Press Release Courtesy of the VMPA, Images by Shayne T Wright
Heartland Raceway Moama turned out a stellar crowd to welcome round one of the 2021/22 season.
Intrepid weather held off to lock in a long awaited return to racing in the Modified Sedan world.
It was newcomer to the series, Shane Roycroft who put the first runs on the board, surprising even himself with the handle he had on the AX82 AU Falcon.
Todd Atkins would finish second after thundering from the rear of the field following gremlins suffered in the hot lap session.
In just his second season behind the wheel of the GV11 Modified Sedan, Maiden Gully’s own Lachlan Fitzpatrick would get his first heat Race win in the ranks. After battling with Graham West and Jamie Lock, Fitzpatrick would hold on and pull away to take the glory.
The third heat race of the night would be won by a locked down Brody Chrystie aboard the AX32.
He was able to stick low and tick the box to get the result he’d searched hard for in heat one.
Starting outside the second row in the final heat, it didn’t take long before Todd Atkins rocketed the P0 to the front and stormed away to bring home the Atkins Family win.
In the first running of our new racing format, installing an Odds and Evens draw to decide the rear 16 cars of the A Main starters. Brad Warren was the Victor of the odd sided dash, while it was the Australia #1 who won the even dash.
Kye Walters, who was yet to turn a lap under Green after suffering rocker damage in the engine in Hotlaps, was ecstatic to finally get a result for the hard working Walters team.
Following their heat race success, the two young guns in Todd Atkins and Lachlan Fitzpatrick would occupy the top two qualifying positions with equal points heading into the top 8 pole shuffle sponsored by True Design Homes.
It would end up being Todd Atkins who’d claim the pole with Jamie Lock qualifying on the front row alongside him.
Lock won multiple pole shuffle face offs to put himself up on that front row. A Main time, and 30 laps the distance would come.
Atkins would meet an early lead, however it would be short lived, battling with Jamie Lock, the Atkins #0 would lose steam and retire infield.
Lock would meet a similar fate late in the race. Kye Walters set sights on moving forward early, and did so with ease.
By the lap 10 mark, Walters had found the lead and began to pull away. Lachlan Fitzpatrick would attempt to reel the gap in, all while battling with Brody Chrystie, Brad Warren and Wade McCarthy.
Fitzpatrick would suffer car trouble and retire infield, soon following would be McCarthy to go in also.
A few late race cautions the way of Benny Mannix and Liam Murphy would delay the Feature from being sewn up by Walters early, but it was still to the same result.
Kye would pick through lap traffic and take the win comfortably from Brody Chrystie who battled through traffic with Brad Warren.
Mick Boyle, Michael Wicks and Graham West would march forward from further back in the field to put a race of their own, particularly the drive to the line with West and Wicks.
All the while getting much needed track testing for the officials and the crews and teams that are all gearing up for a highly anticipated National Modified Sedan Title back at Heartland in March 2022.
Ends Release…
VMPA Tritech Lubricants Series proudly partners with the following in season 2021/22…
Tritech Lubricants
True Design Homes
Adam Holt Industries
Down Under Graphics
Higgs Contracting
Highline Racewear
Revegetation Victoria
Anthony Chrystie Transport and Crane Hire
Norman Street Automotive
Heartland Raceway Moama
