From jak industries.media, photo by Baron Media
It may have been a long time coming, with many local fans surprised it hasn’t happened earlier, so when the all the pieces to the puzzle finally came together for Richard Morgan he certainly wasn’t about to let the opportunity slip. Round 6 of the Qld Speedway Spares Series at Titan Garages Brisbane International Speedway (BIS) will always be a special one for Morgan, it will always represent his breakthrough Feature race win in Sprintcar competition.
Morgan led every one of the twenty-five laps from green to chequer, he mastered a BIS track that others struggled with, and he showed patience in lapped traffic even though he had to be aware his chasers were closing in as he tried to thread his way through the tailenders.
Peter Lack, Pete Thorley and Darrell Hodges were given some hope by yellow light race stoppages during the middle stages of the race and when that trio was joined by Todd Wanless the battle for the minors stepped up a gear. Nothing though was going to deny Morgan of the win, the #54 Morgan Metalcorp XXX racing away at every restart with Richard taking the chequered flag a comfortable one and half seconds ahead of Lack with Thorley, Wanless and Hodges completing the top five.
Morgan’s maiden Feature race victory was well deserved, and also a popular one amongst his fellow competitors throughout the Archerfield pit area. It will also shake the Series points tree somewhat, even more so with the event awarding double points courtesy of the draw at the driver’s briefing, and Richard’s points haul will see him close in on the leaders with six Rounds still left to run. Morgan was denied the Series Championship by just a few points back in 2005/06, his good form of late could be a pointer towards where the 2009/10 Championship trophy eventually finds a home at the end of the season.
In other races on the program, newly crowned Australian ASCF Junior Sedan Champion Cody Maroske made a winning return to BIS with victory in his opening two Heat races before holding out Jayden and Natalie Peacock in the Feature race to claim the sixth Round of the Comfort Inn Robertson Gardens Series. James Kennedy finished fourth ahead of Patrick Brennan with Bianca Smith, Dylan Menz, Simone Brehmer, Jeremy Booth and Daniel Helmore rounding out the top ten.
Next week’s program at Titan Garages Brisbane International Speedway features Wingless Sprints, Stock Cars, Outlaw Sedans, Formula 500’s and Track Championships for Ford v Holden, Sigmas, Brisbane & Open Sedans. Round 7 of the Qld Speedway Spares Series for 410ci Sprintcars will be held at BIS on February 20.
QSSS 6 Quick Results / Contingency Awards:
Qualifying (Top five): Allan Woods (11.819), Darrell Hodges (11.873), Pete Thorley (11.886), Peter Lack (12.020), Richard Morgan (12.053)
Capalaba Wreckers Heat Race Winners: Matthew Butler, Richard Morgan, Peter Lack, Kevin Titman, Todd Wanless, Anthony Lambert.
Eagle Chassis Dash: Peter Lack, Richard Morgan, Darrell Hodges, Kevin Titman, Pete Thorley, Allan Woods.
Del West B-Main (Top five, four to transfer): Matthew Butler, Ricky Mitchell, Murray Gibson, Dan Murray, Tim Garrett.
Qld Speedway Spares A-Main: Richard Morgan, Peter Lack, Pete Thorley, Todd Wanless, Darrell Hodges, Ricky Mitchell, Dan Murray, Brett Thomas, Murray Gibson, Allan Woods, Kevin Titman, Paul Rooks, Paul Morris, Mark Pholi, Matthew Butler, Craig Stevenson (DNF)
Del West Award: Tim Garrett
DMI Award: Allan Woods