He's done it again!!
Damon Lyall has won the Carnarvon Speedway Smarter than Smoking Junior Perpetual Trophy for the fourth consecutive time.
His previous track time, experience and by keeping his nose clean certainly paid off.
The prospect of taking the title from Lyall came with force from 8 other drivers. Six visiting from Geraldton and Shark Bay and our two other local drivers in Alan Harper and Trent Lyall. Harper in fact winning the first heat.
Hayden Norman earned his starting position from pole after having a win, a second and a third in his heats. D.Lyall started from outside pole.
The 25 lap feature was restarted before the field had even completed their first lap, as Norman was cautioned by the debuting Chief Steward for rough driving.
The race was restarted with the top six positions changing nearly every second lap with a close knit field.
After D.Lyall jumped to the front he was increasing his lead with every circulation before Norman and Callan Johnston had a run in with each other, resulting in Norman ploughing into the wall just out of turn 2, wreaking the front end of his car.
With five laps remaining, the Chief Steward declared the race after the red lights were actioned and declared D.Lyall the winner with Harper and T.Lyall second and third as Norman and Johnston had caused the stoppage.
However, the rule book states that if a race is declared then the finishing positions will be in the order of the previous lap before the race was declared.
With no doubt that Damon Lyall was the outright winner, Johnston and Norman were then repositioned second and third as the final placings.
No matter which way you looked at it, it was a controversial ending and a lesson learnt by more than one!
In the Street Stocks Wade Mason collected 2 wins with Leo Brooks and Kane Munro one a piece.
Certainly looking the part is #23 Lance Root, who has yet to fire this season. Tom Parry having a bit of panel beating to be done to the trusty XF before next meet and Kyne Hill has returned to the track a looking good too, but little out of practise and off the pace. But hey, that's racing and alot of it comes with track time experience and a bit of luck.
Missing from the field was Tara Mason who took on a new role for the night, enjoying herself, co-commentating with Lisa Ladhams. Two females on the mic OMG!!
Kim Jolly and car returned from Albany where they took part in the National Modified Title greatfully in one piece and had 4 from 4 on Saturday night.
Dylan Mogg is showing great signs of improvement with his brother Zane still sorting out his car.
Unfortunately no Supers were racing as Peter Lyall hasn't yet had a chance to fix his Mazda after a substantial crash a few weeks ago. And Blake Jackson blew his engine in Albany last weekend. He is hoping that his new one should be back and ready to go before the Super Sedan State Title here May 1 & 2. Brother Travis is chomping at the bit with all that horse power ready to be unleashed.
Burkie Holla had his Sprintcar fairly motoring winning 4 from 4 starts and travelling at some 17 seconds per lap on the 440 meter track.
Holla and pitcrew have had a very busy schedule of late, racing either in Carnarvon or in Geraldton every weekend, preparing for the Sprintcar State Title this Saturday and the Wayne Armstrong Memorial on the Sunday night in Geraldton.
Fellow Sprintcar driver, Stephen Lyall will also be competing in both nights of racing too.
Best wishes to them and also to our Stockie drivers, Glenn Harper, Kane Munro, Wade Mason and current WA1 Daniel Pidala, who will be contesting the WASCF Street Stock State Title at Ellenbrook on the weekend, which will be day racing.