Marco, Parker and Wren Fly To Victory
Stan Marco Junior has added his name to the illustrious list of winners of the Trevor Podger Memorial for Super Rods at Heytesbury Stockfeeds Simpson Speedway on Saturday night sponsored by Colac Wreckers.
Stan Marco Junior was crowned the winner of the Trevor Podger Memorial for Super Rods. Photo Geoff Rounds
From position two Marco would lead all 25 laps of the feature race despite polesitter and current Victorian champion Jacob Pitcher’s best efforts to gain the lead throughout.
For much of the journey it was a battle of the front pair while 2018 Podger winner Michael Coad had made steady progress from a start position of ninth. Allan Pitcher, Jamie May and Peter Duynhoven were also strong and climbed to challenge from mid-pack also.
The course of the race took a dramatic change on lap 14 when Pitcher’s desperate efforts saw him succumb to a tractor tyre as he raced hard into turn one. His race was immediately over, as he was forced out with severe front-end damage.
Coad was now into second place followed by Allan Pitcher, May, Duynhoven, Jason Poustie and Bailey Proctor.
The 46th running of the event that was eventually taken out by Marco Junior who continues his good run at the popular venue.
He led home Coad, Pitcher, May, Duynhoven, Poustie and Proctor much to the delight of his big fan base at the track.
Sam Wren led all the way to win the Front Row Challenge for Wingless Sprints. Photo Geoff Rounds
Ballarat’s Sam Wren became a two-time winner of the annual Front Row Challenge for Wingless Sprints with a solid display of front-running driving.
The 15th version of the 25-lap Challenge was all Wren’s after being gifted a front row start which saw the sprintcar regular gain pole position when top point-scorer Mick Rigby “took the Challenge” and went to the rear taking a selection of five other drivers with hm.
Sam Wren gets hooked up on hos way tov victory in the 2023 Front Row Challenge for Wingless Sprints. Photo Geoff Rounds
Rigby managed to finish sixth but got as high as fourth before stripping a radius arm.
The first stoppage of the race occurred on lap 16 when multiple Challenge winner Luke Weel careered into the turn four wall with a broken rear axle.
Just two laps later Mitchell Glynn took a hard roll in turn two and joined other retirees on the infield Michael McDonald, Matthew Symons, Aron Lawrence, Hayden Clifford and Brayden McKay.
Kim-loong Gosling drove superbly to finish fourth after starting 12th while Cobden’s Blake Walsh showed good form to climb from 15th to fifth in his best drive of the season.
Wren drove a faultless race and the win adds to his 2015 Challenge victory as he defeated Christopher Halesworth who trailed the leader the whole way with Nick Ryan third.
Nick Parker once again dominated the Speedcars. Photo Geoff Rounds
The fifth round of the Dutton One Southern Speedcar Tour presented by C&H Trucking was an all the way win to Melbourne’s Nick Parker.
With just five cars taking the green flag for the 12-lap feature from an original six cars entered it was Justin McMinn who led the opening lap until Parker got by and that was pretty much the race.
It went non-stop with Parker setting a new 12-lap record of 2.52.464 and won easily from McMinn and Ashley Booker then followed Zoe Pearce and Jack Day.
Josh Service was an early heat winner in the VSC Sports Sedans. Photo Geoff Rounds
Round five of the Dirt X Industries VSC Sports Sedan Power Series attracted 24 cars and once again showcased some hard and fast action.
After their two rounds of qualifying heats winners were Russell Smith, Rhys Meakins, Brendan Miller and Josh Service but unfortunately that was as much racing as they’d see.
A quick burst of rain ended all racing around 10pm as the Sports Sedans were on the dummy grid for the feature race.
Organisers were forced to abandon the final event and all prize money and series points for the Sports Sedans from the feature will be split evenly between all drivers.
Heytesbury Stockfeeds Simpson Speedway would like to advise that the next race meeting is the annual Green Night in support of The Gillin Boys Foundation for Muscular Dystrophy awareness to be held on March 11. Everybody is being encouraged to wear green.
The Victorian Pro Sprint title sponsored by Mainline Dynolog Dynamometers will headline the action with Formula 500s, Junior Formula 500s also on the card.
For updates on what’s happening at the venue keep your eyes on our socials and website www.simpsonspeedway.com.au
