Author : Jason Crowe – SSA Media
Shane Whild has recorded an upset victory at the Trade Hire Augusta Margaret River Speedway, downing Phil Lycholit and Jack Favero in the Street Stock Christmas Cup.
Favero and Lycholit started on the front row for the 20 lap final and would set a frantic pace up front as Favero would get the jump on his front row counterpart, the two would drive clear of Whild, Clint Hadley and David Padmore in the early stages.
Whild, on a track that was top dominate, found a groove on the bottom of the track and started to move forward, gaining the advantage on Hadley and Padmore and moved himself into third place.
As the race wore on, Lycholit would finally get passed Favero and would build a healthy lead until a mid-race yellow would come out for Josh Davies who slowed on the front straight.
The restart was bitter sweet for Whild as he would get passed Favero and start to lay down a challenge on Lycholit meanwhile Josh Martinelli who debuted a brand new car would charge his way through the field after staring at the tail of the field and make his way inside the top five.
Tim Matthews with six to go would slow along the back straight and bring out the yellows yet again giving the chance for the race to turn on its head from here on in, as Whild would pounce on a small mistake from Lycholit when the race resumed and took the race lead and victory, with Lycholit holding onto second ahead of Favero, Martinelli and Jason Whild rounding out the top five.
Feature, 20 Laps: 1. W2 Shane Whild, 2. W199 Phil Lycholit, 3. W8 Jack Favero, 4. W7 Josh Martinelli, 5. W86 Shane Whild, 6. W38 Trevor Dace, 7. W24 Tim Matthews, 8. W57 Wayne Fairbrass, 9. W88 Chris Lowe, 10. W50 Gavin Yates, 11. W26 David Padmore, 12. W16 Clint Hadley, 13. W18 Daniel Stanley, 14. W17 Josh Davies
Details courtesy of Morgan Melvin
Photo courtesy of Fastlane Photography