Aidan Raymont Takes out National Modified Sedan Title at Charlton

31/03/13…Pam Franz….courtesy of www.speedwaysedans.com

The Speedway Sedans Australia, GW Racing, Lucas Oil Products, Australian Modified Sedan Title has been won by Aidan Raymont in an exciting A Main Saturday night 30/03/13 at the Charlton Raceway, Toowoomba.

Raymont would defeat Nathan MacDonald, Gavin Lorensen, Glenn Pagel and Dennis Shallcross to win the title. Gavin Lorensen would start on pole for the final, with two times National Champion Todd Doyle on the outside.

In a spectacular site, all twenty drivers safely made it through the opening exchanges without incident, with Lorensen (Right) leading MacDonald, Doyle and Mark Raymont.

Jason Jolley would be the first retiree only completing one lap, in what would later be revealed to be an issue with the fuel pump.

MacDonald made his move on lap seven to take the lead, as Lorensen came under pressure from Aidan Raymont, who had rapidly made his way from position ten.  Todd Doyle, Glenn Pagel and Mark Raymont would continue to challenge for the minor placings, as MacDonald created a small buffer on the field.

The field was be condensed after ten laps when contact between Ashley Barron and Mark Raymont in turn four brought the race under caution.  Barron was sent to the rear of the field.

At the half way mark, MacDonald still lead narrowly over Raymont, with Lorensen, Doyle, Pagel, Mark Raymont and a fast moving Steve Jordan.

As the race moved in to the second half of the race, Max Clarke started to charge through the field, reminiscent of his title victory at the Lismore showgrounds.  Clarke joined the battle for the minor placings and moved into sixth place with 14 laps remaining.

A lap later Ashley Barron would bring on the red lights, when his car caught fire. “I had a good dual going there, but the best thing I could do is get to the fire crew”.

The resultant restart would see MacDonald and Raymont clear away from the remainder of the field, and it was evident the pair would fight out the title.

With ten remaining, Mark Raymont was disqualified for contact made with Glenn Pagel, which was also see the demise of Steve Jordan who required medical attention, after injuring his shoulder.

After a delay, the battle resumed, with Todd Doyle the next driver to retire as the race reached the concluding stages.  Raymont would ulitmately make the winning move with six laps remain, passing MacDonald on the inside.  Lorensen, Pagel, Clarke and Dennis Shallcross were left to fight out the minor end of the prize in a desperate finish.

Raymont would be a popular winner, leaving MacDonald as the runner-up for the second year in a row. Lorensen held on for third place, with Pagel, Shallcross, Clarke, Rodney Pammenter and Brad Stein the only other finishers.  Shallcross did a great job to finish fifth after qualifying from the B Main.

“I took the only opportunity I got” said Raymont.  “I was looking at that lap counter, and just waiting for it to tick down.  After finishing I thought, gees…. I have to go Albany next year!”

“I didn’t need that last restart, we had great car speed call weekend, but I just couldn’t hang on.  This is different to last year, at least I got to lead this one”, said a gallant Nathan MacDonald.

“I had no expectations for the weekend”, said Gavin Lorensen.  “Making the A Main was a bonus and starting on pole was unbelievable”

The B Main was a bruising affair with half of the field failing to finish.  Max Clarke (left) who was unlucky not to automatically qualify, took the win, downing Rodney Pammenter, Dennis Shallcross and Brett Barron.  Kye Blight, Greg Worling and Darren Baldwin were all early casualties only completing one of the twenty laps.

The C Main looked destined to go the distance, but a spate of minor incidents late in the race, saw the last two laps repeated three times, before getting to the chequered flag.  Brett Baxter (left) and Peter Gray would be elevated to the B Main, with Gray starting from position fourteen.

The final round of qualifying heats saw victories to Trevor Mills, Rodney Burr, Brett Baxter, Steve Jordan, Nathan Barbeler, Tony Coomber, Ashley Barron and Max Clarke.  For Barbeler, it would be his maiden heat race victory in Modified Sedan racing after moving from Junior Sedan ranks.

 A Main – 40 Laps: 1. Q11 Gavin Lorensen, 2. Q7 Todd Doyle, 3. Q32 Nathan MacDonald, 4. A1 David Smith, 5. Q4 Glenn Pagel, 6. Q25 Mark Raymont, 7. Q44 Ashley Barron, 8. V41 John Benson, 9. Q28 Aidan Raymont, 10. Q75 Andrew Harper, 11. Q10 Steve Jordan, 12. V116 Darryl Logue, 13. V112 Mark Carlin, 14. Q115 Tony Coomber, 15. N77 Jason Jolley, 16. Q6 Brad Stein, 17. N15 Max Clarke, 18. Q8 Rodney Pammenter, 19. Q81 Dennis Shallcross, 20. Q48 Brett Barron

Result  1. Q28 Aidan Raymont, 2. Q32 Nathan MacDonald, 3. Q11 Gavin Lorensen, 4. Q4 Glenn Pagel, 5. Q81 Dennis Shallcross, 6. N15 Max Clarke, 7. Q115 Tony Coomber, 8. Q8 Rodney Pammenter, 9. Q6 Brad Stein, 10. Q7 Todd Doyle (35 laps), 11. Q48 Brett Barron (32), 12. Q10 Steve Jordan (30), 13. Q75 Andrew Harper (30), 14. V112 Mark Carlin (27), 15. Q44 Ashley Barron (27), 16. V116 Darryl Logue (23), 17. A1 David Smith (7), 18. V41 John Benson (4), 19. N77 Jason Jolley (1). DISQ: Q25 Mark Raymont. Time: No Time, Winning Margin: 1.851, Fastest Lap: 17.567 Q32 Nathan MacDonald