West Aussie Rhys “Stormin” McNally has taken out Race 2 in front of family and friends securing himself Pole position in tomorrow’s final Race at Round 2 of the East Coast Bullbars Australian V8 Ute Racing Series at the UBET Perth SuperSprint, Saturday, 2nd May.
McNally took the lead after a hectic first lap, which saw a safety car deployed after three separate incidents, two at the first turn, which saw Rookie, Mason Barbera incur a flat tyre after a hot-shot start off the line from his first Pole Position, Jeremy Gray was the innocent victim caught up in an incident with the trio of Danny Buzadzic, Cam Wilson and Kris Walton and was launched into the Sand-trap at Turn 1, Gray thankfully managed to return his JMG Racing Ford to the race. The third incident ended both Jordan Skinner and Peter Burnitt’s race following contact with Danny Buzadzic at Turn 4.
Buzadzic was excluded from the Race for careless driving.
McNally survived and pushed his Stratco Racing Holden to his first Race win this year.
“It’s definitely good for a change to watch it all in front of you and pick up the pieces, so I’m very happy with how the race has panned out, to get a race win at home is absolutely awesome, I’m hoping to repeat today’s performance tomorrow ,so I’m really excited,” said a jubilant McNally.
Holiday For Life racer, Ryal Harris also survived the debacle and was trying his best to close in on McNally to take the lead, but the two time Champion couldn’t quite get there coming home in second and cementing his place as the current Series leader of the ARMOR ALL Drivers Championship leading into Race 3 tomorrow.
“I definitely feel I am back in control now, that race was a perfect example, I could have had a crack at Rhys but there was no point, he was driving pretty hard. We have a front row start tomorrow so the aim is to just bank more points and come out of this weekend on-top,” said Harris.
Gerard McLeod put in one of his personal best results and bought his RYCO 24-7 &Transco MFG Holden home in third ahead of Auto One’s Adam Marjoram in fourth, George Miedecke in fifth and Kim Jane in sixth.
Multispares Racing’s Ryan Hansford held onto eighth place in front of Just Car Racing’s Craig Dontas in ninth and Kris Walton finally making the top ten, a great drive from 16th position in his Rentco Ford.
All Purpose Pest Control Racings Grant Johnson was battling for fifth earlier in the race but after contact with Marjoram at turn 7 on lap 9, he suffered a flat tyre limping into the pits but managed to re-join the field to finish the race in 23rd. Marjoram was reprimanded for the incident.
Andrew Fisher suffered power steering issues after contact with former teammate David Sieders on the main straight, the Jesus Racing driver was running ninth at the time before he ended his race on the sidelines.
Andrew Nickolls sadly exited the race early with steering issues.
Adam Beechey had a great race to finish in 13th from his 28th starting position and as a result walked away with the DBA Hard Braker Award.
There are 70 points up for grabs in tomorrow’s final Race (3), which will be televised live on Fox Sports at 11:25am. Kim Jane (99 points) is only six points ahead of David Sieders (93 points). McNally, Harris, McLeod & Marjoram are all locked together on 85 points just 2 points behind Ryan Hansford (87 points) so be sure to tune in to watch the action and see who will be crowned the East Coast Bullbars Australian V8 Ute Racing Series Round 2 Champion.
