Jubilee joy for John at Raceway

A dramatic evening at Raceway saw Christie and his nearest rival Stewart Doak head into the final race of the series level on points with a tense shootout to decide the destiny of the title. Portadown’s Ian McReynolds went on to win the final race, but decisively it was Christie who snatched second from Doak to claim the overall title by a mere two points.

The other classes at the Curtis Toyota Ballymena sponsored meeting competed for Jubilee Trophies and these awards went to Derek McMillan in the Stock Rods, Noel Hazlett in the Group Two Lightning Rods and Aidan McFerran in the Junior Rods.

NATIONAL HOT RODS

Going into the final round of the series six drivers were still battling for the five places on the grid at the World Final, with 3 of the 6 drivers, John Christie, Gary Woolsey and Stewart Doak also in with a chance of being crowned Northern Ireland Champion.

Ian McReynolds started the evening with a flag to flag victory in heat one, with Adam Maxwell’s second place finish boasting his hopes of claiming a qualifying spot.

A blown diff in Maxwell’s car at the start of heat two, coupled with a win for Keith Martin meant that the five Northern Ireland representatives were now confirmed as Christie, Doak, Woolsey, Martin and Glenn Bell, but the battle to be crowned overall Northern Ireland Champion remained unresolved.

The results in the heat races meant Christie and Doak went into the final level on points and whichever one finished in front of the other would be crowned champion. While McReynolds powered home to an impressive second victory of the evening Christie coolly slipped past Doak in the mid-stages and held of his rival all the way to the flag to secure the overall title by the narrowest of margins.

Heat One: 1. Ian McReynolds (Portadown), 2. Adam Maxwell (Crumlin), 3. John Christie (Ballinderry)

Heat Two: 1. Keith Martin (Dungannon), 2. Stewart Doak (Portadown), 3. Glenn Bell (Portadown)

Final: 1. McReynolds, 2. Christie, 3. Doak

STOCK RODS

Derek McMillan just edged out Chris Gordon after a nip and tuck battle between the pair in the opening heat.

Victor McAfee made no mistake from pole position to stretch out a commanding win in heat two, where the ferocious battle for second ended spectacularly on the final bend with Marc Morrell and Stevie McNiece crashing out. Carl Sloan was classified in second with McMillan third which, coupled with his opening heat win, earned the Kells teenager pole position for the final.

This turned into a very close encounter between the two heat winners, with Gordon also right in the thick of the lead scrap. McMillan was under all sorts of pressure from McAfee for the 20 lap duration, but kept his composure to seal the Jubilee Trophy with a well judged drive. Gordon inherited second after McAfee was penalised by the race steward, with Micky McFall promoted to third.

Heat One: 1. Derek McMillan (Kells), 2. Chris Gordon (Ballymena), 3. Mick Rodgers (Randalstown)

Heat Two: 1. Victor McAfee (Ballymena), 2. Carl Sloan (Kells), 3. McMillan

Final: 1. McMillan, 2. Gordon, 3. Micky McFall (Craigywarren)

GROUP TWO LIGHTNING RODS

Aaron McMillan and Noel Hazlett battled long and hard in the opening heat and it was Hazlett who darted ahead two laps from home to open his account for the evening. David Gillespie and current form man Kenny Carson enjoyed a real ding-dong tussle for the honours in heat two.

They were almost tripped up by backmarkers in the closing laps, but Gillespie just managed to make it home ahead of a fast finishing Curtis Greer. Heat one protagonists Hazlett and McMillan occupied the front row for the Jubilee Trophy final and were quickly clear of the main pack.

Just like in the opening heat there was little to separate the pair, but it was Hazlett who reached the chequered flag first to claim his second win of the evening. McMillan was a very close second, with Liscinda Smyth showing well in third.

Heat One: 1. Noel Hazlett (Ballymena), 2. Aaron McMillan (Ballymena), 3. Liscinda Smyth (Portglenone)

Heat Two: 1. David Gillespie (Ballymena), 2. Curtis Greer (Cullybackey), 3. Kenny Carson (Ballymena)

Final: 1. Hazlett, 2. McMillan, 3. Smyth

JUNIOR RODS

Fourteen cars took to track for the opening heat which was led initially by Niall McFerran. Jaimie McCurdy then breezed through to secure a clear victory in his Vauxhall Corsa, with Aidan McFerran next home. Dylan Magee took the honours in race two which meant the Glenarm lad qualified on pole position for the final with McCurdy alongside on the front row. Magee got the drop at the green flag and looked a winner in this one too, until McFerran found a way through within the last couple of laps to snatch the Jubilee Trophy. Magee was forced to settle for second, with Bradley McKinstry completing the top three.

Heat One: 1. Jaimie McCurdy (Aughafatten), 2. Aidan McFerran (Portglenone), 3. Dylan Magee (Glenarm)

Heat Two: 1. Magee, 2. Bradley McKinstry (Nutts Corner), 3. McFerran

Final: 1. McFerran, 2. Magee, 3. McKinstry

THIS WEEKEND

A star-studded entry of Stock Car racers from all over the UK will descend on Ballymena Raceway this Friday evening (June 8) to contest the Irish Open Championships for both F2 Stock Cars and Saloon Stock Cars.

In the F2 ranks the quality entry includes 2010 European Champion Dave Polley from Manea in Cambridgeshire, former World Champion Daz Kitson and reigning National Champion Jack Aldridge from Gloucestershire. Scottish hopes are headed by Chris Burgoyne from Falkirk.

The defending Irish Open Champion is joined by fellow countrymen Dennis Middler, George Macmillan, Blair Anderson and Wullie Draeger. The home drivers will be keen to keep the trophy in the province however, with Irish Champion Graham Fegan one of the top local hopes for glory. Former European Champion Craig McConnell and Raceway Track Champion Connor Hughes are also expected to figure prominently along with Chris Kincaid and Denver Grattan.

The hard hitting Saloon Stock Cars also feature a healthy entry of visitors from the UK mainland. Current Scottish Champion Stuart Shevill will be one of the star attractions, along with 2009 British Champion Gordon Alexander. Irish Champion Andrew Stewart tops the local entry, with Stuart McCammon, Matthew Stirling, Mark Dewar and Ryan Wright amongst the other local racers bidding for glory.

The impressive line-up of support races includes the 2-Litre Hot Rods, making their first Raceway appearance of the season to contest the Hoosier Cup and another big entry of cars are expected from this popular class. Completing the packed programme is the Gunner Motorsport Cup for the all action Stock Rods, with the first race getting underway in the Ballymena Showgrounds at 7:15pm..