Press Release Courtesy of Super Sedans Tasmania, Image by Angryman Photography.
Steve Latham has taken out the 2023 Geoff Stagg Memorial and Round Four of the Tazz Auto Shots Tasmanian Super Sedan Series brought to you by Roberts Don Mac at Cranes Combined Carrick Speedway.
Latham kicked his night off in perfect fashion claiming the win in the opening heat race of the night. David Nichols crossed the line narrowly clear of Adam Beechey after a great race long battle.
Laura Davidson returned to form with a win in heat two. Luke Gunn crossed the line in second, with Leon Cleary rounding out the all southern podium in third.
Beechey was victorious in the third heat. Latham stormed from the back of the pack to finish second, and Wayne Dillon crossed the line third.
Marcus Alexander claimed heat four in T4, crossing line clear of Gunn in second, and South Australian Kym Jury in third.
Lee Aylett put his bad luck behind him for a hard fought win in heat five.
Grant Hopkins was next across the line in second, from Cleary in third.
Latham secured pole position for the thirty lap main event, with Beechey starting on the outside of the front row.
Gunn and Cleary occupied row two, with Davidson and Alexander right behind from row three.
Latham got the perfect start and set off into the lead.
Beechey settled into second. Cleary got the jump from the outside of row two to take third, from Gunn in fourth and Davidson in fifth.
Davidson spun in turn two on lap two to bring out the first caution of the race. Wayne Dillon found the concrete wall which ended his race after one lap.
Latham resumed in the lead from Beechey, Cleary, Gunn, Davidson, Aylett, Alexander and Nichols.
The first move came from Cleary in third who took second from Beechey down the back straight on lap three.
Nichols meanwhile took seventh from Alexander as the battles through the pack raged on.
Nichols then took sixth from Aylett, as Beechey re-took second from Cleary.
Latham up front held a comfortable five car length lead over Beechey, Cleary, Gunn, and Davidson.
Nichols moved into the top five on lap seven, taking fifth position from Davidson.
Gunn took the final spot on the podium, moving by Cleary after ten laps. Beechey was next on the hit list for Gunn taking second position on lap fourteen.
Nichols took fourth from Cleary also on lap fourteen and set out after the lead trio.
The caution light was out for the second time at the halfway mark for a stricken Nathan Howells on the front straight.
Gunn was relegated two positions under caution, elevating Beechey back to second, and Nichols to third.
Latham led at the resumption from Beechey, Nichols, Gunn, and Cleary rounding out the top five.
Cleary quickly succumbed to a right front puncture as the caution light was back on again for a spinner in turn one.
Latham again led the chasing pack, and was able to build a small gap.
Beechey continued to deal with the pressure from Nichols, as Gunn, Davidson and Aylett battled over the positions at the back end of the top five.
Latham continued to build his lead, as Beechey and Nichols put some distance between themselves and Gunn.
Gunn built his own gap over Davidson and Aylett who were having a great battle over fifth place.
Davidson ran the bottom of the track as Aylett ranged up on the outside. Davidson held her nerve and snuck back ahead as Aylett continued to work the top side of the track.
Up front Latham went on the greet the chequered flag for his first victory of the season.
Beechey crossed the line second, winning the battle with Nichols who was next across the line in third.
Gunn finished fourth ahead of Davidson in fifth who came out on top in her battle with Aylett who was next across the line in sixth for his best finish of the season to date.
Grant Hopkins finished seventh, ahead of Aaron Dillon in eight, Marcus Alexander in ninth, and Dwaine Sonners in tenth who secured his first top ten finish of the season.
The Tazz Auto Shots Tasmanian Super Sedan Series will return with Round Five brought to you by Jury’s Earthworks on Saturday which will also be the inaugural John West Memorial at Gulf Western & Independent Oils Raceway in Latrobe.
Official Result
A Main – 30 laps
1. T8 Steve Latham, 2. T14 Adam Beechey, 3. T3 David Nichols, 4. T12 Luke Gunn, 5. T61 Laura Davidson, 6. W4 Lee Aylett, 7. T73 Grant Hopkins, 8. T49 Aaron Dillon, 9. T4 Marcus Alexander, 10. T18 Dwaine Sonners, 11. T9 Gil Aylett, 12. T88 Paul Howard, 13. T60 Josh Tinning, 14. T44 Ian Howells (29), 15. T7 Nathan Howells (29), 16. T26 Peter Johnston (29), 17. T75 Brendan Flynn (29), 18. T16 Dennis Davidson (27), DNF T10 Andrew Poke (20), T5 Leon Cleary (15), S93 Kym Jury (15), T48 Wayne Dillon (1).
Super Sedans Tasmania are proudly supported by;
Tazz Auto Shots
Speedway Sedans Tasmania
Richmond Speedway Inc
Nets Tasmania
Walsh Roofing
Australian Racing Products
Jury’s Earthworks
Roberts Don Mac
Document Management Tasmania
Tas Plant & Supervision Hire
Master Roofing Contractors
Assurance HR Management
Total Automotive & 4WD
BlackAzz Asphalting
Platinum Prints