National Production Sedan Champion Josh Harm last night added another blue ribbon event to his trophy cabinet at the Gympie Speedway, but this time it was the Brian Learoyd Memorial for Modified Sedans!
Aidan Raymont would come into the final undefeated, having completed a clean sweep on the opening night and then claiming both his heats on Sunday to start from pole position. He would be joined by Darran Lester on the front row while the second row was filled out by Chris Pagel and Harm.
Lester got the jump at the start of the thirty-five lap classic, but due to a multi car crash in turn three, the start was called back.
Once again Lester got the better of the start, Raymont slotting in behind ahead of Harm to complete the opening lap. Lester was able to build a decent lead on the rest of the field as Raymont and Harm battled it out for the minors over the first stanza of the race.
The lead cars made their way through lapped traffic and Harm took the opportunity to duck by Raymont, taking second on lap eleven.
A couple of laps later the yellows came on for a stranded Ronnie Young, resetting the field for a double file restart. This put Harm on the front row alongside Lester, but as he had done previously, Lester used the highline to stay out in front as Raymont again looked to get back by Harm, Pagel and Shane MacDonald right behind.
Two laps later the yellows would come out again, this time for a pile of cars who had come together coming out of turn two, four cars unable to rejoin the race.
Pagel would again elect to start on the outside as the race resumed, but this time Harm would not let him get away, and a lap later he stuck the nose inside coming out of turn two and would maintain the lead to officially take over the point with thirteen to go.
Lester again persisted with the outside line and was able to retake the lead the very next lap, Harm unable to get by despite sticking right with him. Further back Raymont drifted high and dropped a few positions, seeing Pagel into third ahead of Tim Weir and MacDonald.
With six to go Harm drew alongside Lester down the backstraight, able to hold the line through the hairpin and take the lead once again, and this time he simply began to accelerate away, Lester doing all he could but unable to maintain pace.
With four to go the yellows came out once again, this time for Raymont who came to a stop in turn three, bunching the field up for a four-lap sprint to the finish.
Harm would hold strong over the closing laps, going on defeat Lester in what was a great race, while Pagel, Weir and MacDonald would round out the top five finishers.
Official Result
Feature, 30 laps: 1. SB55 Joshua Harm, 2. B59 Darran Lester, 3. G9 Chris Pagel, 4. G58 Tim Weir, 5. CR27 Shane MacDonald, 6. SC3 Jonah Blackburn, 7. RK78 Bailey Barnicoat, 8. SB89 TJ Horne, 9. G84 Jayden Peacock, 10. R22 Shannon Blackburn, 11. CR6 Mark Anderson (29), 12. SC21 Christopher Blackburn (29). DNF: CR28 Aidan Raymont (25), B12 Jake Hawkins (19), MK75 Myles Gilroy (15), MK19 Wayne Gilroy (15), G8 Braydon Steffens (15), G23 Brendan Cowley (15), B36 Ronnie Young (13), M11 Will Roeser (
, SB22 Charlotte Christensen (5). Total Time: No Time. Winning Margin: 1.349. Fastest Lap: 18.152 B59 Darran Lester.
Pic Courtesy Clay-Per-View.