Christie wraps up title at Raceway

NATIONAL Hot Rod racer John Christie is the new Northern Ireland Champion for 2009/10 after the final round of the World Qualifying Series at Ballymena Raceway on June 4.

Christie did all the was required to maintain his top spot in standings by following home main rival Glenn Bell in the meeting final to capture the title for the first time.

Portglenone lass Liscinda Smyth showed the men how to do it in the Group Two Lightning Rods class, with the other final honours at the McMillan Travel of Ballymoney sponsored meeting falling to Stevie McNeice in the Stock Rods and Stuart McCammon in the Saloon Stock Cars.

NATIONAL HOT RODS

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Going into the final round of the series three drivers, John Christie, Glenn Bell and Mark Heatrick, were still in with a chance of being crowned Northern Ireland Champion. Outgoing champion Stewart Doak started the evening with a flag to flag victory in heat one, with Christie the first of the title chasers home in second.

Heatrick clinched victory in race two, but the results obtained in the heat races narrowed it down to a straight fight between Christie and Bell for the title going into the final race of the series. Christie's points advantage meant that he could follow Bell home and still be crowned champion and that is exactly how things worked out.

Bell did all that he possibly could by going out and winning the final, but Christie coolly tracked the winner home to secure the overall title. The six drivers representing Northern Ireland at the 2010 National Hot Rod World Championships are confirmed as John Christie, Glenn Bell, Mark Heatrick, Keith Martin, Stewart Doak and Gary Woolsey.

Heat One: 1. Stewart Doak (Portadown), 2. John Christie (Ballinderry), 3. Mark Heatrick (Portadown).

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Heat Two: 1. Heatrick, 2. Glenn Bell (Portadown), 3. Christie.

Final: 1. Bell, 2. Christie, 3. Heatrick.

STOCK RODS

Micky McFall commenced the evening with a great win in the opening heat, his MM Recovery Vauxhall Nova just edging ahead of long-time leader Thomas Morrison on the final lap.

After that the rest of the meeting belonged to Stevie McNeice. The former Irish Open Champion opened his account with a win in heat two, before powering around the outside of Geoff Milligan to repeat the feat in the final. Heat one winner McFall followed the Enniskillen man home in second, with Yokohama Champion Raymond Harper in third.

Heat One: 1. Micky McFall (Craigywarren), 2. Thomas Morrison (Ballymoney), 3. Michael Reid (Cullybackey).

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Heat Two: 1. Stevie McNeice (Enniskillen), 2. Geoff Milligan (Portadown), 3. Morrison.

Final: 1. McNeice, 2. McFall, 3. Raymond Harper.

SALOON STOCK CARS

Stuart McCammon saved his best performance of the evening for the final and went back to County Armagh with the silverware. McCammon trailed home in third place during both heat races as Irish Champion Andrew Stewart and Antrim's Darwin Wright set the pace.

Come final time however McCammon found a burst of speed which left the rest struggling in his wake. Stewart chased hard, but could not close down the gap to the leader, with Wright showing well again in third.

Heat One: 1. Andrew Stewart (Portadown), 2. Darwin Wright (Antrim), 3. Stuart McCammon (Armagh).

Heat Two: 1. Stewart, 2. Wright, 3. McCammon.

Final: 1. McCammon, 2. Stewart, 3. Wright.

GROUP TWO LIGHTNING RODS

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Once again the victories were spread around in the competitive Group Two class, with each race producing a different winner. Samuel Montgomery kicked proceedings off with a win in the opening heat, before Kenny Carson continued his winning streak with another victory in heat two.

Liscinda Smyth breezed through into the lead during the early stages of the final and comfortably kept her Vauxhall Astra out front for a fine win. The Doherty lads, Nigel and Stephen, followed Smyth home, with Carson, Daniel Norris and David Gillespie completing the top six.

Heat One: 1. Samuel Montgomery (Castlerock), 2. Kenny Greer (Ballymena), 3. Stephen Doherty (Garvagh)

Heat Two: 1. Kenny Carson (Ballymena), 2. Liscinda Smyth (Portglenone), 3. Jonny Gillespie (Galgorm)

Final: 1. Smyth, 2. Nigel Doherty (Garvagh), 3. S. Doherty.

CLASSIC HOT RODS

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Caleb Howard’s new car, Ford Escort Mk. 2, made its debut on Friday evening, but it was form man Stephen Nevin who continued to impress with a brace of victories in their races.

Heat One: 1. Stephen Nevin (Macosquin), 2. Caleb Howard (Moneymore), 3. Desie Howard (Moneymore)

Heat Two: 1. Nevin, 2. D Howard, 3. C Howard.

THIS WEEKEND

A star-studded entry of Stock Car racers from all over the UK will descend on Ballymena Raceway this Friday evening (June 11) to contest the F2 Stock Car Irish Open Championship.

Reigning Stock Car World Champion Micky Brennan tops the entry list. The Lancashire man is making his first appearance in the province this weekend and is sure to be a big hit with local fans. Another popular driver making the trip is Rob Speak from Manchester. Speak held the World title no less than 8 times during the nineties and the racing legend’s first appearance in the province for over a decade is sure to be welcomed by his many fans here.

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British Champion Dave Polley from Cambridgeshire and National Champion Chris Bradbury from Winnersh in Berkshire are two quality entrants expected to battle it out for victory along with Plymouth superstar Jon Palmer. Scottish hopes are headed by Chris Burgoyne from Falkirk. The 2002 World Champion is joined by fellow countrymen Kevin Bruce, George MacMillan, Roy Anderson and the Kelly brothers, Graham and Stuart.

The home drivers will be keen to keep the trophy in the province however, with Irish Champion Craig McConnell from Bangor one of the top local hopes for glory.

Former European Champion Graham Fegan and his brother Gavin are also expected to figure prominently along with current points leader Adam Maxwell from Crumlin. All in all a total of around thirty drivers are expected to take part in this prestigious event, with Ryan McCrory, Christopher Kincaid, Gary Blair and Conor Hughes amongst the other local racers bidding for glory.

The impressive line-up of support races includes the final of the Group Two Lightning Rod Global Oils Grand Prix Series and another big entry of cars is expected from this popular class. Completing the packed programme are races for the Saloon Stock Cars and Stock Rods.

The Saloon racers will battle it out for the Slemish SuperCup, with the first race getting underway in the Ballymena Showgrounds at 7:15pm.

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