Jason secures Golden Helmet triumph as curtain comes down on Raceway season

Glenn Bell collects the National Hot Rod Trophy from event sponsor Ross Hyndman.

Ballymena racer Jason Clyde finished the season in the best possible fashion with victory in the sought after Golden Helmet Trophy for the Group Two Lightning Rod division.

Clyde qualified his Vauxhall Astra on pole position after two consistent finishes in the heat races and controlled the final from the front to lead home Garvagh’s Nigel Doherty and Matthew Curran from Broughshane.

GP2 Golden Helmet Trophy: 1st. Jason Clyde, 2nd. Nigel Doherty, 3rd. Mathew Curran, 4th. Rodney Stewart, 5th. Daniel Rodgers, 6th. Brian Edgar

GP2 Golden Helmet winner Jason Clyde with Raceway mascot Ethan McClean.

NATIONAL HOT RODS

Another driver on top form was National Hot Rod ace Glenn Bell, who boasted his World Qualifying campaign with a perfect hat-trick of wins in Round 6 of the PC Paints and Components World Series NI.

That performance earned the 2012 World champion the Driver of the Day award, while the season long Track Championship for the Nationals was settled conclusively in favour of Gary Wilson from Ballyclare, with Broughshane’s Jaimie McCurdy and Carl Sloan from Kells rounding out the top three in the overall standings.

National Hot Rods World Series NI Round 6: 1st. Glenn Bell, 2nd. Adam Hylands, 3rd. Keith Martin, 4th. Adam Maxwell, 5th. Mark Heatrick, 6th. Stewart Doak

Euro Stocks winner Mark Frew with Raceway mascot Ethan McClean.

STOCK RODS

Newly crowned Stock Rod Irish Champion Wilfie McNiece began his reign with another dominant win in the Challenge Cup event.

The Newtownhamilton man split the heat wins with Garvagh’s Stephen Doherty before leading the final from start to finish, with Lester McCloy and Doherty the place men in this one.

Stock Rods Challenge Cup: 1st. Wilfie McNiece, 2nd. Lester McCloy, 3rd. Stephen Doherty, 4th. Matthew McKinstry, 5th. Rodney Arbuthnot, 6th. Tim Hazlett

JUNIOR RODS

Shannon Morrow continued her great end of season form with a fine victory in the Junior Rod Top Teen Trophy.

The Glenarm girl just held off a fast finishing Jack Kennedy to take the silverware, with the final podium spot going to local Joel McPeake who would go on to claim victory in the support race.

Junior Rod Top Teen Trophy: 1st. Shannon Morrow, 2nd. Jack Kennedy, 3rd. Joel McPeake, 4th. Antony Kincaid, 5th. Samuel Wilson, 6th. Matthew Drysdale

EURO STOCKS

In the Euro Stock division Mark Frew was in the right place at the right time to swop past early leaders Colin Clifford and Stephen McCahon in one race winning move which earned the Moneymore man the Champion of Champions Trophy.

Larne based Clifford returned a comfortable win in the support race.

Euro Stocks Champion of Champions: 1st. Mark Frew, 2nd. Alistair Christie, 3rd. Colin Clifford, 4th. Bobby Johnston, 5th. Johnny McCloy, 6th. Richard Nicholl

MEETING SPONSOR

The Raceway action on Friday evening was kindly sponsored by trophiesni.com and Ross Hyndman Motors.

NEXT MEETING

The next track action at Ballymena Raceway is the traditional New Year’s Day holiday meeting on Friday 1st. January 2016.

The programme features the Winter National Championships for the National Hot Rods, F2 Stock Cars, Euro Stocks, Group Twos and Stock Rods.

The first race will get underway in The Ballymena Showgrounds at 2pm.

Ballymena Raceway officials have thanked all the drivers, sponsors and suporters for their backing this season.