LINES LEAVES HIS RUN LATE IN WIN
Race fans treated to high quality speedway action
SPEEDWAY: A patient and precise performance helped Steven Lines win round one of the Ultimate Sprintcar Championship Qld at the weekend.
With race leader Robbie Farr slowed by lapped traffic, South Australian Lines snatched the lead with three laps left to claim victory at HiTec Oils Toowoomba Speedway.
Farr, who recorded the fastest qualifying time, led every lap of the A-Main until Lines got by.
“We were probably a little too good too early,” Farr said.
“But full credit to Linesy for getting us in traffic. It’s a good start for us on the first night of the season though.
“We tried something with the set up and it could have gone either way. You can’t always get it right but we’re fast and it’s going to be a great season.”
Lines was naturally delighted with the win.
“I made a conscious effort not to be too aggressive at the start so we had to settle in and start to pick our way through,” he said.
“We were able to use the traffic a bit in turn four and come up with the win. I can’t wait to get back here for the 50lapper in two weeks’ time.”
Already delayed by a brief rain shower the 30-lap A-Main was halted before a lap was recorded when Mick Saller and Tony Wynne rolled over and brought on the red lights.
At the restart Farr shot from third to first within two corners to lead down the back straight from Brent Kratzmann and Lines before contact between Mark Pholi and Andrew Corbett saw the yellows come on with only one lap in the books.
In the Modified Sedans, Toowoomba’s Rodney Parmentier showed plenty of early pace, finishing second in both his heats before winning the feature race.
“I’m happy with the win. It’s a great way to start the season,” he said.
Hi-Tec Oils Toowoomba Speedway public relations official David Budden was delighted with the opening meet of the new season.
“The racing was fantastic,” he said.
“The quality of car and driver was among the best you’ll see anywhere in Australia.
“It was good to see plenty of local drivers on the pace as well.”