by Lee Oldfield
MIDDLESEX, W.A. (January 2) – The New Year finally arrived and welcomed the highlight event of the Late Model Racing Australia’s season that everyone had been waiting for.
The Ultratune Morley USA Late Model Invasion Tour, which was also the 7th round of the R2C Competition Filters Pro Dirt Series, was run at Manjimup Speedway over two nights on the 1st & 2nd January.
The first night shook the small southwest town into the New Year and the ground rumbled when the powerful V8 late models hit the extremely fast track.
There was an impressive field of 25 late models in Manjimup, including Americans, Steve Francis, Jeremy Payne, Steve Shaver, Doug Drown and young 17 year old Devin Moran. The racing was hard and fast and definitely put the Australian guys to the test. The heat races saw the Aussie drivers fight hard to stay at the pointy end of the competition.
The first race of the night went to Jamie Oldfield, winning the race after taking the lead from US driver Jeremy Payne in the last lap.
Simon McNab won his heat in a new car that he purchased in the United States earlier this year, which was only unloaded from the container last week. McNab was extremely happy to claim his first heat race win this season, after being strongly challenged by Jason Oldfield who had fought his way through the field after starting from the rear.
Steve Francis and Jamie Oldfield won both their heats and former national title holder Brad Ludlow was also was on the fast pace, winning a heat.
The Dash for Cash knockout was an exciting extra on the first night with the 5 US drivers and the top 5 Australian drivers on points competing in a 2 lap dash knock out with the winner receiving a bonus $1000. The knockout race had the crowd on the edge of their seats, cheering loudly as the best drivers on the night raced side by side. The $1000 was won by Jamie Oldfield, who took the win from Brad Ludlow, followed down the line by Steve Francis (USA), Steve Shaver (USA), Jason Oldfield, Jeremy Payne (USA), Doug Drown (USA), Brad Blake, Paul Stubber and Devin Moran (USA).
Twenty three starters lined up for the preliminary final. Steve Francis from the front row was straight into the lead and made his way into lapped traffic incredibly fast. There were very few restarts throughout the race and in the end it was American Steve Francis who took the win from Brad Ludlow and Steve Shaver.
The first night preliminary final results: 1st Steve Francis (USA), 2nd Brad Ludlow, 3rd Steve Shaver (USA), 4th Jeremy Payne (USA), 5th Jamie Oldfield, 6th Jason Oldfield, 7th Warren Oldfield, 8th Craig Vosbergen, 9th Jason Moyle, 10th Mat Goodlad, 11th Michael Holmes, 12th Devin Moran (USA), 13th Clint Noakes, 14th David Nylander, 15th Simon McNab, 16th Bryn Haythornthwaite, 17th Keith Gorman. DNF; Brad Blake, Nat Muir, Chris Biddle, Jay Cardy, Koran Atkinson, Doug Drown.
The Late Models returned to the Manjimup track for the second night of action and it was Steve Francis who was fast straight out of the box, continuing on from last night and scoring the opening heat win from Jeremy Payne and Warren Oldfield.
The USA drivers were in top form with Steve Shaver winning both his heats and Doug Drown also winning one in Chris Biddle’s # 24 late model. The West Aussie drivers on the night to win heats races were Jamie Oldfield and Jay Cardy.
The dusty 30 lap feature race got off to a rough start with a couple of drivers at the front of the field tangled causing a chain reaction down the pack with quite a few drivers receiving extensive body damage and Simon McNab heavily hitting the fence on the main straight head on causing a red light stoppage.
When the final got under way again, Steve Francis was the clear leader of the final race weaving in and out of lapped traffic with Shaver following closely behind until a blown tyre had Shaver pull infield. Francis also pulled infield with just twelve laps remaining, when his engine gave out. From there it was Jeremy Payne who went on to take the win from Brad Blake and Doug Drown.
Hard Charger on the night was Craig Vosbergen who started out of 18th in the feature and finished 5th.
With the first round won and done everyone will be going back to their workshops to regroup and make all the necessary adjustments for the massive weekend ahead for the Ultra Tune Morley USA Invasion Tour Round 2 at Collie Speedway on Friday night and Round 3 at Bunbury Speedway on Saturday night.
Unfortunately there are a few casualties that won’t be able to continue the Ultra Tune Morley USA Invasion Series, including Simon McNab who suffered a broken wrist in the feature race incident at Manjimup.
All the USA drivers will be ready to compete in Collie and Bunbury this weekend, including Steve Francis, as Michael Holmes has stepped out of his #91 so Francis can continue his racing in Australia.
Jeremy Payne was extremely happy with his win in Manjimup and would love to head home with more victories under his belt.
Steve Shaver was fast in Manjimup with some great heat race wins, but is planning to have a podium finish result in Collie and Bunbury.
Doug Drown was happy with his 3rd place result in Manjimup after a few problems with his #12 Webster Motorsport late model, but would love to be at the top of the podium in the next rounds.
The sensational team of US drivers will be sure to impress the race fans with their speed and skill handling the fast and powerful V8 late models from the moment their vehicles hit the track!
The West Australian drivers are also racing for the R2C Pro Dirt Series in conjunction with the Ultra Tune Morley USA Invasion Tour, so they have alot to fight for as Collie and Bunbury are rounds 8 & 9 of the R2C Competition Filters Pro Dirt Series.
So make sure you get your backside trackside this weekend for the best sedan racing action in Australia.
So make sure you are there to witness the most powerful late model sedan racing this country has ever seen!