From SRA
In what can only be described as a trying night for the competitors in round eleven of the Eureka Garages and Sheds Sprintcar Series at Western Speedway Hamilton that had some high’s and lows for a few of the main contenders in the Series before Jamie Veal returned to the lead of the Series with yet another win.
Round eleven had all the makings of a big night of entertainment for the fans with the Eureka Series heading into the final rounds of the Series where vital points were on offer to the main contenders that could ill afford to have a bad night.
It was not long before two of the Series leaders were in trouble during the first round of heat races, Tim Rankin entered this round of the Series in third place only to score a DNF is his heat race and no points. Heat three was no better for Darren Mollenoyux the Series point’s leader who did not get past the first lap of his heat when he was involved in an incident between Ricky Barrand and Michael Phillips that would see the V77 car on the infield with a flat left rear tyre and no points.
If something could go wrong in the first round of three heats it sure did, leaving some twelve sprintcar sitting on the infield that was to see many restarts during the these heats, Charles Hunter was out for the night and would not return for the next round of heats.
With full fields once again the next round of heats went through without many issues that would see both Rankin and Mollenoyux take a win each that was to prove vital for the Main event aspirations. Rankin gained enough points to fill the last qualifying spot of the A main grid prior to the B Main while Mollenoyux was not so lucky and had to try to transfer from the B Main.
Heading into the top six time trail Mitch Foster was at the top of the points table, Foster would have a few other drivers that are not seen in the top six often join him for a shot at pole position in the Eureka Garages & Sheds Main event, Ramsay, Davis and Matthews were to be joined by two of the top four drivers Veal and Vogels.
Vogels was first out to go against the time clock setting a time that was not to be beaten and secure pole position for the Main event, joining Vogels on the front row would be Domain Ramsay, with Mitch Foster and Jamie Veal timing in for the second row then Ryan Davis and Rod Matthews filling the third row of the grid.
Filling positions seven thru to fourteen of the main event was Carl Ludeman, Mike Van Bremen, Brett Milburn, Peter Mines, Michael Cunningham and Tim Rankin.
The B main was up next that would see the first six drivers home join the rear of the A main field, with a full field of eighteen sprintcar the action was on to try and make the main event. Darren Mollenoyux stared from pole position that would see him go on to win the race from Daniel Pestka, after the fifteen lap journey John Baynes, Simon Van Ginneken, Adam King and Eddie Lumbar who just edged out Glen Sutherland by a little over one hundredth of a second for the final transfer spot would also transfer to the A Main.
Vogels elected to start on the outside of the front row looking for the edge to take the lead at the start, one lap down and Vogels was heading the pack with Veal in second place while Ramsay was hung out to dry from his front row start crossing the line in sixth place. The order after lap one was Vogels, Veal, Matthews, Van Bremen, Foster and Ramsay heading the top part of the field. A few laps in and the challengers were stating to take place, Pestka was flying through the field moving into sixth place by lap six while Mollenoyux had also stared to move forward. Up front the leaders were into lapped traffic that was to see Vogels and Veal running side by side fighting for the lead before Veal won out on lap eight. The first caution was out soon after with Baynes having a gentle roll in the main straight that would put him out the race.
With only another lap completed after the restart with an incident between Milburn, Davis and Ramsey brought the caution lights back on. Out were Milburn and Davis also Lumbar pulled to the infield with a mechanical problem. Back under way once more and Veal stepped up the pace leading with a comfortable margin over Vogels who was now under pressure from Rankin while Mollenoyux had passed Pestka to move into position four. Ludeman, Van Bremen, Van Ginneken, Milnes, Foster and Cunningham were in a race of there own trying to catch the lead group.
While Veal had headed of into the distance Vogels, Rankin and Mollenoyux were locked in a battle that was worth the price of admission to see, Matthews demoted Pestka to move into fifth place by lap twenty before the final caution of the race was on.
Now this is were things got real interesting, at the restart Veal took command once again while Mollenoyux put a move on both Vogels and Rankin to take second place that caught the officials eyes, so the order heading to the final stages of the Eureka Garages & Sheds A Main was Veal, Mollenoyux, Rankin, Matthews, Pestka, Van Ginneken, Van Bremen, Milnes and Foster.
With only a few laps to run Matthews was the man to watch demoting Vogels and Rankin down the line to finish in third place behind the race winner Jamie Veal and Darren Mollenoyux, in fourth place was Vogels, followed by Rankin, Pestka, Van Bremen, Van Ginneken, Milnes and Foster.
Jamie Veal was quick to put his sprintcar on the scales and to celebrate yet another win in the Eureka Series and to also move back into the Series point lead.
While Veal had won the race the stewards were looking into a passing move by Mollenoyux at the last restart, a discission was made to relegate Mollenoyux four spots for the passing move which elevated Matthews into second place and Vogels into third.
