Rentco Ford driver Kris Walton grabbed a last corner victory from veteran Melbourne racer Kim “The Assassin” Jane during Race 1 of the 2015 East Coast Bullbars Australian V8 Ute Racing Series, at Sandown Raceway Saturday
Jane grabbed an early lead after a lighting start from the front row, while Walton was slow away and had to fight back from behind, taking Jane for the race lead just as a safety car was deployed mid race. The race ended under yellow after 7 laps, while medical teams tended to Mason Barbera following a high speed tear up involving the Bundaberg rookie and Melbourne’s Leigh Nicolaou.
The two came together at the end of the back straight, sending the 17 year old hard into the Armco fencing. Barbera was transferred to the Prince Alfred Hospital in Melbourne with suspected fractured ribs and for further observation. Race officials deemed it a racing incident and no further action was taken.
Nathan Pretty had a strong run to finish 3rd in Race 1, from Adam Marjoram, Adam Beechey and Ryal Harris. Beechey is having his best weekend since joining the series currently running 7th for the Round.
Andrew Fisher celebrated his 200th V8 Ute race by finishing 7th, ahead of Gerard McLeod, George Miedecke and Cam Wilson, having a great run in the Go Karting Australia Ford. Rookie Ben Grice started from the rear of the grid and had a stellar drive to finish 11th, while Craig Dontas, Ryan Hansford, Jeremy Gray, V8 Supercar DVS driver Todd Hazelwood all had incidents.
Walton drew out ball 9 in the reverse grid ballot draw, which put Miedecke and McLeod on the front row for Race 2. McLeod made the best of it to lead the field away, while Danny Buzadzics Western General Bodyworks Ford was turned around early in the race.
McLeod controlled the race early while Kim Jane dropped off the track at Dandenong corner and lost a number of places, however Fisher, Pretty, Harris, Marjoram and Walton were putting pressure on McLeod and Miedecke setting up a freight train of panel rubbing V8 Ute racing at its best. Walton was the aggressor, moving through Marjoram first and then toughing it out with Nathan Pretty for a number of laps, before spearing off the track at the end of the back straight, and retiring with a holed radiator.
Charlie “Handlebars” Kovacs had an off mid race at Turn 1 after contact with Todd Hazelwood while late in the race, Miedecke locked up under pressure, taking McLeod with him at Dandenong corner. Fisher grabbed the chance to take his 6th V8 Ute race win on his bi-centenary celebration weekend.
“What a way to celebrate my 200th race weekend. The Jesus Ford ran strong all race, thanks to my main mechanics Marc and Dave and the whole crew who turned what was a very slow Falcon XR8 at Townsville into a front runner this weekend,” the Illawarra driver explained.
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