Holden driver Gary Baxter delivered a clear message that the recent domination of the Yokohama V8 Ute Series by Ford is under severe threat following Round 6 at Queensland Raceway on Sunday. Baxter qualified on pole, taking 2 race wins and a 2nd to win the round overall for the Sage Racing team.
Race one was a cracker, with Baxter and Johnson off the front row, while Kim Jane was involved in an early race incident with Matt O'Grady and forced out with a broken wheel. Nandi Kiss and Brendon Tucker also came together. The safety car was deployed when Yanis "Caviar" Derums in the Kanga Loaders Ute beached his green and gold machine at turn three.
This led to a two lap sprint finish, where on the last corner of the final lap Grove Fruit Juice driver Grant Johnson surrendered the lead to Baxter after breaking an axle. Elsegood finished 2nd from Marcus Zukanovic running Adam Brand's borrowed Ford.
After missing yesterday's qualifying session due to electrical gremlins in the OBH Ute, Ford BF Falcon XR8 driver Kerry Wade started Race One today at the back of the grid.
Perth based Wade fought his way through the pack to gain an impressive 19 places in the OBH Ford to finish Race One in 8th position.
Team mate Johnson started Race 2 from the back of the grid, and had an outstanding drive in Race Two gaining 20 places, he deservedly received the PGF V8 Superclub Drive of the Day Award. Ashley Cooper and Mathew Kingsley also put in strong performances, the Gold Coast driver having a race long duel with James Brock .
LeGrand driver Scott Jennings in his first visit to Queensland Raceway also had a strong Top 8 finish.
Wade went on to win Race 2 for Ford, from Baxter and Johnson.
Reigning champ Damien White 's Ford blew a head gasket in the second last lap forcing him out for the rest of the round, a devastating result for the two time champ who is currently sitting at fourth in the overall point leader board.
Talented but unlucky Ryal "The Kid" Harris faced another disappointing result and did not finish when his gear stick broke early in Race Two.
Rookie to the series this year, Matt "Muttley" Moorehead suffered from a habitual return of gearbox concern, "I have broken a gearbox at every round I have driven, it is something I need to work on for the rest of the series and with the improvement I aim to be a strong contender for the title next year."
Race three saw Baxter on pole from Kerry Wade, Elsegood and Kingsley, with the top 6 in a classic V8 Ute dice from the flag fall. Making an early exit was Wake Up Racing's Warren Millet t who suffered from a broken tail shaft.
Kingsley also found misfortune when his gear box broke finishing his dream of a round six podium finish.
Four Seasons condom driver Benn Dunn was also having great day, until turning the BF Ford around at Turn 2 mid race and being collected by Matt O'Grady, while Steve "Spanner" Hodges spun off at turn three to again see the day's familiar yellow flag.
Second in the series going into this round, Coopers Pale Ale driver Jack Elsegood was looking good to close the points gap to Marcus Zukanovic until he lost a rear wheel at turn one bunkering the Ford in the sand. With 75% of the race completed and Elsegood's ute in a difficult position, officials called for the red flag and the final race ended with results derived from the lap 11 standings.
Sage Racing's Gary Baxter won his first round this year, with Jack Elsegood in second place and Kerry Wade in third.
"It's been very frustrating with our old engine. I've been trying to drive around the problem of a lack of horsepower. Grant set the horsepower standard and after Phillip Island we realised that's where we needed to be. The last minute changes were all worthwhile today gaining my best result this year"
The Sonax Best Presented Award went to "The Captain" Robert Jarvis for a class effort with the BVC Racing blue beast and a B-Double merchandise stall.
Elsegood has now closed the gap to series leading Zukanovic to within 14 points,Grant Johnson and Gary Baxter rounding out the top 4.
