From Murray Bridge Speedway
In an emotional win, local Murray Bridge rookie Mason Merritt took out the Ross Wright Memorial preliminary feature of the 2011 Murray Machining & Sheds Australian 360 Sprintcar Championship tonight.
The remarkable twist was that Merritt races the SA 23, formally run by the late Ross Wright, Murray Bridge life member and club legend, and in fact had Ross’s engine slotted between the chassis rails.
Merritt�s car is also based in the Wright family workshop and utilises Ross�s old race car trailer!
Another local and two time champion Ryan Jones took the race lead from the start, pacing poke sitter Adam Currie and Merritt and a host of South Australian cars � Jamie Hendry, Chad Ely, Craig Vanderstelt, Brendan Quinn and Mark Caruso.
They were followed by a trio of interstaters in Bill Fraser (Vic), Robert Watson (WA) and Kate Searle (Vic).
The tricky track conditions caught a few drivers out, with a serious of yellow light stoppages resulting in drivers sitting on the infield. Hendry, Ely and Vanderstelt were out on lap 6, Caruso on lap 8 and Watson on lap 9.
Meanwhile Jones was controlling the race up front, until an the car spun on the back straight for no particular reason, with Jones citing steering box issues.
Jones restarted at the tail and ultimately raced back to 10th in the last six laps.
Currie inherited the lead, with Merritt settling in for second, until making a move on Currie and taking the lead around the outside.
But the win almost wasn�t, only to be slowed by a lapped car a lap later, with Currie taking back the lead.
Not to be underdone, Merritt was able to repass Currie with two laps to go, duplicating his first attempt and making it stick.
Fellow rookie Quinn drove a great race to finished third followed by a consistent Bill Fraser, excitable Kate Searle and Phil Lock.
The cars and the stars return tomorrow night for the Australian Championship finale.
Full results and the night 1 points tally can be found on mylaps.com
Prelim A-Main Results;
1. Mason Merritt
2. Adam Currie
3. Brendan Quinn
4. Bill Fraser
5. Kate Searle
6. Phil Lock
7. Shannon Barry
8. Michael Lovegrove
9. Shane Hendry
10. Ryan Jones
11. Chris Ackland
12. Shaun Forrell
13. Robert Watson (DNF)
14. Mark Caruso (DNF)
15. Chad Ely (DNF)
16. Craig Vanderstelt (DNF)
17. Jamie Hendry (DNF)
18. Kane Manual (DNF)
Night 1 top 10 Points
1. Adam Currie 58.5
2. Mason Merritt 56
3. Brendan Quinn 54
4. Ryan Jones 52.5
5. Chad Ely 50
6. Bill Fraser 48.5
7. Kate Searle 48
8. Jamie Hendry 47
9. Mark Caruso 46.5
10. Craig Vanderstelt 45.5