Record-breaking Westernats
When all was said and done for Night One of the Australian Late Model Championship, it was Kye Blight who topped the points charts after claiming the win in the opening preliminary event, while Joe Godsey, who claimed the second preliminary event, is fourth overall.
The Perth Motorplex and the fantastic Late Model drivers combined to present a brilliant show, with very few stoppages and some great racing throughout the field all night. In fact, the only real incident of the night was in heat six when Willy Powell found himself going upside down in the back straight after contact with another car.
Blight and Stubber earlier set quick time in their respective flights, with drama for Kodee Brown and Aydan Trewern, who both failed to record a qualifying lap. Heat wins were shared by Blight, Michael Holmes, Craig Vosbergen, Brad Blake, Justin Shaw, Ben Nicastri, Warren Oldfield and Jamie Oldfield.
Preliminary Feature 1
Courtesy of being high points, Kye Blight would start from pole position in preliminary feature one, alongside Craig Vosbergen. As the race went green Blight led easily as Marc Giancola and Ben Nicastri passed Vosbergen, but Vosbergen fought back quickly to reclaim second at the completion of the lap.
Blight and Vosbergen then set about opening up a gap on the rest of the field, with Nicastri holding off Giancola and Michael Holmes for third.
The yellows then came on with three laps complete for a slowing Jay Cardy, who was running in seventh at the time.
Blight would lead away and quickly jump back out to the lead, with Vosbergen ten car lengths behind, while Brent Vosbergen was on a charge, grabbing third position on lap five after starting sixth.
Vosbergen and Nicastri continued to fight for third while Craig was lucky not to get too caught up with some lapped traffic. At the same time Marc Giancola also made his way back into fifth after a battle with Holmes and Ken Macpherson.
The yellow lights came on once again as Mark Nylander spun with fourteen laps complete, seeing the field bunch up again for a six lap restart.
This time the duel was much closer, Vosbergen sticking to Blights tail as behind them the field battled for position, but in the end Blight was simply too strong, going on to take the win from father son combination Craig and Brent Vosbergen.
Preliminary Feature 2
Warren Oldfield and Joe Godsey would share the front row of the second preliminary feature, with Oldfield leading through the opening turns but Godsey fighting back on the highline to take the lead as the first lap was completed.
Oldfield fought back but was forced to settle in behind Godsey as Brad Blake too sat right on Oldfield’s tail.
The top three pulled away as the impressive Freddy Kinsella ran a lonely race in fourth place, while first David Nylander and then Ryan Halliday took on and passed Hayden Ross for fifth. Unfortunately, the lap wasn’t completed for either man as the yellows came on for a spinning Justin Shaw, seeing Ross back in front of both on the restart.
Blake and Kinsella both got by Oldfield on the restart, while Nylander made quick work of Ross to take back fifth place.
At the halfway point it was Godsey leading Blake, Kinsella, Oldfield, Nylander, Ross and former Champions Ryan Halliday and Kodee Brown.
Oldfield retook third from Kinsella on lap thirteen, while Godsey found himself in lapped traffic the following lap.
In the closing laps Blake would chip away at Godsey’ lead, getting ever so close, but it just wasn’t to be, Godsey claiming the win from Blake while Oldfield held on for third. Freddy Kinsella was fourth while Kodee Brown charged from the back of the field to finish in fifth place.
Courtesy of tonight’s results, it is Blight who is on top of the points, just ahead of Craig Vosbergen, Warren Oldfield and Joe Godsey, the top four split by just five points heading into the final night.
Drivers will compete in one more round of heats on Saturday night (high points to the rear, grids to be released tomorrow), prior to a top six pole pursuit, the B Main event and then the all-important forty lap Championship decider.
The exciting final of the Australian Late Model Championship will be held this Saturday night, so make sure you don’t miss it and stay tuned for more updates in the next couple of days!
Release by DTN Media.
