For the third season in a row, Luke Redpath last Saturday night at Carrick Speedway picked up the Webster Trucks Tasmanian Wingless Sprint Title spoils.
Despite the Sassafras, Tasmania-based racer qualifying for the Webster Trucks Tasmanian Title-deciding feature race on the outside of the front row and settling into second place in the early stages of the race, he was then able to chase down pole-sitter Scott Thomsen, stealing the lead from him just two laps in.
Redpath paced the field for the remainder of the 25-lap distance, and while he was forced to endure some pressure rom Thomsen towards the end of the race, he maintained his composure, going on to greet the chequered flag as a comfortable winner.
The lone interstate entrant of the Tasmanian Title, Queenslander Thomsen enjoyed a pleasing performance throughout his heat races aboard the car owned by local Tim McKinnell to earn the pole position start. After leading the opening couple of laps, Thomsen fell victim to Redpath’s passing move but that didn’t stop him from continuing to apply the pressure on the leader throughout the duration.
Showing his nose with five laps remaining, a subsequent mistake from Thomsen dashed his hopes of taking over first place, leaving him forced to settle for second.
Local runner Jacob Goodluck put in a career-best drive to complete the podium in third place, which bettered last season’s result of fifth.
Just missing out on the podium in fourth was Jamie Rolls ahead of Bradley Walkley and former Tasmanian Title holder Brad Whitchurch. The latter, who was regarded as one of the event’s favourites, crashed earlier in the night but managed to repair the car to record a sixth-place finish.
The remaining finishers were Josh Padman, Samuel Laing, Jake Power and Jason Taylor.
Troy Lewis was unable to finish the feature race, while Nicholas Curtin was a feature-race non-starter following dramas in his qualifying heat races.
The action in the qualifying heat races was thick and fast, with Padman, Redpath and Whitchurch sharing the wins. Despite not recording a win, the likes of Rolls, Laing, Thomsen and Goodluck performed strongly with various minor podium finishes.
Redpath has without a doubt been the form driver this season and it was quite fitting that he came away with a Tasmanian Title hat trick of wins.
The AWSR would like to thank Webster Trucks for their support of the Tasmanian Wingless Sprint Title. Established in 2007, Webster Trucks offers a wide range of heavy trucks across four brands: Isuzu, Mack, UD and Volvo. With facilities located in Hobart, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie, Webster Trucks has the most extensive retail network of service and parts outlets in Tasmania. To find out more about Webster Trucks, visit their website at www.webstertrucks.com.au.
For more information on the AWSR, visit their website at www.awsr.com.au or LIKE them on Facebook or Follow them on Instagram and Twitter by searching Australian Wingless Sprint Racing.