From Western Springs Speedway, image courtesy of Jim Fisher/FSC Pictorial
American Jerry Coons Jr. won his first 50-Lap World Midget Championship on Saturday night at Western Springs Speedway, and in the process also won the 2010 Samsung International World Midget Series. To complete the trifecta, he was also the top individual points scorer in the Ampro Midget Test Series on Wednesday night, picking up the prestigious Herman Tros Memorial Shield for the first time as well.
USAC Triple Crown winner Coons also won another 50 lap World Championship for car owner Danny Lendich, who provided cars for nine-time 50 lap winner Sleep Tripp for so many years at Western Springs. Coons dominated this years World Series with two wins, the first coming on the first night on December 26.
The first caution amazingly came out for this years 50 lapper on lap 41 of 50, with Coons Jnr controlling the lead after passing polesitter Michael Pickens and Michael Kendall. Pickens retired with a broken differential. Kevin Swindell was the big mover in a quality field, having started from grid seventeen. He worked the highline on a flat Western Sprrings surface and worked his way into second behind his compatriot at the chequered flag. Reigning Champ Brad Mosen was running fourth into the final lap and cruely suffered a flat right rear tyre that dropped him back, not only in the results for the 50 in thirteenth, but it also cost him second in the World Series as well.
Coons won from Swindell, with first Kiwi home Michael Kendall in third. Shaun Insley finished fourth, followed by Tony Elliott, Shane Alach, Michael Brunt, Scott Hatton, Bill Clarkson Jnr, and Lance Beale completing the top ten.
Michael Pickens was the top qualifer in the time trials setting a best lap of 14.311 seconds. Lance Beale won the semi-main, while Tony Elliott won the ‘B’ Dash, and Pickens won the ‘A’ Dash to start the 50 lapper from pole.
Samsung Midget World Series Points (Top 6)
(1) 3USA Jerry Coons Jnr – 127 Points (2) 1USA Kevin Swindell – 83 points (3) 13 Brad Mosen – 78 points (4) 77 Shaun Insley – 70 points (5) 17K Michael Brunt – 69 points (6) 75 Bill Clarkson Jnr – 56 points
Also on a busy night ,enjoyed by a large and enthusiastic crowd, 15 year-old Nick Cassidy won yet another F2 Midget Feature, while NZ TQ Champ Shane O’Connor won his second TQ feature of the season at Western Springs. Second in the TQ feature was former National Champ Paul Le Cren, with Scott Baker in third. Earlier on in the night Brad Curtin won the TQ semi-main, Darren Warren the ‘B’ Dash, and Le Cren the “A’ Dash to start from pole for the TQ feature. After the latest round of the TQ Track Championship, Ross Linklater continues to leads the points chase.
California’s Jonathan Allard, fresh from his overall win in The International Sprintcar Series, won his third Sprintcar feature of the season at The Springs, making a stunning late race pass on NZ Champ Dean Brindle. Brindle held on for second, with Ryan O’Connor posting another podium in third to retain the Sprintcar Track Championship points lead. The heats were won by Jamie McDonald, O’Connor and Allard.
The next meeting at Western Springs Speedway is on January 16, featuring the Wynns NZ Sprintcar Grand Prix.