Bangers and smash: Stock car racing in Aghadowey

THERE was some fantastic action at the Aghadowey Stock Car Stadium racing, sponsored by Norman Purdy Scrap Metal Merchants, on Easter Monday.

Drivers from across the borough and beyond took part in five thrilling races.

Clerk of the Course Matt Stirling oversaw the reopening of the stadium after approximately ten years.

The first heat winner in the 1600 Lightning Rods was Mark Dewar, who stormed through to victory from Owen Cunning in second and Neil Capper in third.

The second heat was a reversed grid and Jason Harkness came through to take the win. Jason had a good lead until the yellow flags were brought out for Jason Smyth who ended up in the wall. Paul Dunn came second and Sammy Stewart third.

The highest points scorer from the two heats was Jason Harkness on pole. Owen Cunning shared the front row and Mark Dewar and Paul Dunn shared row two.

When the green flag dropped Jason took the early lead, but it didnt take long for Mark Dewar to hit the front and Owen Cunning fololwed Mark past Jason Harkness to take up second spot.

At the flag Mark Dewar took his second win of the day, much to his delight. Owen Cunning claimed the runner up spot with Jason Harkness holding on for third.

The youngsters took to the track for heat one of the Junior Stocks with Andrew Gamble hitting the front early on after Glen White blew up. Andrew held on to take the flag with Curtis Greer finishing in second and Aaron Brunton third.

Heat two gave Curtis Greer pole position and he made no mistakes and took the flag with Andrew Gamble having to settle for second this time and first time racer Lauren McIlroy third.

The final was probably the tightest race of the day and saw Curtis Greer and Andrew Gamble battling it out for the lead. Andrew tried the outside line for several laps but had no joy. Three laps before the end Curtis and Andrew tangled on the back straight leaving Curtis spun and Andrew receiving a black flag.

This gave the lead to Lauren McIlroy who held off Aaron Brunton to take the chequered flag with Curtis Greer recovering well to finish third. A big well done to Lauren McIlroy and Shannon Morrow on their first day of racing.

The opening heat for the 1600 Bangers saw the first big crash of the day with Andrew McLeister putting Peter Henderson in the wall at the Brown Trout Corner.

The race kept going as Peter pulled in to the middle to safety. This left Lee McCloy to take the flag ahead of Mark McLaughlin and Andrew McLeister.

Head two saw the grid reversed with Roy White on pole. Roy lead the early stages of the race but Mark McLaughlin took over and lead to the chequered flag ahead of Roy and Andrew McLeister, who recovered from a big hit on the last corner from Peter Henderson, to take third.

The final had Mark McLaughlin on pole with Roy White joining him on the front row and Lee McCloy in the next row. Mark lead the race from start to finish and took an easy win ahead of Lee in second and Roy in third.

The first heat of the Open Hot Rods saw ex National Hotrod man Davy Gurney leading from start to finish with veteran Paul Nevin taking his immaculate Ford Sierra to second place and ex Classic Hotrod man Robin Morrow coming home third.

Heat two was reversed and Paul Nevin showed he still has what it takes by taking the chequered flag ahead of local man Richard Stewart and Robin Morrow.

In the final Paul lead from start to finish with the gap between himself andRichard Stewart staying the same the whole race.

Robin Morrow tangled with Davy Gurney and Robin ended up in the wall at the Brown Trout Corner. After the 16l lap final Paul held on to take the win from Richard Stewart the runner-up and Southern racer Kevin McDaid finishing in a respectable third.

In the 2L Sierras, Davy Townley didn't make the grid for heat one but made no mistake by taking the win in heat two and the Final. Mixing it with some of the Hotrods Davy showed that his 2L Sierra can work with the Hotrods!

Finally, 42 cars took to the track for the Destruction Derby and it proved to be a spectacular race.

Gareth Smith from Aghadowey came out the winner and took the 400 prize. Gareth took a big hit on the driver's door but thankfully he emerged unscathed.

The next meeting is on Friday, April 16 at 7.15pm