Harrison avoids the destruction to beat Wainman Jr
Organiser: Coventry Racing Club When: June 4 Where: Coventry Stadium Starters: 57
Coventry Stadium has been hosting stock car meetings since 1954. It is doubtful if there has been one as destructive as last Saturday night’s meeting.
There were five stoppages, three rollovers and only nine of the 36 starters were running at the drop of the chequered flag. And to cap it off a great dice for the lead in the closing stages was concluded as Paul Harrison barged his way passed Frankie Wainman Jr to take his second final win of the season.
Luke Dennis grabbed the early lead and held onto the top spot despite a couple of early-race cautions.
Dennis was battling with Will Yarrow for the lead when behind him, James Morris slammed into the wall and turned his machine over.
On the ensuing restart Rob Speak, Wainman Jr, Joe Booth and Harrison muscled their way into the top four spots.
A titanic battle raged for a few laps before the quartet all thundered into the turn three wall with Speak and Booth both ending up inverted.
Wainman Jr took the green for the final restart with Harrison in pursuit. But with a handful of laps remaining Harrison made his move and nudged Wainman Jr wide to take a race-winning lead he wouldn’t lose.
Harrison said: “The car was mint, I won last week and the car was good when the track dried out, and the same thing happened this week. I got messed around in the early stages and lost some time, but after that it was a case of just saying ‘hold tight, get through the carnage’ and I knew I would be in with a shout at the end. It turned out good for me.”
Second placed Wainman Jr said: “That was some race: there were some really big hits and it was a case of just getting through it. It bodes well for the World Final in September. If that is anything like tonight then it will be memorable.”