Virginia South Australia – January 11 /2014
Adam Clarke -Stunning victory at Speedway City
Adam Clarke preparing for his victory lap at the Australian Title
A mere 26 Km south of Adelaide the Capital of South Australia Speedway City was all set for the final night of the 2014 73rd running of the Australian Speedcar championship.
Perfect summer afternoon welcomed the teams as they prepared for the Championship night.
Night one finished with American Alex Bright in the Polar Ice /Jack Berry owned #29 topping the points but it was the 2001,2002 Champion Adam Clarke who won the preliminary feature ahead of Bright and South Australia’s Brock Hallett.
After the time trials and heats the seeding for the all import Pole Shuffle were set. The quickest two Alex Bright and Dayne Kingshott faced off for pole, two frenetic laps and Bright grabs the pole for the Polar Ice Team.
The defending Champion Neville Lance had a tough night finding himself at the back of the B main but as the defending Champion he is automatically gifted the final position at the back of the 20 car field.
Bright on the pole line, 40 laps to run and Kingshott bounces out ahead of the American and maintained the lead for 8 laps .The drivers were on the edge in the opening laps and an early tangle brought out the first caution .On the restart Kingshott continue to hold the point with Bright searching for an early weakness in the Kingshott armory.
The Title chase underway
Kingshott started to slow and it was clear the Western Australian youngster was having car trouble as he started to fall into the chasing group.
Once in the lead Bright started to show some pace and started to put a gap in the field .South Australian Brock Hallett and Newcastle’s Adam Clarke were looming early and it was Clarke who was making the most progress and soon was feeling the heat off the American’s cars exhaust .
Clarke harassed Bright and it was no surprise when Clarke stormed under Bright and started to gap the American. Bright simply had no answer to the speed of Clarke in his new Deane’s Contracting Mac Chassis, Engliss/Depp engine #WA11.
With Clarke charging out in front and looking unchallengeable the interest was in the battle looming between Bright, Hallett and current US POWRi Champion Zach Daum.
As dominant as Clarke was the excitement for the local South Australian crowd was the stirring performance of local 360 and 410 Sprintcar drivers Ryan Jones. Starting out of position 19 Jones chewed up field, apart from Bright and Clarke no driver was beyond his reach.
The Championship was now four laps from the checker and the fear of any driver leading any race is the possibility of a late race caution and this is what faces Clarke when Jamie McKinley managed to turn his #42 race around forcing the late race restart .After clearly being the class of field you had the feeling that the Clarke team were anxious. After building up such a massive lead the championship was now down to a four lap dash. Clarke’s third Championship was now just 4 laps away
Clarke from Newcastle the 2001 and 2002 Champion was hungry for a third Championship and as soon as the starter offered the green go flag, Clarke sent the message, this is my championship and he immediately started to build a championship winning gap between himself and Bright.
Clark drove to the line a clear and decisive Champion, Alex Bright was solid finishing second without offering any real threat to the winner.
Ryan Jones was simply unbelievable as he charged through the field grabbing the final Championship position with a late pass on American Zach Daum, it was a stunning drive. Defending Champion Neville Lance recovered to cross in 6th position
The final placing for the 73rd Australian Speedcar Championship
1. W11 ADAM CLARKE (NSW)
2. Q29 ALEX BRIGHT (USA)
3. S41 RYAN JONES (SA)
Ryan Jones Adam Clarke Alex Bright on the podium at the Australian Titles
4. W7 ZACH DAUM (USA)
5. S11 BROCK HALLETT (SA)
6. A1 NEVILLE LANCE (WA)
7. N9 MARK BROWN (NSW)
8. W3 SCOTT GLAZEBROOK (WA)
9. Q25 ANTHONY CHAFFEY (QLD)
10. N78 TROY JENKINS (NSW)
11. Q69 BRETT THOMAS (QLD)
12. W8 PAUL ROBINSON (WA)
13. S7 JAMIE CROUCH (SA)
14. S71 BEN HALL (SA)
15. W15 ROB GOLDING (WA)
16. W12 CHRIS TELENTA (WA)
17. DNF – N42 JAIMIE MCKINLAY (NSW)
18. DNF – N14 TRAVIS MILLS (VIC)
19. DNF – W24 DAYNE KINGSHOTT (WA)
20. DNF – Q58 RUSTY WHITTAKER (QLD)
21. DNF – S64 ADAM WALLIS (NSW)
Best Lap: W7 ZACH DAUM in 00:14.961 at Km/H
*Photo credits Speedway City and On the Outside
