GARDINER’S DRAMATIC OPENING ROUND LISMORE WIN

Brock Gardiner was the winner of a dramatic 40-lap Mr Modified Series opening round main event at Castrol Edge Lismore Speedway, December 26. Photo: Tony Powell. 

DRAMA AND CONTROVERSY surrounded the opening round of the Mr Modified Series at Castrol Edge Lismore Speedway, Boxing Night, December 26.

Two of the main event placegetters were penalised their placings after race infringements and original third placegetter Brock Gardiner was awarded the main event.

As the field crossed the finish line after 40 tough laps the order was Mitch Randall, Josh Rose and Gardiner.

However Randall was the first driver who earned the wrath of the stewards after he had the win taken from him. He was disqualified and put back two positions in the finishing order for passing on the grass twice.

Meanwhile, Rose failed to go to the scales after his runner-up result and was eliminated from the top three. So the now final, official first round feature race results are: winner Brock Gardiner, second-placed Randall and third placing Mark Robinson.

Although Randall was originally put back two position, the Rose disqualification ultimately put him into second placing.

The 40-lap feature race was entertainment-plus, largely due to the performances of Rose who chased leader Randall hard in the latter stages. Rose ran the high line lap after lap and came within striking distance of Randall at the chequered flag.

Randall also drove strongly throughout the main event and had command of the race despite two stoppages. Each time Randall maintained his advantage when the lights turned to green.

The race provided its usual battles and Robinson was in contention for a shot at the top spot, but it was Gardiner who got by Robinson and into third as the laps ran down.

Rose came on the scene at a rate of knots and ran hard in second placing. Rose made his bid for victory in the last ten laps even though Randall recorded the fastest lap of the race. He put down a 14.931 second lap early in the event for a speed of 96.444 km/h.

The top ten were rounded out by fourth placegetter Mick Reid who was followed to the flag by Andrew Firth, Scott Quirk, Luke Dunn, Darryl Armfield, Taylah Firth and Adam Thomsen.

Heats were won by Andrew Firth, Andrew Pezzutti, Sam Bruggy and Chris Corbett, while Andrew Firth took out the six lap Dash.

Other main event winners were: Shanae Smith (Four Cylinder Sedans), Shane Newstead (AMCAS), Jaiden Santin (Junior Sedans), Brock Armstrong (Street Stocks) and Seiton Young (Wingless Sprintcars).

Attention now turns to the next fixture at Castrol Edge Lismore Speedway on January 1 when the fabulous Monster Trucks take centre stage supported by the FMX free style motocross team, a massive fireworks display and speedway action.