Jan 5, 2012

Tasmania’s Brad Smith stormed to victory in round three of the 2011/2012 Carline Mufflers National Super Sedan Series at Tyrepower Sydney Speedway tonight, leading home series leader Darren Kane and Australian champion Steve Jordan in a thrilling 35-lap feature race.

Smith started the feature from pole position after an unbeaten run through qualifying, while Kane and Jordan worked their forward from the third row of the grid to fill the podium.

Smith’s domination of the event – his first clean sweep result since the series began – was in  stark contrast to his efforts at the corresponding round last season where he struggled in a performance that ultimately cost him second overall in the championship.  On this occasion, Smith was smooth and fast from the outset, winning his opening two heats from deep in the field before an all-the-way victory from the front row in his final preliminary.

In the early laps of the event, Smith skipped clear of the field by a considerable margin with only Victorian champion Lucas Roberts within striking distance.  However, Roberts’ race ended on lap 18 when he was unable to avoid Jason Campbell, who had speared across the track after contact from Graeme Elliott.  The contact sent Campbell into a roll over the turn one embankment and left Roberts ruing his rotten luck whilst in such a strong position.

From the ensuing restart, and subsequent interruptions following spins by Tony Barklimore, Michael Hickey and Sam Hughes, Smith found himself under considerable pressure from Kane, Jordan and Jarrod Harper, who had advanced to second at one stage.  At the final restart, Smith surrendered the lead for the first –and only –time when Kane assumed command.  Not to be denied, Smith regained the ascendancy as the laps wound down to score a memorable win.  Kane was satisfied with second, while Jordan’s consistency keeps him firmly entrenched in second overall in the series standings.

Harper ultimately finished in fourth place ahead of Lachlan Onley, Wayne Randall, Wayne Brims, David Nichols and Steve Latham, with Mark Pagel continuing his impressive run to round out the top ten. Dave Gartner was next best in advance of Bill Miller, Sam Hughes, Michael Hickey, Robert Carrig, Tony Barklimore and Graeme Elliott, with only Michael Nicola and Tania Smith joining Campbell and Roberts on the sidelines.

Other heat winners on the night were Kane, Nicola, Gartner, Roberts, Brims and Nichols, while Smith took out the B Main ahead of Pagel, Miller, Hickey and Barklimore.

2011/2012 Carline Mufflers National Super Sedan Series progressive pointscore (top ten): Darren Kane 1965, Steve Jordan 1700, Brad Smith 1531, Lachlan Onley 1503, Wayne Randall 1469, Jarrod Harper 1466, Dave Gartner 1333, Mark Pagel 1283, David Nichols 1361, Lucas Roberts 1110

Contingency Winners

Supercharge Hard Charger: Bill Miller

Shock Doctor Lucky Sevens: Wayne Brims

Oval Express Best Presented Car and Crew: Steve Jordan

Monroe Pole Winner: Brad Smith

American Racer Encouragement Award: Brad Smith

The Carline Mufflers National Super Sedan Series is proudly supported by:

• Carline Mufflers
• Speedway Australia
• Speedway Sedans Australia
• Lukey Performance Products
• Supercharge Batteries
• Monroe Shock Absorbers
• JD Couriers
• Ian Boettcher Race Parts
• American Tire and Racing Services
• Hoosier Tyres
• AFCO Shock Doctor
• Oval Express Magazine
• Bob Jane T-Mart Modbury
• Comfort Inn and Suites Robertson Gardens
• Elf Racing Fuels
• Motel Le Grande (Albany)

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