COOL HEAD REUTZEL TAKES WARRNAMBOOL CLASSIC

Feature photo by: Corey Gibson Photography…Aaron Reutzel celebrates winning the Classic.

By Thomas Miles (Auto Action)

There was high drama throughout the 40-lap journey but Texan Aaron Reutzel kept his composure to win the 51st Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic in Warrnambool.

Reutzel became the first American since Kyle Hurst in 2015 to take the big one at Premier Speedway by keeping last year’s winner Brock Hallett at bay by seven tenths.

Lachie McHugh rounded out the podium, while Jamie Veal and Jock Goodyer put in storming drives to soar from the rear end of the grid to the top five.

But that was just the beginning of a dramatic race as the driver who was beaten at the final corner last year, Sheldon Haudenschild, suffered another heartbreaking story of what could have been.

Haudenschild controlled the early laps until a crash wiped out both himself and Hodges Motorsport home favourite James McFadden on lap nine.

They were just some of the victims in a taxing fight for survival with half of the 26-car field not reaching the chequered flag.

Although Reutzel controlled the race from Haudenschild’s crash, the Seller Motorsport driver revealed it was far from an easy drive and was relieved to take the famous race.

“It is unreal to win the classic, the Knoxville Nationals of Australia,” he said in victory lane.

“There is no bigger stage here and this is definitely in the top two of my accomplishments.

“We came here last year and had some bad luck and then I stepped on it in the qualifier.

“We were super, super fast early and who knows what would have happened with Sheldon and James there.

“But I felt like I was pressuring Sheldon and he got up running hard and luckily I didn’t get caught up in it.

“Luckily we had the lead at the end because we really fell apart and I was struggling at the end.

“To win it for Seller Motorsport is absolutely amazing because of everything they do and be competitive.”

After three scrambles, plus six preliminary races including two B Mains won by big names Veal and Goodyer, the big one finally arrived.

Despite having heavyweights Reutzel and McFadden either side of him, Haudenschild held firm in the middle and took control.

Reutzel settled into a close second ahead of McFadden and Randall but just one lap was possible before the red lights appeared for a big crash at turn two.

Both Peter Doukas and Chad Ely were badly damaged having both rolled over to stop the race.

A second red disrupted the race again four laps later when USA v WA Speedweek champion Callum Williamson came unstuck.

The third attempt at a restart lasted just seconds before Justin Peck rotating from sixth at turn 2 with the yellows now being waved.

Earlier Haudenschild had looked untroubled but after the restart Reutzel had pace to burn and was all over the back of the #USA25, using both the top and bottom to challenge for the lead.

Five laps later the defining moment of the race arrived when Haudenschild cracked under pressure.

The leader lost it between turns three and four, whacking the outside wall hard and in another dramatic twist, rebounded straight into the path of an unlucky McFadden.

The incident wiped out both favourites instantly with Reutzel the big winner, enjoying a clear path to the lead.

Racing resumed with 31 laps remaining with Reutzel in command ahead of Chase Randall and Cory Eliason in an American 1-2-3 with reigning winner Brock Hallett the top Aussie.

An extended green flag run finally arrived and McHugh made the most of it, beginning his charge from mid-pack to the podium, highlighted by a storming move around the outside of Kerry Madsen to take sixth.

Just a handful of laps later the #NQ7 was up to fourth after flying past Dillon as Eliason was another high profile retirement, dropping out from the top three due to a flat tyre.

At the halfway mark, Randall was the latest front runner to find trouble when his tyre also gave way and sent him into the fence.

Having sat a solid second it was a tough blow for the young and impressive 19-year-old to take.

Supercars star Cameron Waters had fought hard all weekend and just worked his way into the top 10 when his #V6 Chief Racing machine fired into the fence.

A third red flag was required with 15 to go when Brock Zearfoss’ race came to a crashing end.

Once again Reutzel had a strong restart to keep determined Aussies Hallett and McHugh at bay, but all eyes were on Goodyer, who flew into the top five after starting down in 20th.

The Aussie champion was involved in a tight arm wrestle with Veal and Madsen and the latter lost out with both Veal and Goodyer wrestling fourth and fifth respectively.

Up front no one could keep up with Reutzel across the long 15-lap green flag stretch as he completed his impressive drive to take the chequered flag with a 0.7s advantage over Hallett.

The big races don’t stop at Premier Raceway with the Australian title going on the line at Warrnambool this Sunday.

Before then a tune up will take place at Avalon Raceway on Wednesday for the Presidents Cup.