Drivers share victory honours on busy night of Raceway action

Speed Stocks double heat winner James Goldie was the only driver to enjoy more than one victory during the evening, but was forced to settle for second in their final behind Billy Finnegan Jnr.

Main event on the trophiesni.com sponsored programme was Round 3 of the Elite Series for Stock Rods and after a frustrating time in the heat races it was Series leader Carl Sloan who pulled it altogether when it mattered most to capture the silverware with a polished drive in the final.

Broughshane’s Jason Clyde demonstrated the potential of his new car with a fine victory in the Group Two Lightning Rod final, while Bradley McKinstry left the rest trailing on his way to victory in the Junior Rod category.

STOCK RODS

Round 3 of the Elite Series commenced with a flag to flag win for Victor McAfee in the opening heat. Irish Champion Stevie McNiece followed McAfee home in the opener with World Champion Chris Gordon in third.

Recent form man Micky McFall produced a great drive to win heat two in emphatic style, with McNiece second once more and Gordon looking very competitive again in third. The points scored in the heat races determined the starting positions for the final and it was McNiece who qualified on pole with McFall’s Vauxhall Nova alongside on the front row.

The rain had closed in by the start of the final where the front row starters went wheel to wheel over the opening tours. McNiece defended his lead resolutely as McFall dropped back into the clutches of Gordon, but the man on the move was Carl Sloan. The Kells driver had started fifth on the grid after problems in the second qualifying heat, but was revelling in the wet conditions and quickly motored up into second position.

Leader McNiece was now within Sloan’s sights and could offer little resistance as Sloan powered through on the wide outside to take an impressive win which confirms his place at the top of the Elite Series standings. McNiece completed a full set of runner-up positions for the evening, with McFall recovering for third ahead of Gordon, Derek McMillan and McAfee.

GROUP TWO LIGHTNING RODS

Nineteen cars lined up for the opening GP2 heat which was led initially by David Gillespie. It wasn’t long before Noel Hazlett burst through to the front however and his Vauxhall Astra pulled steadily clear for a dominant win.

Kenny Carson and Darrell Hanna enjoyed good tussle for the lead in the early laps of heat two before Hanna made his move at Fisherwick bend and motored away to victory.

The final developed into an intriguing three way dice between Jason Clyde, Lyle Murray and Ricky Shaw with very little separating the trio. Both Murray and Shaw made brave attempts to pass the leader around the wide outside, but neither could make it stick as Irish Champion Curtis Greer entered the lead battle over the closing laps. Clyde resolutely maintained his position all the way to the chequered flag to become the first driver to win more than one GP2 final in 2013, with the fast-finishing Greer second and Shaw third.

SPEED STOCKS

James Goldie continued his impressive recent form with another victory on heat one with Billy Finnegan in second and Stewart Nicholl in third. Goldie and Finnegan contested the lead in heat two and it appeared that Finnegan had this one in the bag until his Honda Civic slowed over the final laps which allowed Goldie to ease ahead for his second win of the evening.

Finnegan made no mistake in the final however and controlled this one from the front to clinch a flag to flag victory. Goldie was forced to settle for second with Nicholl’s Vauxhall Tigra in third.

JUNIOR RODS

Niall McFerran was awarded victory in the opening heat after on the road winner Bradley McKinstry was penalised by the race steward for contact during the race.

Newcomer Liam Wilson marked himself down as one to watch out for with a composed drive to win heat two.

No one had any answer to McKinstry in the final however where the blue top powered through to the front and pulled further and further clear to win by nearly half a lap. A fantastic scrap for second between Wilson, McFerran, Aaron Moody and Jack Kennedy went the way of Kennedy, while it was McFerran’s turn to feel the wrath of the steward this time as the Rasharkin lad was demoted to fourth behind Moody in the final result.

THIS WEEKEND

Racing continues this Friday evening (June 28). Top of the bill is the finale of the Grand Prix Series for the BriSCA F2 Stock Cars which is very evenly poised after the opening two rounds with only 3 points separating series leader Gary Blair and the driver in second place Ryan McCrory.

The Junior Rods contest their Supreme Championship on Friday evening, while the Group Two Lightning Rods compete for the Champion of Champions award.

The Challenge Cup race for ProStocks is also scheduled and if sufficient entries come forward a Soapbox Derby for pedal cars will also be staged at the Raceway.

The first race at the RPM Motorsport sponsored meeting commences at 7:15pm.