Jan 26, 2012

Two-time series champion Wayne Randall scored his first win of the 2011/2012 Carline Mufflers National Super Sedan Series in a narrow result ahead of Australian champ Steve Jordan and local ace Steve Latham in round 8 at Cranes Combined Carrick Speedway last night.

Having started his Tas Truck Refinishers Rocket-Pontiac from position three in the 35-lap feature race, Randall had advanced to second behind Michael Nicola by the end of the opening lap.  The veteran duo ran side-by-side for several laps before Randall edged ahead, leaving Nicola in the clutches of Jordan, who also moved ahead of the three-time national champion.  

Meanwhile, back in the pack, Latham was storming through the field at a rapid rate, having qualified a lowly 18th. In a masterful performance, the series rookie had advanced six spots into 12th after just 3 laps and was sitting 6th after just 10 circulations of the Carrick clayway.  By lap 19 he was inside the top five and lap 22 saw him move into third ahead of Nicola. Latham seemed certain to reel in the leaders before a restart following a spectacular crash and fire on lap 29 slowed his momentum.

In what was a scary moment for all concerned, a collision in the back straight involving Graeme Elliott, Michael Doblo and Grant Hopkins resulted in a ruptured fuel tank and a spectacular fire that was, thankfully, quickly extinguished with all drivers emerging unscathed. 

From the resumption, Randall remained calm under pressure and withstood the best efforts of Jordan, for whom a runner-up finish was enough to expand his series lead, with Latham scoring his best result of the series thus far in third.  Darren Kane finished fourth after starting ninth, with pole qualifier Lachlan Onley fading to fifth ahead of Sam Hughes and Nicola, with Leon Nichols and David Mackenzie completing the finishers. 

Flat tyres befell Dave Gartner, Brad Smith and Shane Best, all of whom had qualified inside the top ten, while other casualties included Bill Miller, Des Korn, David Nichols and the luckless Lucas Roberts.

Heat winners on the night were Onley (x2), Jordan, Nicola, Kane, Hughes, Smith, Gartner and Jarrod Harper, who subsequently suffered an engine breakage and failed to start the feature.

Jordan’s remarkable consistency over the three Tasmanian events saw him emerge as the winner of the inaugural Tasmanian Triple Challenge ahead of Smith, Randall, Kane and Latham.  Meanwhile, Grant Hopkins was rewarded for his perseverance and pace, winning the TSCF Trophy for the highest placed non-contracted driver in the Triple Challenge.

The series now takes an extended break before reconvening at Kalgoorlie Speedway in Western Australia on Wednesday, March 7.

Contingency Winners

Monroe Pole Winner: Lachlan Onley

Supercharge Hard Charger: Steve Latham 

Shock Doctor Lucky Sevens: Michael Nicola

Oval Express Best Presented Car and Crew: Lucas Roberts

American Racer Encouragement Award: David Nichols (Round 7), Bill Miller (Round 8)

Hoosier Podium Bonus: Steve Latham

Tasmanian Triple Challenge: Steve Jordan

TSCF Trophy: Grant Hopkins

2011/2012 Carline Mufflers National Super Sedan Series progressive pointscore (top ten): Steve Jordan 4332, Darren Kane 4027, Wayne Randall 3752, Brad Smith 3751, Dave Gartner 3584, Lachlan Onley 3476, Sam Hughes 3278, Jarrod Harper 3065, Steve Latham 2961, David Nichols 2849

2011/2012 Tasmanian Triple Challenge (top ten): Steve Jordan 1907, Brad Smith 1636, Wayne Randall 1600, Darren Kane 1565, Steve Latham 1428, Dave Gartner 1412, Sam Hughes 1405, Lachlan Onley 1363, Michael Nicola 1152, Bill Miller 1106

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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