Kane Too Good in Toowoomba Showdown
08/11/16…Pam Franz….courtesy Super Sedan Association Media Release
Two-time national champion Darren Kane secured his second feature race win in as many weeks when he triumphed in round four of the Think Money Super Sedan Championship Series at Toowoomba Speedway on Saturday night (November 9). In a race that featured three different leaders over the course of the 30 laps, it was Mark Pagel who looked on track for his third win from four outings until Kane pounced with only five laps remaining. Pagel finished second to further extend his series lead, with Matt Pascoe continuing his run of podium results with a third-place finish. Ian Brims is another driver who has enjoyed a very strong start to the season and he was in the thick of the action once again, finishing fourth ahead of Jason Campbell and early race leader Wayne Randall.
Whilst a couple of nominated drivers frustratingly failed to front, a strong 20-car field hit the track in front of a big crowd for Ultimate Pink Night, proudly presented by Ian Boettcher Race Parts.
In his first race for the season, Campbell found himself on pole position in the opening heat and he led all the way to defeat Pagel and Bob McCosker.
Round two winner Steve Jordan advanced from the outside of row two to down Travis Barron and Michael Nicola in heat two, with Kane outpacing Randall and Pascoe in heat three.
Heat four saw Kane back in victory lane, this time finishing ahead of defending series champion Sean Black, with Pascoe third again from the rear of the field.
Heat five went to Nicholas O’Keefe over Campbell and Randall, with Jordan also doubling up in heat six when he surged from the back of the pack to outgun Nicola and Pagel.
Pascoe prevailed from pole position in heat seven, leading Mark O’Brien and Campbell to the line, with heat eight falling to Nicola in advance of Jordan and Brims.
In an indication of what was to come in the main event, a back row start proved no obstacle for Kane as he triumphed in the final heat in advance of Pagel and Craig Craft to complete an undefeated run through the preliminaries to finish as top qualifier for the main event.
The Penrite Grid Draw always mixes things up though and it did so again on this occasion, elevating Randall onto pole position for the feature race. Not surprisingly, the veteran took full advantage of his good fortune to lead the field away with Kane, Jordan and Pagel in pursuit. Jordan edged ahead of Kane on lap two, only for Kane to regain the position a lap later when Jordan exited the contest. Pagel pounced on lap five to grab second from Kane, with Pascoe also on the move into fourth spot. On lap eight, Pagel moved to the front as Pascoe rounded up Kane and Randall, with Campbell also in the mix. Pagel and Pascoe held sway at the front until Kane, who had dropped as far back as fifth at one stage, started his surge. Kane rounded up Pascoe on lap 26 and moved to the lead a lap later, clocking his fastest lap of the race on lap 29. The minor placings remained unchanged with Pagel finishing second ahead of Pascoe as Ian Brims snatched fourth from Campbell on the final lap. Randall backslid to sixth as the race ran its course, with David O’Keefe and Brendan Doyle next best. O’Brien, McCosker and John Sheehan were the only others to go the distance. Nicola exited on lap 27 while running seventh, joining Jordan, Craft, Barron, Black and Tony Brinkmann on the grass.
The next round of the Think Money Super Sedan Championship Series is scheduled for Ausdeck Patios Archerfield Speedway on Saturday, November 26.
The 2016/2017 Think Money Super Sedan Championship Series is proudly supported by: Think Money, Penrite, Ian Boettcher Race Parts, AFCO Shock Doctor, Sweet Chassis, B&J Car Sales, Queensland Speedway Spares, Barnes Drilling, Dominator Race Wear, J&J Bullbars, M&N Car Carriers, McCosker Contracting, Tania’s T’s, Brisbane Truck Centre, Brims Concrete, Ford Wreckers Redcliffe
For Super Sedan news and results throughout the 2016/2017 season, follow the Super Sedan Association on Facebook or visit the Super Sedan Assn website at www.supersedan.com.au