Pagel Does It Again
28/11/16…Pam Franz….courtesy Super Sedan Association Media Release
There is no stopping Mark Pagel at the moment. The Gympie-based former Queensland Modified Sedan champion has been the dominant force thus far in the 2016/2017 Think Money Super Sedan Championship Series and he continued his winning ways in round five at Ausdeck Patios Archerfield Speedway on Saturday night (November 26). Aided by some good fortune in the Penrite Grid Draw, Pagel pounced at the drop of the green and led throughout the event to clinch his third win for the season. Wayne Randall clung defiantly to second spot despite plenty of pressure from several drivers at different stages of the race, with Ian Brims snatching third in the final turn.
With some late withdrawals, 15 cars fronted to do battle in front a large crowd, although only 14 would take to the track with Jack Childs ruled out before racing got underway.
Track conditions were a little tricky for the opening heat and it was experience that came to the fore with Ian Brims taking the win ahead of Craig Craft and Pagel. Bob McCosker looked a likely winner until he spun in turn four, the same fate that twice befell Matt Pascoe on consecutive laps.
With a best lap some half a second quicker than his nearest rival, Darren Kane was untroubled in winning heat two, leading home Nicola and Randall.
Pascoe bounced back with a strong run to win heat three over Kane and David Musch, while the final heat went to Pagel in advance of Sean Black and Nicola.
With Steve Jordan and Tony Brinkmann unable to start the feature, just 12 cars remained and SSA officials opted to reduce the race distance to 30 laps. The Penrite Grid Draw fell Pagel’s way when he selected pole position as Kane, the top qualifier, was shuffled back to third. Pagel duly took full advantage to lead the field away. Randall slotted into second ahead of Kane, who dropped a spot to Brims on lap two and now quickly found himself under attack from Pascoe, who started seventh. Despite being presented with a multi-groove track, it looked like the race was destined to be a single-file affair until Pascoe took the initiative and started using the outside line to good effect. With Pagel untroubled out front, all interest was on the fight for the minor placings with both Kane and Pascoe moving ahead of Brims on lap 19. The next lap saw Pascoe move ahead of Kane, only for them to swap spots again on the next circulation. Pascoe slipped ahead of Kane once more on lap 25 but subsequent contact between the pair through turn four left Kane stricken with sufficient damage to bring his challenge to a premature end. With five laps to run from the restart, Pagel faced little opposition in his run to the chequer while Randall now found himself under serious pressure from Pascoe. Through the final turn of the race though, Pascoe failed to protect his position and allowed Brims to slip underneath to secure the final place on the podium. Nicola was next in line, followed by Musch, Craig Craft and Rodney Craft.
Pagel has now extended his lead in the championship to more than 200 points over Ian Brims, with Pascoe third, Jordan fourth and Randall rounding out the top five.
The next round of the 2016/2017 Think Money Super Sedan Championship Series will be at Gympie’s Mothar Mountain Speedway this Saturday night (December 3).
Think Money Super Sedan Championship Series progressive pointscore (top ten): Mark Pagel 1410, Ian Brims 1183, Matt Pascoe 1034, Steve Jordan 1015, Wayne Randall 980, Bob McCosker 874, David O’Keefe 848, Darren Kane 723, Michael Nicola 690, Jack Childs 649
The 2016/2017 Think Money Super Sedan Championship Series is proudly supported by: Think Money, Penrite, Ian Boettcher Race Parts, AFCO Shock Doctor, Sweet Chassis, B&J Car Sales, Queensland Speedway Spares, Barnes Drilling, Dominator Race Wear, Speedway Australia, J&J Bullbars, M&N Car Carriers, McCosker Contracting, Speedway Sedans Australia, Tania’s T’s, Brisbane Truck Centre, Brims Concrete, Ford Wreckers Redcliffe
For Super Sedan news and results throughout the 2016/2017 season, follow the Super Sedan Association on Facebook or visit the Super Sedan Assn website at www.supersedan.com.au