Kane Clinches Tri-City Crown

NASR National Office

SSA Media Release

Darren Kane has moved to the top of the 2010/2011 Carline Mufflers National Super Sedan Series standings with a resounding win in round six of the championship at Warrnambool’s Premier Speedway on Sunday night (January 9).  After qualifying on pole position for the 40-lap feature race, Kane led throughout to clinch the Ian Boettcher Race Parts Tri-City Challenge, finishing ahead of Tony Barklimore and Colin Hockley, both of whom recorded their best ever series results.

In another high speed exhibition on the Warrnambool oval, Kane encountered little resistance in the feature race, becoming the first driver to win multiple series rounds in the 2010/2011 championship chase.
North Queensland’s Trent Wilson was strong once again, bouncing back from a mishap in qualifying to advance from tenth to fourth and assume second place in the championship standings. West Australian veteran Gary Higgs spent much of the race snookered behind Des Korn before skipping clear in the closing stages to finish his east coast campaign strongly.  Despite struggling with an ill-handling car, Korn held on to sixth spot ahead of Ashley Bergmeier, with Kevin Purton, Bill Miller and Michael Nicola rounding out the top ten.  Brett Hignett, Sean Lister and Graeme Elliott completed the finishers in a race that saw several series contenders eliminated early and has thrown the championship wide open.

Defending champion Matt Pascoe qualified his NQ Proline Plasterboard Contractors Dodge-Sweet on the outside front row, only to see his race end on lap two after contact with Ron Pyne, who was sent to the rear of the field in a disappointing end to a night that had started so well for the three-time national champion.  Series leader Brad Smith and teammate Lucas Roberts were also victims of this incident and headed infield, with Pyne grassing his Auto One Pontiac two laps later.  Other casualties included Zac Calderwood, Sam Hughes, David Mackenzie, Shane Best and Bernie Roberts.

Qualifying opened proceedings on the night and it was Pyne who cut the quickest lap, stopping the clock at 14.103 to edge out Barklimore (14.133), Kane (14.210), Lucas Roberts (14.265) and Higgs (14.333).

Pyne backed up to win the opening heat, with Barklimore, Kane, Smith, Korn and Pascoe also collecting heat wins.  Heat two was a cracker with Smith – who was leading the championship heading into the event but had timed poorly in qualifying – stormed from the rear of the field and clocked the fastest lap of the night, only to fall 0.016 seconds short of victory in a thrilling finish.

A luckless Lachlan Onley’s night ended before it had even begun when an engine fire in hot laps put his Dencol Sand and Gravel Mustang out of action.

Contingency Winners
 
Shock Doctor Lucky Sevens: Ashley Bergmeier
Supercharge Hard Charger: Trent Wilson
Oval Express Best Presented Car and Crew: Trent Wilson

Results

Heat 1: 1. N9 Ron Pyne,  2. Q17 Colin Hockley, 3. V0 Lucas Roberts, 4. V3 Michael Nicola, 5. V16 Ash Bergmeier, 6. T25 Kevin Purton, 7. Q3 Graeme Elliott, 8. T4 Sam Hughes
Heat 2: 1. N63 Tony Barklimore, 2. T6 Brad Smith, 3. Q44 Trent Wilson, 4. W81 Gary Higgs, 5. N76 Brett Hignett, 6. Q61 Des Korn, 7. N44 Bernie Roberts, 8. V75 Zac Calderwood
Heat 3: 1. Q36 Darren Kane, 2. Q15 Matt Pascoe, 3. S77 Bill Miller, 4. V15 Sean Lister, 5. V24 David Mackenzie, 6. V19 Gary Bryans. DNF – S23 Shane Best, DNS – Lachlan Onley
Heat 4: 1. T6 Brad Smith, 2. T25 Kevin Purton, 3. V0 Lucas Roberts, 4. V3 Michael Nicola, 5. N63 Tony Barklimore, 6. Q44 Trent Wilson, 7. N76 Brett Hignett, 8. Q3 Graeme Elliott
Heat 5: 1. Q61 Des Korn, 2. V75 Zac Calderwood, 3. Q36 Darren Kane, 4. David Mackenzie, 5. W81 Gary Higgs, 6. S77 Bill Miller, 7. N44 Bernie Roberts. DNS – Shane Best
Heat 6: 1. Q15 Mat Pascoe, 2. T4 Sam Hughes, 3. V16 Ash Bergmeier, 4. Q17 Colin Hockley
5. N9 Ron Pyne. DNF – V15 Sean Lister, V19 Gary Bryans, DNS – Lachlan Onley

2010/2011 Ian Boettcher Race Parts Tri-City Challenge final pointscore (top ten): Darren Kane 1168, Trent Wilson 942, Colin Hockley 908, Brad Smith 841, Tony Barklimore 840, Lucas Roberts 708, Gary Higgs 695, Kevin Purton 681, Des Korn 665, Michael Nicola 628

2010/2011 Carline Mufflers National Super Sedan Series progressive pointscore (top ten): Darren Kane 2021, Trent Wilson 1775, Brad Smith 1676, Lucas Roberts 1536, Tony Barklimore 1533, Colin Hockley 1466, Kevin Purton 1292, Mat Pascoe 1264, Des Korn 1219, Bill Miller 1208

The 2010/2011 Carline Mufflers National Super Sedan Series is proudly supported by the following sponsors:
 
Carline Mufflers
JD Couriers
Bergmeier Engineering
American Racer Tyres
Supercharge Batteries
Monroe Shock Absorbers
Brims Coastal Cement
Ian Boettcher Race Parts
Elf Racing Methanol
Lukey Exhausts
AFCO Shock Doctor
Oval Express
Art by Mickey
Hoosier Tyres
Comfort Inn and Suites Robertson Gardens
National Association of Speedway Racing (NASR)
Speedway Sedans Australia (ASCF)