Veal hot in opener
SPEEDWAY: Night one on the new Toowoomba Speedway calendar produced fast speeds, as well as paying an emotional tribute to a former Toowoomba racing great.
The large crowd remembered the track feats of the late Arthur Wieden, who died earlier this month aged 76.
Victorian Jamie Veal was superb in the Sprintcar feature race leading the event from green light to checked flag in round one of the Ultimate Sprintcar Championship after qualifying fastest earlier in the night.
Veal started alongside Robbie Farr on the front row.
But just as the green light came on, there was a massive four-car crash which involved Lachlan McHugh, Aaron Kelly, Adam Butler and Mick Sauer.
McHugh and Sauer were the only drivers to restart after being given two minutes to replace the front axle beam after the last car was restarted.
McHugh rejoined the race at the rear of the field and went on to finish sixth in the feature.
Veal went on to defeat Farr and Toowoomba’s Andrew Scheuerle after a hard, fast racing start to the season.
Toowoomba’s Anthony Lambert finished 10th after transferring from the B main and starting from position 20.
In the Modified Sedans, Kingaroy’s Aidan Raymont produced a top drive to win.
Corey Stein was second after being outstanding all night.
Mick Shelford finished third after two heat wins.
Robert Trapp was dominant in Street Stocks, leading from start to finish and holding off a hard-charging Nathan Barbeler from Kingaroy.
Ben Stead was third. Dalby’s Terry Leerentveld won the Modlite feature, beating home Rodney Pammenter, Dylan Menz.
Racing returns to Toowoomba on Saturday, October 12 when round-one of the HiTec Oils Ultimate Speedway Challenge features.