Press Release by Morgan Melvin, Image by Teash Hamon Photography
Derby’s Jake Hoath could do something three other drivers couldn’t do. Not have mechanical dramas while leading.
Despite almost throwing it away on the final turn, Hoath won the opening round of the Novus Glass Street Stock Month of Madness at the Make Smoking History Bunbury Speedway over Ethan Genev and Russell Gunn.The unique format threw a spanner in the works with Trent Lyall and Robert Dunbar leading the field to green.
At the same time, last night’s Preliminary Feature winners Jamie Oldfield transferred to the show via a B-Main and Damon Lyall not cutting after his front brakes locked up before his B-Main started.
Dunbar’s event would only last two corners after Lachie Dellar, who got a great start, spun in front of the chasing field, leaving both drivers on the infield before the race got going.
This elevated Hayden Norman to the front row, and he would make light work of the field, dominating the opening five laps until a driveline failure left him limping onto the infield. Handing the lead Matt Hammond.
For Hammond, his time out front only lasted five laps as he was to withdraw with an overheating machine inheriting the lead to Jace Kempton.
By this time, Oldfield had made his charge and was on the back of the leading as himself, along with Kempton and Hoath, battle during the middle stages of the race with the trio all swapping lanes.
Oldfield would pass Hoath and Kempton and would look to be a sure winner once the Carnarvon driver pulled off with an overheating issue.
But it wasn’t meant to be of the current State Champion, as with five laps to go, he would also have to retire when his car would lose all power along the back straight.
Hoath would hit the front after Oldfield’s demise and hold off Genev right at the line with an ecstatic Gunn, who was consistently coming home with an impressive third all weekend.
Drivers only have a short turnaround with action set to get back underway for the Month of Madness tonight at the Make Smoking History Collie Speedway.
Official Result
Street Stocks A Main, 30 laps: 1. W29 Jake Hoath, 2. W4 Ethan Genev, 3. W72 Russell Gunn, 4. W10 Damon Thomson, 5. WA6 Brinley McGaffin, 6. W31 Cody Avins, 7. W616 Jamie Goodwin, 8. W48 Jim Dixon, 9. W110 Clayton Blee, 10. WA21 Colm O’Riordan, 11. W52 Brad Roberts. DNF: WA1 Jamie Oldfield (25), WA10 David Fall (25), W55 Jace Kempton (24), W3 Trent Lyall (21), W66 Ben Norman (20), WA55 Kevin Wyatt (19), T10 Matt Hammond (10), W84 Brooke Oldfield (10), W00 Hamish Macalpine (10), W6 Hayden Norman (5), W23 Matt Lowe (2), W94 Robert Dunbar (0), W195 Lachlan Dellar (0). Total Time: No Time. Winning Margin: 0.296. Fastest Lap: 20.368 WA1 Jamie Oldfield.