Pics Courtesy Tyler Carr and Peter Roebuck
Contingency Awards
Pancho’s Pole Position – Kye Blight (1), Warren Oldfield (2)
DTN Hard Charger – Aydan Trewern (1), Kodee Brown (2)
Bulk Metals QuickTime – 15.935 Kye Blight
Boyes Equipment SVS Highest All Star Qualifier – Joe Godsey
Global XLI All Star Award – Joe Godsey
Homes by Roth All Star Podium – Freddy Kinsella
Michael Holmes Racing Rookie Award – Matt Amato
Official Results
Preliminary Feature 1, 20 laps: 1. 41 Kye Blight, 2. 8 Craig Vosbergen, 3. 4 Brent Vosbergen, 4. 43 Marc Giancola, 5. N6 Ben Nicastri, 6. 26 Ken Macpherson, 7. 51 Jamie Oldfield, 8. 91 Michael Holmes, 9. 82 Matt Amato, 10. USA14R Jeff Roth, 11. 12 Aydan Trewern, 12. 60 Jayden Meckenstock, 13. 83 Daniel Ameduri (19), 14. 38 Jai Mazzini (19), 15. 29 Ben Ludlow (19), 16. 69 Mark Nylander (19). DNF: 5 Lee Redmond (14), 52 Jay Cardy (3). DNS: V10 Cameron Pearson, 14 Willy Powell. Total Time: No Time. Winning Margin: 1.017. Fastest Lap: 16.643 Kye Blight.
Preliminary Feature 2, 20 laps: 1. USA14G Joe Godsey, 2. 0 Brad Blake, 3. 15 Warren Oldfield, 4. 318 Freddy Kinsella, 5. 07 Kodee Brown, 6. 54 David Nylander, 7. USA66 Hayden Ross, 8. 99 Ryan Halliday, 9. 19 Simon McNab, 10. 10 Cody Avins, 11. 90 David Boyes (19), 12. 95 Jason Bond (19), 13. NSW6 Wade Carter, 14. 71 Jamie Moon (19), 15. 93 Nathan Callaghan (19). DNF: USA48 Justin Shaw (4). DNS: 23 Joe Chalmers, 31 Paul Stubber, 50 Veronica McCann, USA91 Tyler Erb. Total Time: No Time. Winning Margin: 0.938. Fastest Lap: 17.273 Joe Godsey.
Points After Night One
1. 41 Kye Blight 135
2. 8 Craig Vosbergen 132
3. 15 Warren Oldfield 130
4. USA14G Joe Godsey 130
5. 0 Brad Blake 126
6. 43 Marc Giancola 123
7. 4 Brent Vosbergen 120
8. 318 Freddy Kinsella 120
9. N6 Ben Nicastri 117
10. 91 Michael Holmes 113
11. 54 David Nylander 109
12. 99 Ryan Halliday 109
13. 26 Ken Macpherson 108
14. USA14R Jeff Roth 105
15. USA66 Hayden Ross 103
16. 51 Jamie Oldfield 102
17. 82 Matt Amato 90
18. 60 Jayden Meckenstock 86
19. 52 Jay Cardy 85
20. 31 Paul Stubber 84
21. NSW6 Wade Carter 83
22. 10 Cody Avins 83
23. USA48 Justin Shaw 83
24. 95 Jason Bond 82
25. 83 Daniel Ameduri 81
26. 23 Joe Chalmers 80
27. 19 Simon McNab 78
28. 29 Ben Ludlow 76
29. 38 Jai Mazzini 75
30. 71 Jamie Moon 68
31. 90 David Boyes 68
32. 50 Veronica McCann 66
33. 93 Nathan Callaghan 63
34. 12 Aydan Trewern 62
35. 69 Mark Nylander 61
36. 5 Lee Redmond 57
37. 14 Willy Powell 54
38. 07 Kodee Brown 53
39. V10 Cameron Pearson 0
40. USA91 Tyler Erb 0
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