FRASER WINS AGAIN IN ESPERANCE

by | Jan 3, 2021 | SSA Modified Sedans, WA

Press Release Courtesy of WA Modified Sedans

Once again, the Fraser surname is back on top of the podium in the 2020/2021 Blackman Fabrication WA Modified Sedan Series, with Branden Fraser taking the win at Esperance Toyota Speedway tonight in front of a happy New Year crowd. 

With ten cars set to bring the New Year in with style, the format for the night’s heat races was slightly different, with four heat races on the schedule and each driver to participate in three. 

To open the night, Branden Fraser returned to the winner’s circle after battling it out with Paul Stevens throughout the opening half of the race, before Stevens was forced to retire. Albany’s Merv Penn had his best run to date to finish second ahead of Miranda Ball and a fast finishing Sam McAuley and Calon Ball. 

The next heat would see Luke Fraser take advantage of a front row start, leading throughout the race to record his first victory of the night, defeating Calon Ball and Laurie Dowsett. Miranda Ball and Esperance local Josh Stewart would have a race long battle for the minor places, as Sam McAuley and Anthony King failed to finish with mechanical dramas. 

The third heat of the night would see Branden Fraser start from pole position and open a sizeable lead in the first couple of laps. Behind, Merv Penn would settle in for second, while Paul Stevens applied pressure to try and take away third position from Miranda Ball. Anthony King would again retire, with the bad luck continuing to plague his FG Ford Falcon. He would soon be joined on the infield by Laurie Dowsett and Paul Stevens, as Fraser went on to secure his second heat race win, defeating Merv Penn and Miranda Ball. Luke Fraser would fail to start the heat. 

A depleted field of five would start the final qualifying heat, which would soon drop further as Luke Fraser’s woes continued, leaving Calon Ball to lead Branden Fraser and Merv Penn. Anthony King would again retire to the infield, leaving Calon Ball and Branden Fraser to battle it out for the win. The two would soon touch, bringing on the yellow lights as Calon Ball was left on the infield. Fraser would go to the tail of the three remaining cars and quickly looked for a way past Merv Penn. Calon Ball would hold on to win, defeating Merv Penn and Branden Fraser.

Next on the racing schedule was the Southern Stump and Mulching Services Shootout, which would only see five cars take part, as Luke Fraser continued to work on fixing his FGX Ford Falcon. Josh Stewart would win the first race of the SSMS Shootout, defeating Miranda Ball. Miranda’s brother was next to face Stewart, defeating him comfortably. Merv Penn, who was having his best night for quite some time soon joined Calon Ball with Ball getting the best of the jump to leave Merv Penn to start the feature from position three. The final duo to face off would be Ball and Branden Fraser, who was on top of the points tally after four qualifying heats. Ball tried everything to hang on around the outside, but couldn’t find a way past Fraser, who would win the cash bonus courtesy of Bill and Linda Gibbs from Southern Stump and Mulching Services and pole position for the upcoming feature race. 

With Branden Fraser and Calon Ball on the front row, the feature race got underway at a cracking pace, as Ball looked for a way past Fraser and Josh Stewart applied immense pressure to the back of Merv Penn. Laurie Dowsett who missed a heat earlier in the night, also looked to move through the field, before retiring with mechanical dramas. This left Luke Fraser in fourth, as Stewart also made a mistake and fell back through the field. 

At the half way point of the race, Branden Fraser continued to stretch his lead over Calon Ball and Merv Penn, who was trying to hold off Luke Fraser and Paul Stevens. Miranda Ball would join Dowsett on the infield, as Sam McAuley and Josh Stewart duelled for sixth and seventh. 

All eyes were still on the battle for third, as Merv Penn continued to hold off Luke Fraser and Paul Stevens, who were trying everything to get past the Albany racer. Penn would soon run slightly wide, opening the door for Fraser and Stevens to slide through. 

From this point Branden Fraser would not be headed, recording a dominant victory to win his second round of the 2020/2021 Blackman Fabrication WA Modified Sedan Series, defeating Calon Ball and Paul Stevens, who made a pass on Luke Fraser on the final corner to record yet another podium finish. Merv Penn would finish fifth ahead of Sam McAuley and Josh Stewart. 

The WA Modified Drivers Association would like to thank Anthony and Donna from Totally Independent Tyre Service and Mechanical for their support of this round of the 2020/2021 Blackman Fabrication WA Modified Sedan Series, as well as the Esperance Speedway Association for hosting a round of the 2020/2021 series. 

The Blackman Fabrication WA Modified Sedan Series will now take some time off, as drivers compete in the 2020/2021 WA Modified Sedan Title at Make Smoking History Collie Speedway on Saturday February 6th. 

Official Result


SSA Modified Sedan Final: 1. WA1 Branden Fraser, 2. 8 Calon Ball, 3. 6 Paul Stevens, 4. 15 Luke Fraser, 5. 17 Merv Penn, 6. 29 Sam McAuley, 7. 19 Josh Stewart DNF: 4 Miranda Ball, 14 Laurie Dowsett DNS: 51 Anthony King

The 2020/2021 Blackman Fabrication WA Modified Sedan Series is proudly sponsored by: 
Blackman Fabrication
Southern Stump and Mulching Services
Performance Lubricants
Stevens Ceilings
Albany Truck Hire
Civil Hirings
Totally Independent Tyre Service & Mechanical
Cranecorp Australia
LF Graphix
Speedway Sedans Australia

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