At the presentations there were three happy drivers accepting there trophies and thanking their teams and sponsors, but back in the pits Darren Mollenoyux was lodging an appeal against the steward’s discission.
No matter what the outcome of the appeal would be it was not going to affect Jamie Veal who had just won another race and taken back the lead in the Series.
” It is good to get another win and be leading the points again, thanks to everyone and my team, it was a though night but a great result, the car was just fantastic, the team always give me a good car which makes my job easier”
After the stewards and an independent tribunal hearing was conducted into the appeal lodged by Darren Mollenoyux the final official results were confirmed, Darren Mollenoyux was reinstated to second place in the race leaving the final
Placing’s to be 1st, Jamie Veal, 2nd Darren Mollenoyux, 3rd Rod Matthews, 4th John Vogels followed by Tim Rankin, Daniel Pestka, Mike Van Bremen, Simon Van Ginneken, Peter Milnes and Mitch Foster.
Heat wins on the night went to – Heat 1 – V95 Ryan Davis, 2 – V9 Rod Matthews, 3 – V14 Carl Ludeman, 4 – V47 Tim Rankin, 5 – Act4 Mitch Foster, 6 – V77 Darren Mollenoyux.
The next rounds of the Eureka Garages & Sheds Sprintcar Series that will be paying $5000 to win is at Simpson Speedway Simpson for round 12 on Saturday the 10th of March 2012, followed the next night at Avalon Raceway Sunday the 11th of March 2012 for round 13 of the Series, this round will also double as the Victorian Open Sprintcar Title for 2012.
More information for these events can be found at www.simpsonspeedway.com and www.avalonraceway.com
Eureka Garages and Sheds Series nightly contingency awards:
ELF RACING FUELS top point scorer – Act4 Mitch Foster
HOOSIER TIRE AUSTRALIA random draw between position 6th and 18th –
13th place – V20 Domain Ramsay
D&F RACING PRODUCTS hard luck of the night – V73 Charles Hunter
AMERICAN TIRE & RACING SERVICE a $100 product voucher for the most cars passed in the A Main at each round of the Series – V77 Darren Mollenoyux
(11 cars) (This award will go to the driver that finished the higher if any ties)
CASCADE NATIONAL P/L 1st competitor not to transfer from B to A-Main –
S20 Glen Sutherland
End of Series awards:
METRIC MEN End of Series most heat wins – Overall V77 Darren Mollenoyux (7)
JOHN SIDNEY RACING most cars passed in A-Main (end of series) cars passed. Overall – V77 Darren Mollenoyux (26 each)
Eureka Garages & Sheds major sponsor of the Series overall prize money poole.
Camden Neon Signs & Hoosier Tire Australia – sponsors of the Series Prize poole.
Parr Motorsports –Drivers Driver award as voted on by the drivers in the Series
KTM Top Ten Motorbike award – Random draw at the Presentation Dinner.
Essendon Ford Trip to America award – for drivers finishing between 11th and 20th place in the Series. Random draw at the Presentation Dinner.
Eureka Garages and Sheds Sprintcar Series Top Twenty:
KTM Top 10 – (350 EXC-F)
(End of Series random draw between 1st & 10th place)
1st – V35 Jamie Veal 3431
2nd – V77 Darren Mollenoyux – 3425
3rd – V70 John Vogels – 2995
4th – V47 Tim Rankin – 2986
5th – V68 Brett Milburn – 2856
6th – V6 Mike Van Bremen – 2766
7th – V9 Rod Matthews – 2595
8th – V20 Domain Ramsay – 2356
9th – V14 Carl Ludeman – 2150
10th – V26 Nick Lacey – 2081
Essendon Ford – Trip to America
(End of Series random draw between 11th & 20th place)
11th – V57 Michael Phillips – 2060
12th – N36 Eddie Lumbar – 2017
13th – V74 Michael Cunningham – 1973
14th – S20 Glen Sutherland – 1946
15th – V48 Adam King – 1945
16th – V17 Dennis Jones – 1872
17th – T45 Kurt Luttrell – 1709
18th – V95 Ryan Davis – 1708
19th – V25 Jack Lee – 1618
20th – S27 Daniel Pestka – 1598
The Sprintcar Racing Association of Victoria thank the following
Eureka Garages and Sheds Sprintcar Series sponsors:
EUREKA GARAGES & SHEDS, KTM AUSTRALIA, ESSENDON FORD, MD MOTORSPORT, HOOSIER TIRE AUSTRALIA, CAMDEN NEON SIGNS, AMERICAN TIRE & RACING SERVICES, PARR MOTORSPORTS, JOHN SIDNEY RACING, CASCADE National Pty Ltd, THE METRIC MEN, D&F RACING PRODUCTS, ELF RACING FUELS, COREY GIBSON PHOTOGRAPHY, MAXAM PRINTING, SPRINTCARWORLD.
Video Highlights…
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfHb5fMqcAU&hd=1