The latest round of the autObarn Super Series for Wingless Sprints, held at Mount Gambier’s Borderline Speedway in South Australia on Saturday night, resulted in an impressive win for Dayn Bentvelzen.
After starting the feature-race from the pole position, Bentvelzen, who finished in the runner-up spot in last season’s Super Series final point standings, ran the entire race with no brakes aboard the Vic # 9 Adrian Densley-owned car. At the start of the race, he immediately went into the lead and went about setting up a sizeable gap to the rest of the field.
A stoppage around the halfway mark of the race, and another one a few laps later saw the field bunched up but at each restart Bentvelzen just had too much speed over the rest of the field. In the closing stages, Bentvelzen came under serious attack by current Victorian Champion Travis Millar. Despite Millar applying plenty of pressure, Bentvelzen was too strong and recorded the win.
Borderline Speedway has been a happy hunting ground for the Leongatha, Victoria-based racer as this was his second victory this season, following his Summer Slam Series round win earlier this year.
Dayn Bentvelzen.
Runner-up Millar was a model of consistency throughout the event. Starting on the outside of the second row, the Fitzpatrick Autosports team driver was always in contention throughout the 30-lap feature-race and as mentioned, made a challenge for the lead in the final laps. Millar threw everything he had at Bentvelzen but just came up short at the fall of the chequered flag.
Coming home in third place was Alex Ross. The impressive rookie, who already this season has a feature race win under his belt along with a minor podium finish in the Victorian Title, made some great ground early in the feature race, coming from his ninth place starting position to be inside the top five towards the halfway mark. With 10 laps remaining, Ross, driving the Vic # 14 Mick Uebergang-owned car, made the move into third and despite not being able to challenge the front runners, held on for a solid result.
Crossing the finish line just off the podium in fourth was Alex Thomson. Although fading just outside the top three, Thomson was in podium contention for most of the race distance before losing a spot to Ross. It was still a pleasing performance for Thomson in what has been a breakout season.
Rounding out the top-five finishers was Matthew Symons. The Simpson, Victoria-based racer started the feature-race from position 12 and had to fight hard, in a very competitive field, to make his way forward on what was a tricky racetrack with rough spots on the highline and slick on the bottom groove.
Completing the top-10 finishers was defending Super Series Champion Luke Weel, current Super Series points leader Daniel Storer, a hard-charging Carly Walsh, Shaun Lyness and local Mitchell Broome.
The remaining finishers was Luke Schneider in 11th ahead of Marcus Green, Marc Evans, Glenn Watts and Luke Storer.
Non-finishers were Todd Hobson, Geoff Cook and Michael McDonald.
Earlier in the night, a total of eight heat races were contested, with the wins going to Bentvelzen (x 2), Millar, Cook, Evans, Weel, Thomson and Luke Storer.
McDonald emerged victorious in B main 1, while Walsh was the B main 2 winner.
The next event for the Victorian Wingless Sprints will be held this Saturday night of March 24 at Darlington’s Mid-Western Speedway for the annual Stonypoint 5000.
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.