Image by Richard Hathway Photography
Rick Musarra aboard his RPM Race Products Holden Commodore has won one of the most dramatic Production Sedan main events ever seen at the Shark Bay Speedway today during the 34th Annual Far Western Championships.
Production Sedans came from around Western Australia for the Far Western Championships which doubled as the opening round of the 2021 Natrad SSD Four Crowns Series.
Musarra lead the entire twenty laps with a plethora of challengers coming his way over the course of the race.
A significant amount of drama occurred during the event, with the first major talking point being when six time Far Western Champion Barry Rose was sent to the rear of the field during the second attempt to get the race underway.
Rose spun on lap one in turn three after originally qualifying on pole position courtesy of two heat race wins earlier in the day.
Ashley Baker inherited pole position after the demise of Rose with the W181 Mitsubishi Sigma spinning for a second time after working his way back to seventh place after just two laps.
Rose was disqualified from the race with Musarra and Ashley Baker enjoying a great battle for the lead.
Jayden McCuish, Jake Blight & 2020 National Junior Sedan Champion Mitchell Baker were soon involved in a titanic scrap for the minor placings as Musarra and Baker raced side by side for the lead.
With twelve laps remaining Musarra continued to withstand Ashley Baker’s pressure as both McCuish, Jake Blight and Mitchell Baker mounted their attack.
Ashley Baker sensationally retired on lap fourteen after momentarily hitting the lead as 2010 National Champion Rod Musarra came into calculation for victory storming up into the top five after originally starting back on row seven.
McCuish spun out of second place bringing on the yellow lights after suffering steering damage as Jake Blight exited the race at the same time when his bonnet came up on the Holden Commodore.
Rick Musarra had just three laps to negotiate to taste victory with Mitchell Baker and his younger brother all of a sudden his challengers.
Baker and Rod Musarra would battle to the finish for second as they both attempted a pass on Rick Musarra without finding a way past the Cranecorp Australia backed entry.
Rick Musarra would hold on to win his second Far Western Championship in SSA Production Sedans from Mitchell Baker, Rod Musarra, Kye Blight, Anthony Page and Shark Bay local Brian Child the only finishers.
With his win Rick Musarra is now a five time Far Western Champion after winning previously in Modified Sedans and Super Sedans.
The 2021 Natrad Four Crowns Series continues down at the Pithara Speedway next Saturday afternoon.
Official Result of the 34th Annual Far Western Championships for SSA Production Sedans.
A Main, 20 Laps- 1. W21 Rick Musarra, 2. W9 Mitchell Baker, 3. W92 Rod Musarra, 4. W71 Kye Blight, 5. W14 Anthony Page, 6. W69 Bryan Child (19). DNF: W12 Ryan Allan (17), W58 Jayden McCuish (16), W61 Jake Blight (16), W11 Ashley Baker (14), W28 Isaac Arnold (13), W89 Riley Paech (5), W17 Jarrad Fisher (4), W82 Daniel Ryan Van Esch (0). DQ: W181 Barry Rose. DNS: W2 Chris Telenta, W7 Craig Lenane, W99 Benny Curtin, W172 Jim McGorman. Total Time: No Time. Winning Margin: 0.655. Fastest Lap: 19.561 W9 Mitchell Baker.
