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In the end the man they all tried to run down held on to take a fine win. Van Wormer took the win over Oldfield, Blake, Vosbergen, Matt Goodlad (Diversified Contracting/JRH Signs #18 Rocket), Lee Watt (GT Brake & Clutch/Minchin Transport #10 Rayburn), Ryan Halliday (Continental Freightlines/Stirling Low Loaders #99 GRT), Ludlow, Michael Holmes (OzMine/Holmes & Associates #91 Rocket) and Narrogin based racer Matt Noakes in his Diverse Directional Drilling/Caltex Energy Narrogin #20 Rocket rounding out the top ten.
The heat races too provided plenty of action as drivers ran door to door on plenty of occasions and set the standard that would be seen later during the dashes and the final. Van Wormer bolted to a fine win in heat one over Goodlad, Vosbergen and the returning Halliday, while Oldfield did the same in heat two, taking the win over Blake, Ross Nicastri in the Alan Blake owned Franks Auto Parts/Bill Martins Dyno Centre #01 Rocket and Nylander.
Heat three and Blake showed even more improvement as he showed his class to win over Oldfield and a pair of Matt's, Noakes and Nylander. Heat four was the heat of the night as Van Wormer and Halliday worked their magic through the field, running side by side and only to see it come to an end as Halliday flattened a left rear tyre. In the end it would be Ludlow who would take the win over Jay Cardy (BBT Steel/T.L. Dozing #52 Cardy Chassis), Van Wormer and Vosbergen.
Dash A and Blake got the lead in what looked to be a victory to earn pole position for the final, but no one told Van Wormer. In what would prove to be the move of the night, Van Wormer headed to the top of the track and worked the outside to perfection as he ran up high for a whole lap to make the move stick. He would win the dash from Blake and Oldfield.
Jay Cardy did everything right in the B Dash to earn seventh for the final only to see it all come undone as his #52 machine failed to start for the thirty five lap A-Main.
As mentioned earlier Van Wormer showed the way in the final making it two wins and a second in his three appearances during his west coast tour. The real winner though was the fans as they witnessed one of the worlds best Late Model drivers lift the standards of the local racers as they stepped up to the challenge that Van Wormer threw out to them. Van Wormer is a true champion on the track, and a great ambassador off the track for both Late Model racing and his home country too.
From all of us involved in the LMRA, thank you Jeep.
Quotes:
Third Place - Brad Blake.
"Third is definitely still a good result. I really thought I had something for Jeep there, I really did especially through traffic. Just one squeeze and I paid the price for being a gentleman, I hit the brakes so I wouldn't hit Jeep and I half spun and it cost me. Anyway at least I didn't hit him I suppose. Having Jeep here has made me bring my A game on back on and I've enjoyed racing against him"
Second Place - Jamie Oldfield.
"He (Jeep) is out here to teach us and we expect him to win and to run second to him is like a win to us. I seemed to get better and better as the race went on, I've been struggling lately with form and I think we found something tonight. We adjusted the car heaps through the night and Jeep helped me with set ups and in the end we got there."
Winner - Jeep Van Wormer
"It was a tough battle you know, these guys are tough competitors and it's been good to get in there and battle these guys. Track was a little bit rough but everybody had that surface. It's good to finish on a win to go home with. I knew Blake wasn't gonna let me have it and he was gonna fight hard right to the end and when I seen his nose I knew I had to get back with the program.
I have to thank Warren, Jamie and Jason Oldfield, Eachy, Warren Bishop, my wife Ange, my mum and dad, with out them and my grandma it wouldn't be possible. Gemma and Chantelle for all their help and all the friends like Ol' Mate, Colin, Wayne and everybody who have been working hard for me for the last three weeks."
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