McHugh Masters Mildura
07/01/08…NASR/SSA Media Release
Jamie McHugh led from flag to flag to win round four of the Carline Mufflers National Super Sedan Series at Timmis Speedway, Mildura on Friday night (January 4), leading home South Australian rookie and polesitter Shane Best, and third-placed Queenslander Gary Pagel.
McHugh steered the Ian Boettcher Race Parts Mazda RX8 with ease, leading throughout the 35-lap feature race after qualifying on the outside front row. Having started on pole position following his win in the A Dash, Best narrowed the gap at various stages throughout the race but ultimately had to settle for a career-best result with a runner-up finish.
Having failed to finish a feature round in the series prior to the event, Pagel’s third placing was a welcome return to form from the former national Modified Production champion. Fellow Queenslander Chris Bussey scored his second top-five result in as many rounds with a fourth-place finish, with Michael Tomkins continuing his strong start to the series in finishing fifth aboard his Hotondo Homes Falcon to advance to second overall in the championship.
National champ Michael Gee finished sixth to maintain his series lead, with Dave Gartner, Michael Nicola, Tony Barklimore and a gallant Matt Pascoe rounding out the top ten. In a race punctuated by just one stoppage, 18 of the 22 starters were still running strong at the end in what was a thoroughly entertaining display.
Earlier in the night the six heat winners included Chris Bussey, Ashley Bergmeier, Shane Best, Jamie McHugh, Gary Pagel and Michael Doblo (Ocean Tyres Pontiac Grand Prix).
Doblo took out the B Dash ahead of Bergmeier, Michael Nicola, Tomkins, Vaughan and Gartner. Best secured his first NSSS pole when he downed McHugh, Pagel, Doblo, Bussey and Bergmeier in the A Dash.
The B Main saw Daniel Miller outpace Bill Miller, Jarrod Harper, Pascoe, David O’Keeffe, Wayne Miles and Wesley Hose, whose opening laps produced a strong surge that saw his sweep into the top five before fading as the race progressed.
The first attempt to start the feature was halted when Michael Doblo spun to a halt in turn two, leaving Brad Smith and Steve Vaughan on the infield. Geoff Phillips was also an early casualty, while the only other interruption came on lap 20 to remove the stricken Ashley Bergmeier from turn four. Substituting for an injured Steve Jordan while his own mount undergoes an engine transplant, Pascoe was the biggest mover through the field, surging from position 19 and advancing as far as seventh before a final lap stumble saw him greet the chequer in tenth. Harper, Daniel Miller, Doblo, Wayne Brims, O’Keeffe, Bill Miller, Miles and Hose completed the finishers.
Results
Heat One: 1. Chris Bussey, 2. Jarrod Harper, 3. Brad Smith, 4. Wayne Brims, 5. Jamie McHugh
Heat Two: 1. Ashley Bergmeier, 2. Michael Nicola, 3. Bill Miller, 4. Tony Barklimore, 5. Gary Pagel
Heat Three: 1. Shane Best, 2. Keith Higgs, 3. Geoff Phillips, 4. Michael Tomkins, 5. Dave Gartner
Heat Four: 1. Jamie McHugh, 2. Michael Gee, 3. Jarrod Harper, 4. Brad Smith, 5. Wayne Brims
Heat Five: 1. Gary Pagel, 2. Steve Vaughan, 3. Tony Barklimore, 4. Michael Nicola, 5. David O’Keeffe
Heat Six: 1. Michael Doblo, 2. Dave Gartner, 3. Michael Tomkins, 4. Shane Best, 5. Geoff Phillips
B Dash: 1. Michael Doblo, 2. Ashley Bergmeier, 3. Michael Nicola, 4. Michael Tomkins, 5. Steve Vaughan
A Dash: 1. Shane Best, 2. Jamie McHugh, 3. Gary Pagel, 4. Michael Doblo, 5. Chris Bussey
B-Main: 1. Daniel Miller, 2. Wayne Brims, 3. Bill Miller, 4. Jarrod Harper, 5. Matt Pascoe, 6. David O’Keeffe, 7. Wayne Miles, 8. Wesley Hose
A-Main: 1. Jamie McHugh, 2 Shane Best, 3. Gary Pagel, 4. Chris Bussey, 5. Michael Tomkins, 6. Michael Gee, 7. Dave Gartner, 8. Michael Nicola, 9. Tony Barklimore, 10. Matt Pascoe, 11. Jarrod Harper, 12. Daniel Miller, 13. Michael Doblo, 14. Wayne Brims, 15. David O’Keeffe, 16. Bill Miller, 17. Wayne Miles, 18. Wesley Hose, 19, Ashley Bergmeier, 20. Geoff Phillips, 21 Steve Vaughan 22. Brad Smith
Contingency Awards:
AFCO Shock Doctor Lucky Sevens: Dave Gartner
Sport Engines Hard Charger: Matt Pascoe
Oval Express Best Presented Car and Crew: Chris Bussey
Tassiesupersedan.com Hard Luck Award: Brad Smith
The 2007/2008 Carline Mufflers National Super Sedan Series progressive pointscore:
1. Michael Gee, 1523
2. Michael Tomkins, 1290
3. Ash Bergmeier, 1234
4. Jamie McHugh, 1128
5. Shane Best, 1104
6. Wayne Brims, 1100
7. Chris Bussey, 1026
8. Dave Gartner, 918
9. Wayne Randall, 888
10. Tony Barklimore, 883
11. Michael Nicole, 844
12. David O’Keeffe, 812
13. Michael Doblo, 790
14. Gary Pagel, 772
15. Brad Smith, 734
16. Bill Miller, 700
17. Daniel Miller, 691
18. Bevan Collins, 665
19. Wayne Miles, 655
20. Jarrod Harper, 598
21. Wesley Hose, 576
22. Steve Jordon, 556
23. Steve Vaughan, 542
24. Geoff Phillips, 540
25. Matt Pascoe, 531
26. Keith Higgs, 518
27. Lachlan Onley, 476
28. Gavin Northfield, 442
29. Brett Smith, 416
30. Damien Bugler, 361
31. Will Gould, 318
32. Paddy Ward, 315
The 2007/08 Carline Mufflers National Super Sedan Series is proudly supported by the following sponsors:
Carline Mufflers, Custom Transporters and Trailers, JD Couriers, Bergmeier Engineering, American Tyres and Racing Services, Sport Engines, AFCO Shock Doctor, Weatherall Automotive Services, Performance Wholesale, Art by Mickey, Oval Express Magazine, www.tassiesupersedan.com, Comfort Inn Robertson Gardens, City Motor Inn Toowoomba, Rocky Resort Motor Inn, Comfort Inn Silver Birch Mt Gambier, National Association of Speedway Racing (NASR), Speedway Sedans Australia (ASCF)
