Media Release – 10th Feb, 2008

Pakenham’s Tony Moule has been in superb form this season and that form continued last night (Feb 9^th) as he became the first ever winner of the inaugural Sprintcar Allstars Series. The opening round of the all new championship series was also the sixth round of the Sprintcar Thunder Series held at Rolling Thunder Raceway, and despite some early rain, the hardy and dedicated crowd stayed throughout and were rewarded with some awesome racing from the assembled classes.

A solid 21 car field of Sprintcars were on hand and after a brief rain delay and some good work from both track crews and drivers, the track was brought back to excellent condition and the racing was fast and close.

Newcomer to the class Brad Foster sat his stark white #11 on pole from co-series points leader Troy Little in his Kimbo Transport Eagle. Little as expected, sped around the outside of Foster through the opening turns and was trying to establish as big a gap as possible before Moule could clear the traffic. Little’s Grizzly Dyno Shocks N20 was absolutely flying and sang a sweet song as he speed around in the lead.

Foster was doing a good job in 2^nd with rookie Sean Kuypers holding out Moule for third. Unfortunately just as Moule passed up the inside of Kuypers into turn one, Kuypers’ Tyres Plus #16 slowly laid over onto the right front wheel before snapping into a series of rolls that saw the top wing become impaled atop a fence post with Kuypers laying upside down on the track. Kuypers was recovered unharmed from his wreck.

Fosters former partner Lauren Densley was on a flyer and after the restart Moule quickly moved to second as Densley diced with Foster and then executed a nice pass going into turn three to take third. Unluckily for her, the leader, Troy Little, ran over a lapped car going into turn one and upended his once pristine Eagle. Densley was forced to restart back in 3^rd behind Foster with Moule now assuming the lead.

The dice between the former lovers was hectic until Densley made slight contact with Foster as she attempted an inside pass. Her car spun and stood up before falling over.

Densleys charge was over and with a rush of blood she made her feelings known when interviewed trackside by SAS commentator Matt Naulty.

Co championship leader Ian Lewis was also in trouble and with each restart was going further back through the pack. Phil Lock and Darren Hickman had their respective Lubrimaxx and Beeps Auto Parts supported cars moving forward and Lock even attempted a pass for 2^nd before his front wing failed. He was eventually able to make the move stick and Hickman and Chris Solomon further demoted Foster, who held on for an impressive fifth place ahead of  Queenslands “Hammerman” Anthony Vanderreyden.

Coleraines’ Gavin Taylor had scorched to the first heat win in his GT Hydraulics Cheetah. And then Little produced a faster lap average on the way to the second heat win. Densley showed great speed in the Morvale Group #55 to win heat three and Foster took the final heat to earn pole. Sadly Stephen Bell who was expected to figure prominently in the nights racing was a retirement from his first heat with yet further engine dramas.

The NOS Sprints finally got to make a serious assault after their November 2^nd debut was rained out. Veteran Mark Balcombe had to suppress the constant advances from young Andy Hibbert as they battled from green to chequer with Garry Balcombe slightly further adrift in third.

Mark Balcombe took a clean sweep of events having won both heats.

A severely depleted field of Speedcars may have run their last event at Rolling Thunder when only five cars started the heats and feature. David Patterson however drove well to hold off Rodger Smaill, and Jason Forbes in the 8 lap feature.

Brad Jackson had won the opening heat at the expense of his engine while Patterson won the second heat.

The Marsh modifieds had a big field for the running of the Kakoschke cup which was won ironically by Dale Kakoschke from Mike McSaveney and Darryl Howdon. Howdon and Kakoschke had earlier won the heats.

Allstar sprintcar and Sprintcar Thunder Series fans will only have to wait a fortnight before round number two of the Allstars Series and round seven of the Sprintcar Thunder Series returns to Rolling Thunder on February 23^rd. Support classes include AMCA Nationals, Marsh Modifieds and a huge field of the Crash N Bash brigade.