From Avalon Raceway
Queensland’s Matt Pascoe raced to a classy win in round 8 of the National Super Sedan Series event on Saturday night, January 16 at Geelong’s Avalon Raceway. Meanwhile the other marquee event saw West Australian veteran Keith Giles return to victory lane when he outran a quality field to win the 50th Australian Speedcar Grand Prix. Once again the Dunny Derby also provided it’s share of highlights as it rounded out another action packed night at Avalon Raceway.
A couple of aborted starts didn’t halt Pascoe as he assumed the lead on each occasion and set about opening a gap early in the 35 lap NSSS final. Queenslander Des Korn and Tasmanian Kevin Purton were just two of the better qualified drivers to suffer misfortunes in the opening laps while Mick Doblo also retired before a lap was complete with a flat right rear tire.
Round 7 winner Jamie McHugh chased the leader early yet the battles behind was where most of the interest centered. On a track that was wind swept throughout the night and passing was at a premium due to the low side being the quickest way around it was a traffic jam from third place and further back. Traralgon’s Mick Nicola was in third however hounded throughout the first half of the event by K-Rock Cup winner Brett Simpson. The former Modified Production standout actually started on the front row of the main event alongside Pascoe when drivers ahead of him went to the rear during first lap incidents.
Clayton Pyne powered his way into third place momentarily before he and Mick Nicola clashed in turn 1 and 2 forcing Pyne out with a flat left rear tire. South Australian Gartner had climbed into the top 3 from his eighth starting position while B-main transferee Steve Jordan was charging through the field from his 17th starting spot.
Pascoe continually showed the way at each of the restarts and cruised to the win ahead of McHugh, Gartner in third ahead of impressive local Simpson in fourth ahead of Wayne Randall who drove the Rocket owned by multiple 2009 state champion Wayne Brims. Sixth was Jordan while rounding out the top 10 were Shane Best, Bill Miller and Mick Nicola.
Heat wins went to Pascoe, McHugh, Gartner, Randall, Nicola, Purton, Korn, Miller and reigning Australian champion Darren Kane. Kane took no further part in the evening’s events following his superb heat race victory when he encountered engine problems.
In the Speedcar AGP Keith Giles added his name to the honour roll for the second time in his splintered Speedcar career. A polished Speedcar racer in the late 80’s and early 90’s Giles moved away from driving to crew chief on some of the finest Sprintcars in the country through the last ten years. Giles won the AGP back in 1994 and was ecstatic at being able to win the 2010 edition for car owner Wayne Cover, a former Speedcar ace himself from the West.
Giles once again joins the likes of A.J. Foyt, George Tatnell, Barry Graham, Steve Kinser, Garry Rush, Max Dumesny, Steven Graham, Troy Jenkins, Michael Pickens, the late great Michael Figliomeni who have all won the AGP in it’s 50 year history.
Giles started on the front row with Sydney’s Nathan Smee alongside with Scott Glazebrook and Dene McAllan on the second row. Troy Jenkins and Harley Bishop started on the third row ahead of Darren Jenkins and Rod Francis further behind. Smee jumped to the early lead however numerous first lap cautions failed to record a lap. Troy Jordan and Andy Hassen came together in one incident while Adam Wallace flipped hard in turn 1 after climbing the right rear of Darren Jenkins.
Giles jumped into the lead after the final eventually started before Smee shot around the outside of the leader in turn 3. Dene McAllan was into third ahead of Glazebrook and the Jenkins boys and Harley Bishop.
Giles was soon back in the lead after he shot under Smee in turn 1 and would never look back. Glazebrook’s impressive night finished on the infield after previously looking ominous as he challenged for a podium finish.
Giles held Smee at bay while the fierce battle for the third position ended with McAllan holding on ahead of a fast finishing Ant Brien while Troy Jenkins finished fifth. Harley Bishop, Darren Jenkins, John McKay, Ben Hall and Craig Hume rounded out the top 10 finishers.
Giles, Troy Jordan, Smee and Glazebrook shared the heat wins while one name missing from the results was defending event winner Mark Brown. Suffering an unknown engine ailment after hot laps Brown failed to fire a shot while his counterparts gathered further track knowledge in preparation for February’s Australian Speedcar Championship to be held at Avalon Raceway.
The busy season continues this Wednesday night (Jan 20) at Avalon Raceway when the 29th edition of the Presidents Cup is run for the Sprintcars. A star studded lineup of 40 cars has nominated including two time and defending event winner Brooke Tatnell. Tatnell and his Australian counterparts will have their hands full with a stunning six American touring professionals amongst the strong field.
Next Event – Wednesday January 20th – Sprintcars Presidents Cup
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