Blake Blitzes Boxing Day Bonanza

Brad Blake stamped his authority on the Late Model Sedan scene on Tuesday Night when he swept all before him to win round 4 of the QFS Australia Pro Dirt Late Model Series. 18 Teams were on hand for one of the biggest shows of the year with everyone celebrating the festive season.

Hot weather and Day light saving did the big Motorplex track no justice for race 1 as the 18 car field of excellently prepared Late Model Sedans took the green flag. National Champ, Brad Blake was the first to go around and was collected by Chace Karpenko as everyone tried to avoid him in the dusty conditions in turn 3, Blake was out with front suspension damage. Bert Vosbergen also pulled his brand new Rocket infield with steering troubles.

The big field took off again with Noakes, Goodlad, Craig Vosbergen and Mark Duncombe all jostling for position, but soon enough, Matt Nylander looped his car in turn 4 and was heavily hit by Michael Hamon as once again cars scattered everywhere to avoid contact. Jason Oldfield received heavy front end damage and Rob MacGregor also pulled the Green Machine Minetec Rocket infield. At the start Vosbergen was having a great race with Clint Noakes who continues to impress every week and Matt Goodlad who is also putting in some good performances. Chace Karpenko was rounding up several cars on the outside as he charged forward from the rear of the field.

Ryan Halliday, who has been very consistent this year, was the next to spin and bring out the yellow's as drivers were struggling for grip. Clint Noakes was eventually given the win after Chace Karpenko came unstuck on the final lap. Noakes was the winner over Craig Vosbergen and Mark Duncombe  Race 2 saw a shiny black surface and Jay Cardy and Michael Hamon on the front row.

Series Champion Ben Ludlow was quick to take the lead on the start , Karpenko moved up to 2 nd place and looked to challenge several times before Brad Blake blitzed up through the field and drove passed Ludlow on the bottom of the track, Ludlow then switched from the high line to the low line under Blake and carried too much speed into the corner, riding up and over the #0 Minetec Rocket sending Blake into a spin and Ludlow out of the race. Blake was able to continue and led away at the restart over Karpenko and Oldfield with Ryan Halliday also on the move, Halliday made one of the moves of the race splitting Karpenko and Oldfield coming off of turn 2 as he blasted into 2 nd place but Brad Blake was never going to back down and won in convincing style over Ryan Halliday and Jason Oldfield. All 18 cars lined up for the all important Feature race as the big Motorplex track was now rubbered down after the Sprintcar Feature Race. Craig Vosbergen was on Pole Position with WA Champ Chace Karpenko on the outside for his first outing this Season. Vosbergen and Karpenko drag raced into the first turn, but Michael Hamon spun and Jay Cardy and Ben Ludlow spun to avoid him.

Once again Vosbergen and Karpenko went at it with Vosbergen getting the advantage, Karpenko was not giving him an inch as his WA 1 Pontiac under Vosbergen several times, Halliday and Duncombe were filling the minors with Clint Noakes, Brad Blake and Bert Vosbergen maneuvered their way to the front from back in the pack. Halliday began to challenge Karpenko for 2 nd as the two talented drivers ran two wide for several laps with Halliday getting the advantage, Craig Vosbergen was leading just a few car lengths ahead. Mark Duncombe's decent run came to an end when he spun in turn 1 bringing out the yellow's with 4 laps remaining.

Vosbergen led the field away once again but Brad Blake was awesome as he passed Karpenko for 3 rd and the drove around Halliday and then under Vosbergen for the lead on the main straight, Vosbergen got sideways coming off of turn 2 with Halliday, Karpenko, Noakes and Bert Vosbergen blasting through relegating Craig back to 6th , Blake then turned the afterburners on and put down the fastest lap of the night on his way to his 3 rd successive QFS Pro Dirt Series win of the year over Ryan Halliday, Chace Karpenko, Clint Noakes and Bert Vosbergen rounding out the top 5. The next round of the Series returns to the Perth Motorplex on Saturday January 6th 2007 followed by the 10 th Anniversary Western Australian Late Model Sedan Championships on January 13 th at Geraldton City Speedway