McFall lands Stock Rod Irish Championship

Craigywarren based McFall proved a popular winner of the Stock Rod Irish Championship after a commanding display in his Vauxhall Nova, while Junior Rod Irish Champion McCrory confirmed his superiority this term by adding the King of Slemish title to his growing list of awards.

In the other classes at the McMillan Travel sponsored meeting Northern Ireland Champion John Christie dashed Mark Heatrick's hat-trick hopes with a comprehensive victory in the National Hot Rod final and Portglenone's Liscinda Smyth led the boys a merry dance in the Group Two Lightning Rod final.

STOCK RODS

The 19 car line-up for the Irish Championship race was headed by Micky McFall and Raymond Harper with Victor McAfee and Stevie McNeice on row two.

McFall burst into the lead at the green flag with McAfee hustling through into second and Harper dropping down to third. The top three steadily eased out a gap over the rest and gradually McFall and McAfee dropped Harper to make it a two way battle out front.

The gap between the pair ebbed and flowed as they negotiated the backmarkers, but after 25 fast laps it was still McFall out front to secure the Irish title for the first time. McAfee was a gallant runner-up and Harper a solid third, with the rest of the top six completed by Chris Gordon, Lee Johnston and Michael Reid. The support race brought a debut win for the new car of Ballymoney's John McMillan.

2010 Irish Championship: 1. Micky McFall (Craigywarren), 2. Victor McAfee (Ballymena), 3. Raymond Harper (Nutts Corner), 4. Chris Gordon (Ballymena), 5. Lee Johnston (Portadown), 6. Michael Reid (Cullybackey).

Support Race: 1. John McMillan (Ballymoney), 2. Carl Sloan (Kells), 3. Bobbie Johnston (Glenarm).

NATIONAL HOT RODS

Nine cars contested round 6 of their Wash'n'Dash backed World Qualifying Series and it was Portadown driver Mark Heatrick who stamped his authority on the two heats by claiming a brace of victories in his Heatrick Demolition Mercedes SLK.

Broughshane racer Paul Crawford set a good early pace in the final before Glenn Bell and John Christie emerged from the jostling pack to challenge the leader's Peugeot 206cc. Christie made his move a few laps later and decisively powered around the outside of both Bell and Crawford to take over the lead.

Once out front Christie motored clear of his challengers to take an emphatic win in his Beggs Deliveries Vauxhall Tigra. Bell also found a way passed Crawford to take second with former World Champion Keith Martin moving up to third by the finish.

Heat One: 1. Mark Heatrick (Portadown), 2. Glenn Bell (Portadown), 3. Stewart Doak (Portadown)

Heat Two: 1. Heatrick, 2. John Christie (Crumlin), 3. Bell

Final: 1. Christie, 2. Bell, 3. Keith Martin (Dungannon).

GROUP TWO LIGHTNING RODS

David Wilson was first of the 26 entrants across the finish line in the opening heat, but an incident earlier in the race resulted in a two place penalty being issued to the Cullybackey driver by the race steward.

It was Lyle Watson who therefore inherited the win in this one with Jason Harkness promoted to second. Wilson bounced straight back from that disappointment in the best way possible by taking victory in heat two, but had to settle for second place in the final behind Liscinda Smyth.

The Portglenone lass took over the lead with a robust move at Suffolk bend and comfortably retained her advantage to the chequered flag. Wilson followed the winner home with Kenny Greer in third.

Heat One: 1. Lyle Watson (Ballymena), 2. Jason Harkness (Cullybackey), 3. David Wilson (Cullybackey)

Heat Two: 1. Wilson, 2. Harkness, 3. Brian Alexander (Ballymena)

Final: 1. Liscinda Smyth (Portglenone), 2. Wilson, 3. Kenny Greer (Ballymena).

JUNIOR RODS

Two reverse grid qualifying heats decided the starting positions for the King of Slemish Trophy.

Irish Champion Dean McCrory started on the front row for heat one and the Antrim teenager led this one from start to finish despite the close attentions of Daniel Shannon throughout. Sean McFerran looked to have race two in the bag until his Vauxhall Corsa coasted to a halt which left the way clear for Marc Morrell to take a good win in his tidy Peugeot 106. Heat winners McCrory and Morrell shared the front row of the grid for the final with Shannon and Calvin Blake on row two.

Like the first heat this one developed into a close scrap between McCrory and Shannon and once again McCrory just managed to keep his nose ahead with Shannon a very close second. Morrell drove well to secure third, with the top six completed by McFerran, Bradley McKinstry and Jaimie McCurdy.

Heat One: 1. Dean McCrory (Antrim), 2. Daniel Shannon (Glenavy), 3. Sean McFerran (Portglenone)

Heat Two: 1. Marc Morrell (Ahoghill), 2. McCrory, 3. Shannon

King of Slemish Trophy: 1. McCrory, 2. Shannon, 3. Morrell, 4. McFerran, 5. Bradley McKinstry (Nutts Corner), 6. Jaimie McCurdy (Aughafatten).

SEASON FINALE

The 2010 season at Ballymena Raceway concludes in spectacular style on Friday evening (October 1) with an action packed programme of championship races.

Top of the bill is the 2010 Irish Championship for the explosive F2 Stock Car division. The sparks are sure to fly in this one as star names like Adam Maxwell, Graham Fegan, Craig McConnell and the Grattan brothers Gary and Denver go head to head.

The Classic Hot Rods will also crown their Irish Champion on Friday evening, with Stephen Nevin, Caleb Howard and Kenny Wilson the favourites for that one. The meeting also features the final of the Hoosier Tires / LJN Series for the impressive 2-Litre Hot Rods. Adam Heatrick and Ed Litter triumphed in the two qualifying rounds and should be well in the hunt for overall glory along with Irish Champion Shane Murray.

The packed programme is completed by the richest prize on the Irish Stock Car calendar, the Group Two Lightning Rod Golden Helmet award. One driver will walk away with a cool 1000 in this winner takes all shoot out where the stakes are high and the racing hard. It’s a fantastic finale to the Raceway season with the first race getting underway in the Ballymena Showgrounds at 7:15pm.