Pascoe Powers to Dubbo NSSS Round 4
Pam Franz…07/01/13…NSSS Media Release
Matt Pascoe became the first driver to win multiple rounds of the 2012/2013 National Super Sedan Series when he took out round four of the championship at Dubbo’s Morris Park Speedway last night. With 40 degree temperatures throughout the day, track conditions were less than ideal, but Pascoe mastered the conditions to see off an early challenge from Darren Kane to clinch the 35-lap feature race and reclaim the series lead.
Kane was gallant in defeat, desperately chasing an outside groove that would carry him to the front and, despite several laps spent alongside Pascoe, the arrival of lapped traffic forced a retreat from such a strategy and a runner-up finish was the ultimate result. The two-time series champion now sits second overall in the championship standings.
Steve Jordan scored his best result thus far in the series this season, piloting his JD Racewear Sweet into third placing, closing in on Kane through the latter stages of a feature event that was completed without interruption in an impressive performance from all concerned. Dave Gartner continued his consistent run of results to snare fourth spot, with Victoria’s Lucas Roberts finishing fifth ahead of Mark Pagel, who sits third in the championship.
Trent Wilson was next best in seventh spot ahead of Bill Miller, while Lachlan Onley and Tony Barklimore thrilled their vocal local crowd with a charge through the field to complete the top ten after both drivers starting from the back row of the 20-car field. Having copped a post-race penalty for an infield infringement, Steve Pearce was credited with eleventh in advance of Kodee Brown and Steve Latham, who was also relegated as a result of an infield pass, with Wayne Randall, Jason Campbell, Michael Doblo and Luke Dodding completing the finishers.
Defending series champion Brad Smith made an early exit, grassing his Little Transport Insane on lap 11, with Michael Nicola and an overheating Wayne Aylett ultimately joining him as retirees as the laps wound down.
With passing at a premium throughout qualifying, heat wins were shared between Pascoe, Kane, Jordan, Smith, Wilson and Pearce. Wilson and Jordan were the only victors from beyond the front row, while Kane was the only driver to finish inside the top four in all three starts.
Despite temperatures still hovering around 30 degrees as the cars took to the track for the feature event, the drivers certainly didn’t let their discomfort inhibit their performances and there were several scraps through the field that provided plenty of interest. Having seen off Kane’s early challenge, Pascoe was solid at the front but unable to expand his advantage significantly as the leaders manoeuvred their way through lapped traffic and he greeted the chequer less than half a second ahead of his rival. Occupying the series lead heading into the event, Onley’s night started badly when he smacked the wall in hot laps, costly contact that ultimately saw him start the feature from position 20. Determined to salvage a respectable result, Onley stormed through the field – with fellow local Barklimore in tow – to surge into the top ten, pick up the Supercharge Hard Charger Award and emerge with fifth overall in the series standings.
The next round of the 2012/2013 National Super Sedan Series will be decided tonight (Sunday, January 6) at Goulburn Speedway.
Contingency Winners
Shock Doctor Lucky Sevens: Trent Wilson
Supercharge Hard Charger: Lachlan Onley
Oval Express Best Presented Car and Crew: Michael Nicola
American Racer Encouragement Award: Mark Pagel
2012/2013 National Super Sedan Series progressive pointscore: (top 20): Matt Pascoe 1817, Darren Kane 1720, Mark Pagel 1558, Dave Gartner 1534, Lachlan Onley 1506, Steve Pearce 1271, Kodee Brown 1242, Steve Jordan 1185, Lucas Roberts 1158, Michael Nicola 1151, Jason Campbell 1125, Brad Smith 1120, Tony Barklimore 1020, Wayne Randall 1016, Trent Wilson 1012, Steve Latham 990, Michael Doblo 924, Luke Dodding 808, Bill Miller 768, Wayne Brims 523