorial Shield. The three tests were won by Tony Elliott, Scott Hatton, and Michael Pickens. The other non test heats were won by Michael Kendall, Dave Gick, and Hayden Williams.
Mark Browne won his second ever Western Springs Sprintcar feature, followed by Carl Wilson, and Alan Wakeling. The two heats were won by Havard Daniels and Browne.
The four TQ heats on the night were won by Chris Gwilliam, Nevano Cowan, Anton Johnson, and Paul le Cren. The feature race from tonight’s heat races will be raced on January 6 as part of the 50 lap Midget Final night.
Sprintcar Feature
(1) 21 Mark Browne (2) 56 Carl Wilson (3) 27 Alan Wakeling
40-Lap King of the Springs Midget Feature
(1) 13 Brad Mosen (2) 11 Shane Alach (3) 1USA Kevin Swindell
Samsung International Midget World Series Points (after 3 rounds)
(1) 3USA Jerry Coons Jnr – 90 points) (2) 13 Brad Mosen – 68 points (3) 17K Michael Brunt – 53 points (4) 1USA Kevin Swindell – 52 points (5) 77 Shaun Insley – 48 points (6) 75 Bill Clarkson – 42 points (7) 41AUS Brendan Palmer – 41 points (8) 4 Dave Gick – 38 points (9) 54 Michael Pickens – 37 points (10) 15USA Scott Hatton – 33 points.