ANDRA FASTLANE FASTLANE EDITION 21 | Page 31

ATES fastlane More than 150 racers battled it out at the Perth Motorplex’s Prestige Lock Service Goldenstates on Saturday November 11 for round five of the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series. However, only one event winner – Nick Panagopoulos - would be found, as rain saw the other nine finals unable to be run before the track curfew came into effect. Panagopoulos was awarded the win in the Super Sedan category, while Beau Higgins and Jack Wasley (Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster), Lee Watson and Roger Moorhouse (Denso Super Street), Bryan Finn and Luke Seaton (Modified Bike), James Kemp and Jeff Acton (Modified), Johnny Brecich and Paul Downe (Top Sportsman), Adam Murrihy and Alan Mahnkoph (Supercharged Outlaws), Phil Paton and Justin Townson (Competition Bike), Ralph Lewis and Matt George (Competition) and Jamie Chaisty and Graeme Simms (Super Stock) all made it to the finals of their respective categories before racing was called off. In the Super Sedan bracket, Panagopoulos took out the victory over Kapiris in a double break-out final. Panagopoulos had earlier faced and dispatched Daniel Kojic (round one), Neil Scott and Martin Mirco, while Kapiris had raced Yvette Gregg (round one) before going on to face Nick Benedetto and George Tipouikidis to head to the finals. Earlier in the Super Sedan proceedings, Mick Fenton earned the Top Qualifiers Medallion – sponsored by The Tile Co-The Shower People, KC Tools and Summit Racing. “For us it was a pretty good day, even if it was in pretty tough conditions with the weather changing on us as much as it did throughout the day,” said Panagopoulos on the night, thanking his crew as well as sponsors Dy-Mark Australia, Balcatta Engines, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (WA Branch) and Wanneroo Pool Services for their support. “We were pretty happy to get through to the final. Having a double break-out was a bit of a surprise for both me and John Kapiris! “We were not expecting to run as quick as we did, but I think the wind swung around and pushed us a bit. “We are ecstatic to get our first ANDRA Xmas Tree and to win the event this year, after being the runners-up last year.” In the Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster ranks, Higgins faced Luke Veersma, Tyson Liddiard and Aiden Abel on his way to a bye run in his semi-final, while Wasley took on Connor 31