Kane Clean Sweeps Summer Slam
10/01/17…Pam Franz…Super Sedan Association Media Release
Darren Kane wrapped up the 2016/2017 Super Sedan Summer Slam with his fourth consecutive feature race win in the final round at Kingaroy Speedway on Sunday night (January 1). Emulating his performance from the previous round, Kane led every lap of the shortened 36-lap feature event to clean sweep the first ever Summer Slam tour. Continuing his run of top five results in every round, South Australia’s Ryan Alexander finished in second spot, holding that position from the drop of the green. Likewise, Michael Nicola occupied third spot for the duration of the event, with the only change in order within the top five coming when Matt Williams, having seen off an initial challenge from his brother, moved ahead of Lachlan Onley to secure fourth with just half a dozen laps to run.
At the backend of a gruelling schedule comprising four nights of racing back-to-back, 23 cars fronted for the tour finale presented by Ford Wreckers Redcliffe, but none were able to stop the Kane juggernaut as he delivered another dominant display.
Kane started the night as he ended it, taking out the first heat by a comfortable margin, leading home Tim O’Shea and Dempsie Pails.
Alexander downed Peter Nicola to win heat two, with Toowoomba’s Sean Black finishing in third spot.
Another interstater prevailed in heat three when Onley outpaced Leigh Williams and Michael Nicola.
Alexander doubled up in heat four over Michael Nicola and Leigh Williams, with heat five falling in favour of Jason Campbell in advance of Darren Anning and Wayne Dick.
Matt Williams led home Onley and Kane in heat six before Alexander claimed his third win of the night in heat seven, this time ahead of Anning and Onley.
Local hope David Musch delivered in heat eight when he filled first spot ahead of Dick and Pails.
With the grind of the tour seemingly haven taken its toll on some competitors, just four cars faced the starter in the final heat. Kane cruised home to finish ahead of Michael Nicola, Leigh Williams and Campbell.
Although it was Alexander who finished as highest pointscorer upon completion of the heats, the young South Australian was unable to prevent Kane from launching into the lead at the start of the feature race and subsequently leading every circulation. Whilst things remained mostly unchanged at the front of the field, there were some fluctuating fortunes back in the pack. Having started sixth, Campbell dropped three spots before climbing his way back up to finish in sixth position, moving ahead of Leigh Williams late in the race. Sam Roza we the biggest mover in the field, advancing from 14th to finish eighth ahead of Sean Black, who gained two spots in the early going but ultimately finished back where he started in ninth. Pails completed the top ten, followed by Anning, Justin Randall, Dick, Travis Barron, Mark Towers and Bob McCosker.
Musch, Peter Nicola and Graeme Elliott were the only retirees while Matt Pascoe, who was the only driver throughout the tour to deliver a serious threat to Kane’s domination, unfortunately failed to make the feature after striking problems earlier in the night.
The 2016/2017 Super Sedan Summer Slam is proudly supported by: Super Sedan Association, Ian Boettcher Race Parts, Ford Wreckers Redcliffe, Think Money, Tania’s T’s, Speedway Sedans Queensland, Speedway Sedans Australia, Speedway Australia