Defending series champion Darren Kane has regained the
lead in the chase for the 2009/2010 Carline Mufflers National
Super Sedan Series with an outstanding drive to victory in round
six at Mount Gambier's Borderline Speedway last night (Saturday,
January 9). Having qualified his Ian Boettcher Race Parts
Dominator-Mazda RX8 on the outside of row two, Kane initially
dropped some spots but meticulously edged his way forward before
spending the second half of the race locked in a superb two-wide
scrap with Matt Pascoe. In a duel reminiscent of their epic
clash at Warrnambool last year, this time it was Kane who used
the highline to best effect, moving into the lead with 7 laps
remaining.
In what was a fantastic race on a multi-groove
racetrack, two-time national champ Kevin Purton led the opening
lap from the outside front row before Pascoe, who started from
pole position, took over the front running on lap 2 and
established what looked to be an unassailable lead. However,
when a couple of restarts bunched the field, Kane launched his
raid, demoting Purton and Jamie McHugh before rounding up
Pascoe.
A late surge saw round five winner Wayne Brims charge into
third spot to secure the lead in the APCO Tri-City Series.
McHugh finished fourth ahead of Purton, who scored his best
result thus far in NSSS competition. Sam Hughes was solid again
in sixth, with Wayne Randall, Dave Gartner, Chris Bussey and
Trent Wilson (Molytec Australia Dominator-Dodge) rounding out
the top ten.
After qualifying his Thermal Solutions Sweet-Dodge on the
second row of the grid, Steve Jordan backslid through the field
as the laps wound down, although an 11th-place finish was enough
for him to maintain third overall in the series standings.
Ashley Bergmeier was next best after again coming from the B
Main, followed home by Shane Best, Bill Miller, a somewhat
subdued Michael Nicola and Brad Smith. With 19 of the 22
starters still running at the fall of the chequer, Lucas
Roberts, Michael Doblo and Steve Vaughan completed the
finishers. Those who failed to go the distance were Des Korn,
Wayne Miles and Clayton Pyne, whose recovery from a spectacular
heat race crash was impressive and deserved greater reward.
The preliminary heats produced some great racing, with wins
falling in favour of Pascoe (x2), Kane, Bussey, Nicola, Vaughan,
McHugh, Purton and Jordan.
The B Main was also a highly entertaining affair taken out by
Wayne Miles in a good recovery from the damage sustained the
previous night. Pyne advanced from 8th to fill the runner-up
position, while Wilson and Roberts also transferred to the main
event. Provisionals were called upon for the first time in the
series, with Bergmeier Smith, Miller and Doblo joining the
field.
Contingency winners
AFCO Shock Doctor Lucky Sevens Wayne Randall Super Charge
Hard Charger Trent Wilson Oval Express Best Presented Car and
Crew Darren Kane Ian Boettcher Race Parts Hard Luck Award
Lachlan Onley Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oils Lucky 13 Shane Best
2009/2010 Carline Mufflers National Super Sedan Series
progressive pointscore top ten (after 6 of 10 rounds): Darren
Kane 1958, Matt Pascoe 1929, Steve Jordan 1579, Michael Nicola
1505, Dave Gartner 1461, Wayne Brims 1286, Trent Wilson 1280,
Sam Hughes 1260, Kevin Purton 1242, Clayton Pyne 1235
The 2009/2010 Carline Mufflers National Super Sedan Series is
proudly supported by the following sponsors:
Carline Mufflers
JD Couriers
Bergmeier Engineering
American Race Tires
East Coast Traffic Control
Ocean Tyres
Lukey Exhausts
APCO Warrnambool
SuperCharge Batteries
Ian Boettcher Race Parts
AFCO Shock Doctor
Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oils
Kincrome Tools and Equipment
Art by Mickey
Oval Express Magazine
Hoosier Racing Tire
Clearview Towing Mirrors
SSA of NSW
QSCA
J&C Carrell Speedway Photography
Race Hard Race Gear
City Motor Inn (Toowoomba)
Rocky Resort Motor Inn
National Association of Speedway Racing (NASR) Speedway
Sedans Australia (ASCF)
