Randall Too Strong in NSSS Round 6
12/01/09…NASR/SSA Media Release
In one of the most exciting races staged since the inception of the competition, two-time champion Wayne Randall stormed to a brilliant win in round six of the 2008/2009 Carline Mufflers National Super Sedan Series at Mount Gambier’s Borderline Speedway last night (Saturday, January 10). Starting from position eight, Randall blasted around the outside to assume the lead as early as lap seven and then spent the rest of the race engaged in a torrid duel with Michael Nicola before emerging triumphant.
On a history-making night, Randall became the first non-contracted driver to win a series round, drawing upon his vast experience and skill to keep Nicola at bay in a terrific scrap. In fact, Nicola swept into the lead on lap 13, only to surrender his advantage four laps later when Randall regained the ascendancy. However, Nicola leads the Tri-City pointscore and has advanced to second overall in the championship standings.
Equally as impressive as the lead duo was third-placed Brad Smith, cutting the fastest lap of the race in advancing from position 10 on the grid. After a somewhat indifferent start to the series, Smith took a liking to the ultra-fast, multi-groove Borderline track to make an overdue appearance on the podium.
In another series first, a 6-cylinder car started on pole position for a NSSS feature event when Lachlan Onley upstaged his V8-powered rivals with a sensational qualifying performance that included a gearbox change between heats. He led the opening six laps of the feature before succumbing to the two-pronged assault from Randall and Nicola. Although, a late-race pass from Dave Nichols relegated Onley to fifth overall, it was still an outstanding performance from the youngster.
Shane Best finished sixth in front of Michael Doblo, while an eighth-place result was enough for Wayne Brims to maintain his lead in the championship standings. Lionel West was rewarded for his effort in traveling from Victoria as a non-contracted driver, finishing ninth ahead of Dan Miller and a hard charging Matt Pascoe, recovering from a spin on lap 17 that saw him banished to the back of the pack.
Tony Barklimore, Bill Miller, Trevor Ware, Ron Bergmeier, Dave Gartner and Jack Childs completed the finishers. Queensland champ Darren Kane was an early casualty, a broken stub axle ending his challenge on lap three, while the only others who failed to go the distance were the Tasmanian trio of Jarrod Harper, Sam Hughes and Bruno Jetson.
Onley and Nicola collected two heat wins apiece to secure the front row spots, with Smith, Best, Brims, Kane and Doblo sharing the others. Misfortune befell Michael Hickey and Chris Bussey in the preliminaries, with both drivers detonating engines and making an early exit from proceedings.
Heat winners: Lachlan Onley x 2, Michael Nicola x 2, Brad Smith, Shane Best, Wayne Brims, Darren Kane and Michael Doblo
Feature Race: 1. Wayne Randall, 2. Michael Nicola, 3. Brad Smith, 4. David Nicholls, 5. Lachlan Onley, 6. Shane Best, 7. Michael Doblo, 8. Wayne Brims, 9. Lionel West, 10. Dan Miller, 11. Matt Pascoe, 12. Tony Barklimore, 13. Bill Miller, 14. Trevor Ware, 15. Ron Bergmeier, 16. Dave Gartner, 17. Jack Childs, DNF – Darren Kane, Jarrod Harper, Sam Hughes, Bruno Jetson
Series standings (top ten) after six of ten rounds: Wayne Brims 2586, Michael Nicola 2513, Darren Kane 2352, Shane Best 2326, Matt Pascoe 2217, Michael Doblo 2200, Jarrod Harper 2016, Dave Gartner 1944, Lachlan Onley 1584, Bill Miller 1484
APCO Warrnambool Tri-City Challenge progressive pointscore (top ten) after two of three rounds: Michael Nicola 972, David Nichols 968, Wayne Brims 898, Wayne Randall 847, Matt Pascoe 758, Shane Best 638, Sam Hughes 620, Lachlan Onley 616, Brad Smith 601, Dave Gartner 591
Contingency Winners
Shock Doctor Lucky Sevens
Michael Doblo
Oval Express Best Presented Car and Crew
Tony Barklimore
The 2008/2009 Carline Mufflers National Super Sedan Series is proudly supported by the following sponsors:
Carline Mufflers, Bergmeier Engineering, American Racer Tyres, JD Couriers, Shock Doctor, Oval Express Magazine, Art by Mickey, APCO Warrnambool, Comfort Inn and Suites Robertson Gardens, Rocky Resort Motor Inn, Comfort Inn on Raglan, National Association of Speedway Racing (NASR), Speedway Sedans Australia (ASCF), J & C Carrell Speedway Photography