Kris Killa Waltons celebration from todays V8 Ute win was short lived after race officials deemed he gained a position following contact with his teammate Ryan Hansford during Race 2, Round 1 of the Auto One V8 Ute Racing Seriesprotected by Armor All, Saturday, 2nd March at Adelaides Clipsal 500.
The Queensland based driver was penalised 10 positions post-race, handing the win to Jesus Racings Andrew Fisher.
It wasnt very good news thats for sure. Were out there to win races so, well try our best and get through, the same way we did last time, said Walton.
Fisher enjoyed the race after the two had a great battle for the win in the final 3 laps and was very excited to hear the news. Fisher passed Dixon for the race lead on Lap 3, before coming under pressure from Walton over the final 2 laps, the Rentco Ford taking the lead under brakes into Turn 9.
Im very excited, you never want that to happen to anyone, he drove a good race and we had a clean race at the end, but Ill take any win theyll give to me, said Fisher. Rookie Jesse Dixon had his second Pole start in a V8 Ute, but the first in his Hayman Reese Racing Holden and did a great job to lead for the first two laps.
Ive always been getting pretty good launches and managed to get the jump and lead the first lap and pull a bit of a gap, but Fisher was right on my tail and had really good pace. He eventually got past and Walton was coming through. I didnt really want to get involved in any rough stuff, I was just happy to finish somewhere up the front, we have a good package for tomorrow and Im hoping I can put on a good performance for the Hayman Reese Crew, said Dixon.
The battle was on for 3rd between five Utes, Rhys McNally came out the victor holding out Ryan Hansford, Milwaukee Racings Nathan Pretty who moved up from 9th to finish in 6th, and Ryal Harris who drove from 11th to finish in 7th ahead of local Gary Baxter in 8th.
David Sieders drove well to break the lap record in a new time of 1:36.0919 and close out the top ten. He passed 15 cars in total, but due to his penalty yesterday was unable to claim the SS Inductions Hard Charger Award and $500 cash that went to Rookie Adam Marjoram in the Auto One Holden, for passing the same amount of Utes. The young-gun drove from 32nd to 16th in his Auto One Racing Ford.
Rookie Grant Bromley was unlucky to be pushed wide into the run-off at turn 4, ending his race. Charlie Kovacs Junior will start rear of grid for race 3 for the incident. All Bromley can remember is having his Heat treatment Australia Ford pushed into the wall.
I came out of the throttle waiting for the pack to clear on the apex at Turn 4, then got pushed into the wall, I had nowhere to go, said Bromley.
Danny Buzadzic will also start rear of grid for contact with Rhett Noonans Accuweigh Ford, which ended the Rookies Race.
Other Rookie Matt Nolan also had an unlucky race, struggling with his steering issues and ending up in the wall at Turn 4, while Jeremy Gray was an innocent victim of an altercation between Cam Wilson and Wayne Wakefield and parked the JMG Maintenance Ford on the main straight.
Stephen Whites Dunlop Super Dealer Holden had a broken tie rod and was forced to retire from the race.
The V8 Utes will hit the track for their final race to close out Round 1 tomorrow at 11:40am, which will also be televised LIVE as on Network Seven.
