Warm sun, clouds closing in with thunder, lighting and heavy rain tortured the Championship night of the 74th Australian Speedcar Championship before the hurricane arrived in the shape of Adam Clarke.
The defending Champion after an ordinary start on the preliminary night turned that around on a very fast race track, lots of cautions to win the 74th Australian Championship. This was back to back wins making Clarke a four time winner of this most sought Title.
The banked Premier oval offered plenty for the drivers and Oklahoma’s Tyler Thomas continued his previous nights blistering high line style to chase aggressively after Clarke early . Alex Bright was also lighting up the track as he chased his first Australian Speedcar Championship. The former Magic Man 34 Winner had the Graham Jones Racing, really buzzing!
Towards the end of the 40 lap Championship Nathan Smee started to pressure Clarke, his American Racing Tires Service Spike appeared to be a handful for the former Champion as he worked overtime to keep the pressure of the Jack Berry Racing /Polar Ice car.
There were two races on the night the first the race by the Club officials to ensure that the fans and race teams did not have to return on the Sunday and their efforts in keeping the meeting running despite the challenges of the weather was the right call and the meet promoters beat the weather for once
.The work behind the fences by track staff goes unnoticed in many cases but one who appreciated their efforts was Adam Clarke, standing in victory lane with his crew and car Owner.
Starting the year with a new team, new staff offered some challenges to Clark as he struggled to get on terms and the early result would certainly been below both his and the teams expectations. Saturday night the Polar Ice team was white hot and Clarke again stamping himself as Australian Champion and number one!
While there can only be one Champion there were many efforts during the Championship that need to be recognized. The Americans lead by Bight and Thomas. The determination of Davey Ray with his back of the field rushes. Brendan Palmer the Preliminary Night winner who finished 6th and the mighty effort by Mark Brown coming from deep in the B main to finish fifth in the Championship decider .
The 10 lap record was smashed during the heats first by Tyler Thomas and finally by Dayne Kingshott
A field of 52 started the Championship on Friday night and there was room for only 24 in the Feature .The grueling 40 laps had plenty of causality with only 15 of the 24 car completing the Championship journey finished
Final placing 74th Australian Speed car Championship – Premier Speedway Warnambool
Adam Clarke (1) ,Nathan Smee (2),Alex Bright (3) ,Tyler Thomas (4) , Mark Brown(5) ,Brendan Palmer (6), Jamie McKinlay (7),Davey Ray (8),Matt Greenwood (9), Jerry CoonJr (10),Ben Hall (11),Kaiden Manders (12),TRavis Mills (13) ,Dayne Kingshott (14), Paul Farrell (15) ,Nicholas Rowe (DNF),Todd Waddell (DNF),Scott Wilson (DNF),Gabe Goode (DNF),Lee Redmond (DNF),Neville Lance (DNF),Anthony Challe (DNF), Domain Ramsey (DNF),Troy Jenkins (DNF)
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