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“ We haven ’ t really ever done any good at the Andrew Rowe Memorial event before , so this is a great feather in the cap . We are very proud to win this event and especially in our new Super Stock car .
“ The car performed faultlessly , it was much quicker than we anticipated straight out of the blocks . I have to send a big thanks to all of my crew and the sponsors who have all put in a massive effort over the last few weeks to get it finished .
“ We were really up against it , but we wanted to debut it and do well here at the Rowe Memorial and we have accomplished that , it is just terrific .”
Another racer grinning widely , yet a little more lost for words , was Justin Russell .
After a big accident at the same event in 2015 , the ‘ Spud Racing ’ competitor took his Chevy SS Camaro to the win in the same lane that hosted his crash two years ago .
“ I crashed here two years ago and now I have just won the event in the same lane that we crashed . I am ecstatic , we couldn ’ t have had a better day and honestly I am a bit speechless ,” enthused Russell , who was also the Top Qualifier medallion recipient for Supercharged Outlaws , on the night .
“ I can ’ t get over it – it was a dream run all day , the car has been just perfect . We came to the meeting having missed Adelaide due to a family wedding . We were a bit devastated to miss Adelaide as we like running there but you can ’ t go to them all sometimes .
“ We came here and looked at the field and thought we had a pretty good chance of top qualifying . We thought we would have a go at it , and it all turned out very well .
“ I am just speechless , I can ’ t … it is just amazing , absolutely amazing ,” he said , while thanking sponsors Dandy Engines , Quinn ’ s Funerals , Men ’ s Only Hair Design , Pete ’ s Diesel Services , Buchannan ’ s Family Chiropractic and Bushy ’ s Fencing and Plumbing for their support .
In the Super Gas bracket , Graeme Spencer ’ s match-up with Colin Griffin came after he faced Bailey Datson ( round one ) and Warren Bull before enjoying a bye run in the semis .
On his way to the runner-up berth , Griffin had taken on and beaten Steve McCumber ( round one ), Top Qualifier medallion recipient Adrian McGrotty , and Jeff Romeo .
George Hatzi ’ s Super Sedan victory followed races against Matt Ponton ( round one ), Peter Tzokas and Leon Davies before a bye run through to the finals . There he took on Gkroidis , who had earlier dispatched Scott Rouhan ( round one ) and Robert Kardum ahead of a bye run , before taking on Enio Morrocco in the semis . Michael Konstandinou was the Top Qualifier medallion winner .
In the Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster ranks , winner Jake Berias took the win over Baillie Ponton after earlier having taken victories from Tommy Turic ( round one ) and Brooke Camilleri before a bye run in the semis . Ponton meanwhile took on and defeated Daniel Carranza before a bye run ahead of a semi-final against Chelsea Sammut . Jordan Spencer was the Top Qualifier medallion recipient .
The Denso Super Street final between Graeme Cooper and Steve Cassy was set-up after Cooper had earlier emerged victorious from battles with Chris Tatchell ( round one ), Top Qualifier medallion winner Bill Farrugia and Johhny Kapiris . Cassy had taken on Michael Bridges ( round one ), Peter Jephson and Tony Barbara .
In the battle of two wheels , Johnny
Ireland ’ s Modified Bike win over Shane Walker followed a bye in the first eliminator before he took wins against Damien Enever and Bryan Finn . Walker had previously faced off against Mario Baker ( round one ), Matt Walden and Edge Mallis . Corey Scholes was the Top Qualifier medallion recipient .
The Modified victory went to Top Qualifier medallion winner Jess Turner , who prior to lining up against Cory Dyson in the final had a bye run before taking on Craig Baker and Stewart Johnston . Dyson meanwhile had dispatched Matt Czerny and Derek Wills ahead of a bye in the semi-final .
In Top Sportsman , Glenn Henley ’ s win over Chris Theo followed on from victories against Greg Angus and Michael McGrath before a bye in the semis , while Theo had taken the round one win from Vlado Turic ahead of a bye run before facing Jason Arbery in the semis . Darren Nichele had earlier taken out the Top Qualifier Medallion .
ANDRA thanks Calder Park Drag Racing as well as all of the volunteers and sponsors for an outstanding race track and a well-run event which included a minute ’ s silence tribute for Anita Board prior to eliminations .
Round seven of the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series will be held at Portland ’ s South Coast Raceway on January 20 . For more information , visit www . andra . com . au and www . southcoastraceway . com . au
For full results from the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series round at Calder Park Raceway , please click here
Images by Outlaw Images
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