Third helps Smith Jr to maintain his points lead but Elwell is the driver in form on the Skegness shale

Organiser: Skegness Stadium When: October 13 Where: Skegness Starters: 48. Stuart Smith Jr increased his lead in the National Points Shootout series which edged him closer to retaining his title, but it was George Elwell who beat the Shootout contenders across the finish line at Skegness to record his maiden BRISCA F1 final win.

Sam Jacklin grabbed the lead of the race at the drop of the green flag with Elwell in close pursuit, the duo opening up a sizable gap before Elwell forced his way into the lead just before the halfway point. Jacklin held onto second place until he tangled with Ryan Harrison with two laps to go. Both cars ended up stranded on the race track bringing out a yellow flag and bunching up the field. On the ensuing restart Elwell was able to hold on to his advantage.

The winner said: “I just tried to keep my head throughout the race and not push it too hard; I have been my own worst enemy recently.

“We have made some changes on the car as well and that has given me belief and confidence in the car. I owe this win to my crew who has put a lot of hard work and hours in. I could not have won this without them. I didn’t need the yellow flag towards the end, but I told myself to keep focused and just keep on doing what I had been doing all race.”

Dan Johnson came home second. He said: “I messed up at the start of the race so I am pleased that I was able to fight back to get second.

“George Elwell drove a great race, he is one of the up-and-coming drivers and credit goes to him.”

Tom Harris crossed the line third but was excluded from the results when he failed to go to the scrutineer’s scales directly after the race.

Harris was unaware on leaving the track after the race that he had finished third. It is understood that he will appeal the decision to exclude him.

Going into the sixth round of the shootout next Saturday at King’s Lynn, Smith holds a 35-point advantage over Mat Newson.

Result

1 George Elwell; 2 Dan Johnson; 3 Stuart Smith Jr; 4 Ashley England; 5 Paul Harrison; 6 Will Hunter; 7 Karl Hawkins; 8 Keith Barnard; 9 Frankie Wainman Jr; 10 Aaron Leach.