FINNIKIN RIDES HIS LUCK TO POUNCE ON THE AILING NEWSON TO TAKE BELLE VUE SHOOTOUT GLORY
Organiser: Startrax Where: Belle Vue, Manchester When: August 26 Starters: 37.
Craig Finnikin likes the track at Belle Vue. Earlier in the year, he managed to chalk up a rare heat, final and Grand National win. On Bank Holiday Monday he couldn’t quite match that feat but a heat and final double catapulted him up the shootout points from eighth to second in the standings.
Gary Jackson grabbed the early initiative and, despite a yellow flag bunching up the field, he was still leading at the halfway point.
Further back Mat Newson barged his way through the field and moved into second with Finnikin in close pursuit. As the laps began to wind down, Newson muscled his way into the lead and held a three-car’s length advantage over Finnikin. However, with five laps to go, Newson’s machine developed engine problems. Although he tried to nurse the car to the finish, he was forced to retire, handing the lead over to Finnikin.
Bobby Griffin assumed second place and began to close in on the leader who noticeably slowed in the closing stages. Griffin ran out of laps to challenge for the lead.
“I could see Newson’s car smoking so I thought it would just be a matter of time before he retired,” said the winner. “That was lucky for me as my car picked up a vibration and I just could not push any harder to catch him. After he went out I eased off and hoped that I would be able to make it to the end of the race.”
Griffin, who ended up as the second-highest point scorer of the day said: “I am happy with second. As long as I keep picking up points. This keeps me up there in the hunt.”
Finnikin was unable to add to his points tally in the Grand National when he coasted to a stop early in the race with more mechanical troubles.
Results
1 Craig Finnikin; 2 Bobby Griffin; 3 Nigel Green; 4 George Elwell; 6 Lee Fairhurst; 6 Gary Jackson; 7 Karl Hawkins; 8 Frankie Wainman Junior Jr; 9 Mike Heywood; 10 Mal Brown.