Australian champion Darren Kane took out the final round of the 2009/2010 Carline Mufflers National Super Sedan Series at Murray Bridge Speedway last night, finishing ahead of Clayton Pyne and Dave Gartner the 40-lap championship finale. However, it was fellow Queenslander Matt Pascoe who clinched the series championship after a month of competition across four states.

Having qualified his Ian Boettcher Race Parts Dominator-Mazda RX8 on pole position, Kane spent the early laps trailling Tasmania’s Sam Hughes who, for the second time in as many nights, started on the outside front row and assumed the lead when the green flag flew. Unfortunately for Hughes, a spin in turn four quashed his victory aspirations.

Pyne advanced from position four to annex his second consecutive runner-up result, with Gartner inheriting third spot when Wayne Brims was excluded from the results after failing to report to scale and refusing to take part in the post-race presentations. Steve Jordan finished in fourth spot ahead of Jamie McHugh, with Hughes recovering to finish in sixth spot.

Brad Smith was next in line ahead of Michael Doblo and Pascoe, who has been a model of consistency throughout the series and whose talent, effort and attitude make him a worthy champion. Nicola completed the top ten in advance of Kevin Purton, who transferred from the B Main despite a heat win, with Trevor Ware, Ashley Bergmeier, Dan Miller, Shane Best and Bill Miller completing the finishers.

Despite the best efforts and Pyne and Brims, Kane remained in control out front as most action centred on the mid-pack scrap that produced positional changes aplenty as drivers clambered for points for the final time. Kane ultimately finished second overall in the championship, with Gartner securing third spot ahead of Jordan and McHugh.

Heat winners on the night were Kane (x2), Pascoe, Pyne, Gartner, McHugh, Hughes, Purton and Townsville’s Trent Wilson, who was unable to take his place in the feature race field after a series of terrific performances throughout the series.

Ware took out the B Main over Purton, with Bergmeier, Bill Miller, Dan Miller, Steve Vaughan, Steve Stewart and Chris Blunden also transferring to the main event.

The championship trophies and a myriad of additional prizes and awards Pascoe will be crowned at the series presentation dinner at the Adelaide Convention Centre tonight (Monday, January 25).

Contingency winners

AFCO Shock Doctor Lucky Sevens – Brad Smith
Super Charge Hard Charger – Jamie McHugh
Oval Express Best Presented Car and Crew – Steve Jordan
Ian Boettcher Race Parts Hard Luck Award – Wayne Miles

2009/2010 Carline Mufflers National Super Sedan Series final pointscore (top ten): Matt Pascoe 3692, Darren Kane 3593, Dave Gartner 3142, Steve Jordan 3014, Jamie McHugh 2955, Kevin Purton 2822, Clayton Pyne 2788, Michael Nicola 2568, Sam Hughes 2560, Brad Smith 2367

The 2009/2010 Carline Mufflers National Super Sedan Series is proudly supported by the following sponsors:

Carline Mufflers
JD Couriers
Bergmeier Engineering
American Race Tires
East Coast Traffic Control
Ocean Tyres
Lukey Exhausts
APCO Warrnambool
SuperCharge Batteries
Ian Boettcher Race Parts
AFCO Shock Doctor
Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oils
Kincrome Tools and Equipment
Art by Mickey
Oval Express Magazine
Hoosier Racing Tire
Clearview Towing Mirrors
SSA of NSW
QSCA
J&C Carrell Speedway Photography
Race Hard Race Gear
City Motor Inn (Toowoomba)
Rocky Resort Motor Inn
National Association of Speedway Racing (NASR)
Speedway Sedans Australia (ASCF)