When close to 30 Wingless Sprints invaded the Bairnsdale Speedway track for Saturday night’s second Autobarn Eastern Challenge round, it was Dayn Bentvelzen who endured the 50-lap battle to take top honours.
Having recently joined forces with Adrian Densley to form Team32, Bentvelzen achieved his team’s maiden feature-race win when he managed to outlast his rivals to take what was a thrilling victory.
Lining up fourth for the 50-lap feature race by virtue of a second and third-place finish in his heat races, the Leongatha-based racer got the jump on Travis Bergmeier at the drop of the green to take third place on the opening lap and went on to chase down second-placed Wayne Logue, passing him on lap 12. Bentvelzen then set his sights on pole-sitter and leader Peter Logue.
The veteran’s significant lead appeared difficult to close; however, after a red flag stoppage at the halfway mark due to a crash further back in the field involving Wayne Hurford, drivers were forced to bunch back up for the restart, bringing Bentvelzen to within striking distance of Logue. After launching a number of attacks on Logue over the second half of the feature race, Bentvelzen pounced when Logue made a driver error while navigating lapped traffic, taking the lead with three laps to go and holding on to it to greet the chequered flag as the winner. Unable to regain his lead, Peter Logue was forced to settle for second place, ahead of Wayne Logue in third.
Finishing just off the podium in fourth was Tony Moule, ahead of round one winner Travis Millar, with Ebony Hobson, Paul Drew, an impressive Renae Eastham, Ricky Mills and Marc Evans completing the finishers.
A crowded infield saw Jaidyn Job, Todd Hobson, Kelvin Toogood, David Alford, Hurford, Nick Green, Bergmeier and Travis Evans all retire from the feature race, due to a range of issues.
The earlier heat-race action resulted in Bergmeier, Wayne Logue, Wayne Hurford and Peter Logue each taking a win, while Paul Drew, Renae Eastham, Travis Evans and Ricky Mills secured their transfer feature-race transfer spots via the B main.
Contingency Award Winners:
D&F Racing Products Hard-Luck: Adin Robertson
Motorsport Haulers Haulin Arse: Luke Schneider
For their next appearance, the Victorian Wingless Sprints will head to Hamilton’s Western Speedway for a club show this Saturday night, while the third Autobarn Eastern Challenge round will be held at Rosedale Speedway on the Friday night of April 14, which will be the opening round (of two) of the annual Gary Bowden Memorial.
The Victorian Wingless Sprints would like to thanks the following 2016-17 season sponsors: Autobarn – Bairnsdale, Autobarn – Sale, Autobarn – Traralgon, Autobarn – Wonthaggi, Autobarn – Leongatha, Autobarn – Narre Warren, Autobarn – Warragul, Cheap Tyres – Morwell, Bass Concreting, U Pick Car Wreckers, Hennessy Transport, Motorsport Hauler Trailers, Max Dumesny Motorsport, and D&F Racing Products.
For more information about the Victorian Wingless Sprints, visit their website at www.awsr.com.au/vic. You can also LIKE them on Facebook by searching Victorian AWSR Wingless Sprintcars.
Latest Autobarn Eastern Challenge Series Point Standings (after two completed rounds):
1. Travis Millar – 616 points
2. Peter Logue – 607
3. Dayn Bentvelzen – 599
4. Wayne Logue – 575
5. Ebony Hobson – 561
6. Wayne Hurford – 347
7. Marc Evans – 330
8. Ricky Mills – 322
9. Scott Irons – 302
10. Chris Halesworth – 280
