COOL FROST DESCENDS ON CLASSIC OPENER

A record Friday night crowd watched young Tasmanian Tate Frost score his first ever A-Main win after grabbing victory on the opening night of the South West Conveyancing 50th Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic at Warrnambool’s Premier Speedway on Friday night, January 27.

Frost, who celebrated his 21st birthday just last week, led home defending Classic champion Lachlan McHugh, Brock Hallett and four-times and current World of Outlaws Champion Brad Sweet who blasted through the field from 18th starting position in the 30 lap final.

From position two, American Chase Randall got the early jump from pole sitter Frost then followed Jock Goodyer, McHugh and Kerry Madsen.

Randall was showing good early pace while McHugh dived into third under Frost and took second, but with 18 to go leader Randall crashed and rolled between turns one and two.

Frost took the lead back on a restart after Brendan Guerin spun on lap six and caused the field to bunch up, and three laps later American Brock Zearfoss was out with a damaged Jacobs Ladder.

McHugh, who was in a tough battle with Frost, assumed the lead back at the restart, drove around the outside of McHugh and stayed there. Hallett was in third and Brad Sweet fourth.

As the laps ticked down and the infield had nine of the 20 starters already there. Todd Moule would join them after rolling in turn one and Chad Ely was a victim of this incident.

Brett Milburn smashed into the turn three wall two laps later and was forced out with front end damage.

On lap 27 Frost was still leading from McHugh, Hallett, Sweet and Steven Lines and that was how they stayed on the run to the finish line.

“It’s a pretty good car. We were good tonight but for me now it’s all about Sunday,” Frost said as he looked towards the Sunday night final.

“I’m a bit blown away a bit. This is a team effort. It’s a cool way to get your first win in racing a Sprintcar.”

The top three have now locked themselves into the Sunday night final.

The last chance B-Main was a comfortable win to American Brock Zearfoss over Peter Doukas, Jackson Delamont and Brendan Guerin.

The C-Main was not one lap old when Jamie Heyen got sideways on the front straight impacting Eddie Lumbar and Ben Atkinson Junior who would be forced to withdraw. One lap later Heyen spun and was also out with front end damage. Ashley Cook won from Dennis Jones, Andrew Hughes and Jett Bell.

Goodyer was the fastest in time trials overall with a one lap time of 11.409 seconds and the American and Classic debutant Brock Zearfoss timed quickest in the second group with an 11.589 lap.

This was a good reward for the World of Outlaws regular and the Sean Carren-owned team having to change a motor prior to qualifying.

Final placings were: Tate Frost, Lachlan McHugh, Brock Hallett, Brad Sweet, Jock Goodyer, Steve Lines, Cole Macedo, Kerry Madsen, Darren Mollenoyux, Peter Doukas.

Night two of the South West Conveyancing 50th Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic will commence tonight with on track action from 5.30pm.