Rookie Carly Walsh claimed her maiden Wingless Sprints feature-race win in the fourth and final round of the Intercity Signs Ladies of the Dirt Series at Nyora Raceway last Sunday, while Samantha Millar wrapped up the Series point standings.
After qualifying in second for the feature race, 17-year-old Walsh, a recent Junior Sedan graduate who debuted in round two of the Series, managed to get the jump on pole-sitter Millar off the start and was never bested, going on to lead for the remainder of the 20-lap distance. It was a special win for Walsh, as her father Mark ‘Freddy’ Walsh won his first Sprintcar feature race at the same track back in 1996.
Millar managed to hold on to second, while Brittany Kuypers was able to secure her best result of the Series, maintaining her starting position to come home in third place. Finishing just off the podium in fourth place was fast-paced Renae Eastham, who improved one position after starting from fifth.
Rounding out the top-five finishers was previous Series leader Jaimie-Lee Smith, who was unable to capitalise on her advantage heading into the final round due to some engine woes in the latter stages of the feature race that denied her of the point standings win. The remaining finishers were Georgia McLeod, Bree Hall, Demelza Nettlefold, and Stacey Lagalle. Heat-race wins were awarded to Millar and Kuypers.
Following two previous round-wins, Smith had been the favourite to take out the Series; however, Millar managed to claw her way back from her round-two victory, securing the Series win by just three points over Smith. Eastham, who has shown consistency throughout the Series, claimed third place, while Nettlefold and Hall completed the top five.
The event doubled as the final round of the Velocita Eastern Challenge, which not only saw Warrick Taylor seize the feature-race win, but take out the overall Series by just two points over Wayne Hurford in the process.
In the opening lap of the feature race, Taylor, who had started from pole position, stole the lead from fellow front-row starter Todd Hobson and managed to remain out in front for the remainder of the 20-lap feature race. Hobson settled into second place, while Hurford came home in third, just narrowly missing out on the Series victory. Adin Robertson rounded out the podium in fourth.
Rounding out the top-five finishers was veteran Peter Logue, ahead of remaining finishers Nic Green, Robert Grey, Jason Langdon, Trevor Martin, Samantha Millar, Scott Irons, Travis Evans, Georgia McLeod, Liam Atkinson, and Renae Eastham. Heat-race wins went the way of Taylor, Hurford, Grey and Atkinson.
It was an epic Series finale, coming down to the final race which saw Taylor prevail, ahead of Hurford. Hobson claimed third place, while Logue and Robertson completed the top five.
On Saturday night, Darlington’s Mid-Western Speedway hosted a club show, which saw Sam Wren take out the win, ahead of Alfie’s Excavation & Plant Hire Super Series Champion Daniel Storer in second and Peter Logue in third.
These events completed the 2015-16 calendar for the Victorian AWSR Wingless Sprintcars, who will hold their annual presentation night on the Saturday night of June 4 at Capri Receptions in Geelong.
Final Intercity Signs Ladies of the Dirt Series Point Standings:
1: Samantha Millar – 1191 points
2: Jaimie-Lee Smith – 1188
3: Renae Eastham – 1053
4: Demelza Nettlefold – 1022
5: Bree Hall – 981
6: Georgia McLeod – 873
7: Carly Walsh – 803
8: Brittany Kuypers – 705
9: Te-arni Perkins – 644
10: Elira DeGrandi – 343
Final Velocita Eastern Challenge Point Standings:
1: Warrick Taylor – 1191 points
2: Wayne Hurford – 1188
3: Todd Hobson – 1053
4: Peter Logue – 1022
5: Adin Robertson – 981
6: Tony Moule – 873
7: Robert Grey – 803
8: Liam Atkinson – 705
9: Dayn Bentvelzen – 644
10: Georgia McLeod – 343