Queensland champ Darren Kane scored an emphatic win in round two of the 2008/2009 Carline Mufflers National Super Series at Rockhampton Speedway on Monday night (December 29), leading every lap of the 35-lap feature event to emerge as the new championship points leader.
Having qualified his Ian Boettcher Race Parts Mazda RX8 on pole position, Kane set a cracking pace throughout the event, clocking a fastest lap time that was more than a second quicker than anybody else. Despite heavy lapped traffic in the closing stages, Kane was untroubled in his charge to chequer.
Defending series champion Michael Doblo enjoyed a strong home track result, bringing his Ocean Tyres Pontiac home in second spot ahead of three-time national champ Michael Nicola, who surged into the top three in the closing stages of the event after starting his National Warranty Company Pontiac on the outside of row four.
On a fast, two-lane racetrack, there was action aplenty in the various scraps for the minor placings which saw both Shane Best and opening round winner Wayne Brims occupying podium positions at various stages before ultimately finishing fourth and fifth respectively.
In a terrific drive that belies his lack of experience at this level, Brisbane’s Gavin Northfield was the best of the non-contracted drivers, advancing to sixth after starting tenth. Lachlan Onley finished in seventh spot ahead of Bill Miller, with Michael Hickey and Dave Gartner rounding out the top ten after transferring from the B Main.
Jarrod Harper started alongside Kane on the front row and led momentarily on the opening lap before Kane surged to the front and skipped clear. Harper looked to have a runner-up finish secured before a flat tyre intervened and sent him plummeting through the field for an eventual 12th-place finish behind Des Korn.
Meanwhile, South Australia’s Dan Miller made a spectacular exit on lap 12, climbing the turn two wall and rolling his Enzed Pontiac in what was the only major incident throughout the night.
Heat winners: Darren Kane x 2, Michael Doblo, Leigh Williams, Jarrod Harper, Wayne Brims, Craig Torr, Jamie McHugh, Michael Nicola
B Main: 1. Leigh Williams, 2. Michael Hickey, 3. Ron Pyne, 4. Jack Childs, 5. Dave Gartner, 6. Graeme Elliot, 7. Ron Bergmeier, 8. Chris Bussey
Feature Race: 1. Darren Kane, 2. Michael Doblo, 3. Michael Nicola, 4. Shane Best, 5. Wayne Brims, 6. Gavin Northfield, 7. Lachlan Onley, 8. Bill Miller, 9. Michael Hickey, 10. Dave Gartner, 11. Des Korn, 12. Jarrod Harper, 13. Jack Childs, DNF – Craig Torr, Graeme Elliot, Jamie McHugh, Danny Miller, Matt Pascoe, Ron Pyne, Leigh Williams
The teams now make the trek to Toowoomba’s Charlton Raceway for round three on Wednesday night (December 31), before heading to Dubbo for the first time ever on Saturday, December 3.
Series standings (top 12) after 2 of 10 rounds: Darren Kane 1080, Wayne Brims 984, Michael Doblo 854, Mat Pascoe 764, Michael Nicola 750, Jarrod Harper 705, Shane Best 672, Jamie McHugh 602, Lachlan Onley 575, Gavin Northfield 551, Bill Miller 536, Dave Gartner 524
Contingency Winners
Oval Express Best Presented Car and Crew
Daniel Miller
Shock Doctor Lucky Sevens
Lachlan Onley
The 2008/2009 Carline Mufflers National Super Sedan Series is proudly supported by the following sponsors:
Carline Mufflers
Bergmeier Engineering
American Racer Tyres
Shock Doctor
Oval Express Magazine
Art by Mickey
APCO Warrnambool
Comfort Inn and Suites Robertson Gardens
Rocky Resort Motor Inn
Comfort Inn on Raglan
National Association of Speedway Racing (NASR)
Speedway Sedans Australia (ASCF)
