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22 October 2007. By Alex Oldfield
New South Welshman Mark Robinson took out the V8 Dirt Modified 07/08 season opener at the Brisbane International Speedway on Saturday (20 Oct) with Queensland’s Keith Muller and Steve Wright (NSW) crossing the line for second and third respectively.
Earlier in the night heat racing saw Ryan Collier, Robinson, Steve Wright and Darren Latimer all take out heat wins. Debutants Jim Mee, Jai Stevenson and Peter Brittan, who was also driving his AMCA on the night, got some valuable experience turning laps and racing along side the more experienced drivers. The night also saw the return of Andrew Pezzutti to V8 Dirt Modifieds after a long stint in Sprintcar racing and Kathy Kelly making her debut into the division, having previous experience in Sprintcars also.
The 20 lap feature had Muller on pole followed by Collier, Luke Oldfield, Latimer, Robinson, Wright, Rebecca Kiehne, Ricka Groom, Pezzutti, Kelly, Nev Robertson, Lance Towns and Mee rounding out the field.
At the drop of the green it was Muller who lead the field into the first corner; while Oldfield got the jump on Collier until a disastrous mishap on turn 2 saw the Queensland Champion lose traction and cause a pile up of drivers behind. Collier and Latimer were both forced to retire due to damage and Oldfield was relegated to the rear on the restart.
Robinson, with his fresh US-built machine was showing that the combination of experience and a top car would be hard to beat, out driving Muller for first position where he was unchallenged for the remainder of the race.
Wright found his way into third, over taking young Kiehne, further back Oldfield had made his way through the field and into sixth, Pezzutti also on the charge and gaining several positions. With 3 laps remaining Oldfield, unassisted spun again on turn 2 causing a restart and relocated to the rear once again.
On the restart it was Robinson leading the field around from Muller followed by Wright, Pezzutti, Kiehne, Groom, Robertson, Kelly, Towns, Mee and Oldfield.
Hard contact between Groom and Robertson in turn 1 and 2 ended with Robertson on his side and retiring for the night along with Towns who was the innocent victim in the incident.
Two laps remaining on the board and a tough competition between Pezzutti and Wright for third dominated the racing, before contact between the two out of turn 2 caused Kiehne to take evasive action, avoiding both cars, but unfortunately resulting in her number 6 car colliding with the wall and a forced retirement with damage.
At the green Pezzutti and Wright continued with their hostilities with a race for the line. Robinson took the chequer with a strong lead from Muller and Wright who crossed just in front of Pezzutti. Oldfield, Kelly, Groom and rookie Mee rounded out the field
Final Positions:
1. Mark Robinson
2. Keith Muller
3. Steve Wright
4. Andrew Pezzutti
5. Luke Oldfield
6. Kathy Kelly
7. Ricka Groom
8. Jim Mee
DNF- Ryan Collier, Darren Latimer, Nev Robertson, Lance Towns, Rebecca Kiehne
For further details, please contact:-
Ben Graham- Dirt Modifieds Australia Media Liaison
Ph: 0413 761 733
E: graham.bl@bigpond.com
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