Jerome finishes first in 1600 Lightning Rods

THE fifth meeting of the season was held on Friday at Aghadowey Stock Car Stadium.

The meeting was kindly sponsored by Ballymoney business R Newton Auto Repairs, Services/M.O.Ts & P.S.Vs Telephone: 028 27649154

1600 Lightning Rods

Heat One in the 1600 Lightning Rods saw 15 cars take to the track to do battle. Jerome Doherty has been ranking up the points lately and he took the win ahead of Sammy Stewart who made good ground from his red roof start. White roof Dermot Donnelly finished third, his first podium finish this season.

In Heat Two Dermot Donnelly led for most of the race and looked set to take his first win of the season but Jerome Doherty found a way past. Sammy Stewart and Mark Dewar followed Jerome Doherty up the inside of Dermot Donnelly. Jerome Doherty took his second win of the night ahead of Sammy Stewart & Ballymena man Mark Dewar.

In the final, white roof Andy McLeister led the field off with Marcus Murphy second in his immaculate Sierra. The waved yellows were brought out for local racer Robert McIlroy who was stranded against the wall on the Brown Trout corner. On the restart Andy McLeister led the field away and making no mistakes in the remaining laps took the chequered flag. Jerome Doherty and Mark Dewar were second and third across the line but both drivers were docked a place for contact which left local man Dermot Donnelly finishing second and Jerome Doherty in third.

1600 Bangers

In Heat One new comer Karl Smyth led the field away with Jameison Tweed following closely in second. Peter Henderson hit the front and opened up a good lead with the two red roofs Lee McCloy and Mark McLaughlin catching the Sierra man. Peter Henderson held on to the lead with Lee McCloy finishing second and Mark McLaughlin in third.

In Heat Two again Karl Smyth led the field away from his white roof start, but it didn't take long for Peter Henderson in his Sierra to catch Karl Smyth's machine and take the lead. Lee McCloy and Mark McLaughlin followed in close pursuit but were unable to catch him so Peter Henderson took his second win of the night ahead of Lee McCloy in second and Mark McLaughlin in third.

The final saw the cars bunched up on the grid to make it more interesting and it was Lee McCloy who drew pole and led the field away with Peter Henderson following very closely behind. Lee McCloy pulled a few car lengths ahead of Peter Henderson through the mid stages of the race but the gap narrowed in the closing laps. With three laps to go Peter nudged Lee into the Brown Trout Corner and took over the lead. In the final lap the two drivers were nose to tail and in the last corner Lee went in deep and touched Peter's car but he controlled the car well and with the two cars heading to the finish line side by side it was Peter Henderson who won by a hair's breadth. The closest finish anyone has seen this season. Peter Henderson took the win with Lee McCloy in a very close second and Mark McLaughlin finishing in third.

Junior Stocks

Seven Junior Stocks lined up for Heat One and it was Glen White who led them away. Glen White pulled a good led throughout the race and never looked like being caught and took the chequered flag. Curtis Greer and Andrew Gamble had a good battle for second place but it was Curtis Greer who got it in the end with Andrew Gamble taking third.

In Heat Two again Glen White made the best of his white roof start by taking a comfortable win. Aaron Brunton, Curtis Greer and Andrew Gamble had a good battle for second place in the closing stages of the race. Aaron Brunton dealt with the pressure from the two red roofs, Curtis and Andrew, and held on for second place. Curtis Greer narrowly finished third from Andrew Gamble on his tail. For the final it was Glen White who was on pole from Steven Kealey. Again Glen White led from the off and never looked back. Curtis Greer, Andrew Gamble & Aaron Brunton again had a good dice for second place. Glen White who has had engine trouble every meeting this season has certainly got his car going better as he took his third chequered flag of the night. This means Glen White is back to a yellow roof for the next meeting as he won all 3 races on the night. The battle for second place went to Curtis Greer and Andrew Gamble finished third as Aaron Brunton was docked to fourth place for contact during the race.

Open Hotrods

Heat One saw the return of Robin Morrow after his crash on Easter Monday in his black Ford Anglia. Derek Gurney, number 95, led them off in his Toyota Starlet from Richard Stewart in second.

Aghadowey man Richard Stewart caught the Toyota Starlet and went straight to the outside but as the two cars came out of the pit bend corner side by side Richard caught the wall breaking a half shaft and was out of contention. Davy Gurney in number 935 caught up with and passed his brother Derek. Robin Morrow & Paul Nevin followed through to take up the second and third positions. Davy Gurney took the win ahead of Robin Morrow and Paul Nevin.

In Heat Two the Gurney brothers led the field away.

Davy took a comfortable win ahead of Robin Morrow in second and Paul Nevin again in third. In the final Robin Morrow led them away with Derek Gurney closely following. Davy Gurney caught the two lead men and passed them into the Brown Trout corner. Davy stretched the lead lap after lap in his immaculate Corsa.

He lapped Paul Nevin and almost lapped Robin Morrow. Davy Gurney was definitely on a mission tonight as he took his third win of the night. Robin Morrow finished second, his third podium of the night and Paul Nevin finished third in his Sierra.

Next race meeting is on 28 May at 7.15pm.

Website: www.aghadowey-stockcar-stadium.co.uk

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