BEARE BECOMES SIX TIME SSA STREET STOCK CHAMP

BEARE BECOMES SIX TIME SSA STREET STOCK NATIONAL CHAMPION

Report from Hi-Tec Oils Toowoomba Speedway.

Australia’s most decorated speedway sedan driver Anthony Beare wrote another chapter in his storied racing career by claiming a record sixth SSA National Street Stock Championship.

His magnificent achievement occurred at the Hi-Tec Oils Toowoomba Speedway in Queensland on Sunday evening, June 12.

Beare led all forty laps on his way to his third straight victory in the 31st edition of the SSA National Street Stock Title.

Current Queensland and Victorian Champion Matt Nelson came from position nine to finish second after getting the better of the battle against South Australian Champion Steve Gartner from Mount Gambier.

Ninety one drivers returned for the second night of the 2022 Engage Ag SSA Australian Street Stock Championship with a fantastic crowd braving the elements to witness just the second national title for the class held in Queensland.

After all the heats were decided, Tasmanian Champion Corey Bauld was an unfortunate casualty early in the first of twin twenty lap B Mains when he collected the concrete wall in the front straight damaging the left front suspension on his Ford Falcon.

Justin Brumfield assumed the lead early as Victorian Dale Morrison and Nathan Barbeler settled into the three transfer positions on offer.

Mount Gambier’s Jason Duell attempted to grab the final transfer spot in the final stages of the twenty lapper, with the former Northern Territory champion falling short in his quest for a spot in the big dance.

The second B Main got underway with Jamie Oldfield and Ricky Cornwall sharing the front row for the race which was contested in the anti-clockwise direction around the Hi-Tec Oils Toowoomba Speedway.

Cornwall assumed the lead early from Oldfield & Victorian Dylan Campton before lap seven brought about a major incident for former Queensland Champion Robert Trapp.

The Linmac Automotive Holden Commodore climbed the concrete wall as it entered the front straight with the car inverting and rolling heavily before being collected mid air by Western Australian Craig Clayton in the East Pilbara Tyre Service Holden Commodore.

Victorian AJ Lawrence was also an innocent party in the incident as the track safety crew and medical staff did a fantastic job to safely allow Trapp to climb from the car under his own steam in what was a tremendous relief for all at the venue.

Cornwall led the final thirteen circulations to qualify for the A Main as Campton finished second with Oldfield the final qualifier into the forty lap decider.

Twenty-two finalists paraded four wide around the Hi-Tec Oils Toowoomba Speedway before a appreciative crowd as the fireworks erupted in anticipation of what was to become on the racetrack.

The Tennant Creek Tyre Service Holden Commodore driven by Jack Yates assumed the pole position after top qualifier Anthony Beare elected to start on the outside of the front row.

Beare took the front running from Yates as Ben Stead brought about the first stoppage on lap three after spinning his Ford Falcon in turn three.

When the race got back underway Beare led Yates and Steve Gartner to the green flag after Gartner had come from position eight to third in the early stages.

Yates ran wide on lap five collecting the concrete wall with the Northern Territory standout a disappointing retirement as James Russell also headed infield with the same issue on his Holden Commodore.

Lap seven saw the demise of Lenny Bates in the Ford Falcon from Newman in Western Australia after suffering a suspension failure as John Lodge moved into second place.

Queensland and Victorian Champion Matt Nelson began his surge forward challenging Gartner for third as Lodge attempted to try and run down the race leader Anthony Beare.

Ben Stead brought on the yellows for the second time in the race on lap eighteen with a flat right rear tyre as Gartner and Nelson continued their struggle for third place.

It nearly ended in tears for Steve Gartner when he climbed the back straight wall after contact with John Lodge as fifth placed Jace Kempton hit the concrete wall heavily in turn three ending his race on lap twenty one.

Four time Western Australian Champion Jamie Oldfield was also out on lap twenty one as just fifteen cars remained.

Twelfth place starting Joel Berkley found himself challenging for a top five position as the race entered its concluding stages.

Berkley and Lodge came together on lap twenty eight ending the run of Berkley aboard the Cush Clothing Ford Falcon.

The Pakenham Towing Holden Commodore of Dale Morrison was also out on lap twenty eight as Beare lead the field away from Gartner who was starting to suffer from the effects of his earlier incident.

Gartner started to man handle his CW Wines Ford Falcon around the high banks in pursuit of both Beare and Nelson as it started to get tight at the front of the field.

Northern Territory champion Justin Brumfield moved passed both Lodge and Morris Ahearn into the top five after starting from position seventeen.

In the final ten laps Anthony Beare put enough racetrack between himself and Nelson to steer his EB Graphics Holden Commodore to an historic sixth SSA National Street Stock Title as Matt Nelson finished second from Gartner with Justin Brumfield and Queensland’s Nathan Barbeler both going from the B Main to finish inside the top five.

Anthony Beare celebrated his seventh career National Title victory in speedway with some crowd pleasing donuts around the racetrack.

In victory lane Beare was extremely emotional thanking his family and supporters for their continued support of his racing career which continues to reach new heights.

The 2023 SSA National Street Stock Title will be held at WA’s Bunbury Speedway March March 3-5. (2023.)

A Main Forty Laps- 1. S46 Anthony Beare, 2. V61 Matt Nelson, 3. S32 Steve Gartner, 4. NT5 Justin Brumfield, 5. QA88 Nathan Barbeler, 6. N28 John Lodge, 7. VA4 Morris Ahearn, 8. V81 Dylan Campton, 9. V84 Bradley Warren, 10. V46 Jye Irving, 11. W27 Damon Lyall, 12. V16 Ricky Cornwall, 13. S86 Bailey Heinrich. DNF: N38 Joel Berkley (28), VA13 Dale Morrison (28), W0 Jamie Oldfield (21), W55 Jace Kempton (21), Q10 Ben Stead (18), W74 Lenny Bates (7), NT15 Jack Yates (5), QA95 James Russell (5), V82 Shane Roycroft (2). Total Time: No Time. Winning Margin: 0.897. Fastest Lap: 17.334 NT15 Jack Yates.