Brisbane Qld Sprintcar Summer ShootOut report

Hodges Wraps Up QSSS Crown For 2000/2001

Darrell Hodges wrapped up the 2000/2001 Qld Sprintcar Summer ShootOut crown with a convincing win in the season ending and rain delayed Round 8 of the Series at Brisbane International Speedway on May 19. Hodges overcame diversity just to make the grid in time after breaking a driveline in the second of the now familiar 3x3 lap ShootOut races and stamped his authority on the race early, moving his Valvoline Maxim from position six to the lead by lap five and was never headed throughout the remainder of the twenty-five lap event.

Hodges' main rivals for the Championship, Stephen Bell, Darren Jensen and Todd Wanless were all worthy contenders but fell short in their bid to claim the crown. Bell in particular took the challenge right up to Hodges, winning the 3x3 ShootOut and grabbing the twenty-four points on offer while Hodges' driveline failure left him with just an extra four points to take into the Feature event. Bell searched the racetrack for any possible advantage throughout the main event but was unable to move through the field until the closing laps, finally finishing fifth and a mere nine points behind Hodges in the final points standings. Jensen's run from position seven was a patient one and he was rewarded with third place in both the Feature event and the Series points. Wanless' night and season however was effectively over at the start of the third 3x3 when he and Bell touched, with the ABC AutoGear Maxim slamming the wall hard on the front stretch and rolling on it's side. Wanless quickly secured a drive in Andrew Scheuerle's racer for the main event in a last ditch bid to improve his position in the standings but it was to no avail, Todd eventually finishing on the infield with front axle damage after three cars made contact exiting turn four and in sight of the chequered flag.

Nathan Macdonald claimed the final Hard Charger Award with his best result of the season, moving from eighth at the green to finish second behind Hodges. For Macdonald it was a welcome return to the podium after a somewhat disappointing run for the team during 2001 and a promising result that can be built on and carried into the 2001/2002 season. So, at the end of thirteen rounds of racing we have a new Qld Sprintcar Summer ShootOut Champion in Darrell Hodges, a deserving result for a team that has seen adversity on occasions throughout the Series but has continued to support the concept and has now been rewarded with the Championship crown.

Addtitional information on this and other Qld Sprintcar Racing events can be found on the web at www.raceteams.com.au/qsr

-Jak