AUS Utes: Series Surfers Paradise Sunday report

Rookie takes his first V8 Utes win the on the Gold Coast

On an action packed day at the Armor All Gold Coast 600, Rookie Rhys McNally claimed Race 2, Series leader Grant Johnson took out Race 3 and Chris Pither won Round 7 of the 2010 Yokohama V8 Ute Racing - protected by Armor All, Sunday 24th October 2010.

Race 2 saw the top nine reversed with Rockstar Energy drink driver, Jeremy Gray on the front row alongside Rookie Rival Rhys McNally.

McNally took Gray off the start and led for the whole race but not before a safety car was bought out after an incident at the back chicane when Wicked Energy drink driver, Brad Patton kissed the wall, which caused a chain reaction with Workhorse Collision Repairs driver, Ben Kavich making contact with the Queensland based driver, which turned them around. Kavich was then unlucky to receive a hit from the side from Bob Jane T-Marts Kim Jane who had no-where to go and ended the weekend for all three drivers.

After the re-start Sage Automations Baxter was unlucky to hit a tyre bundle destroying his front wheel alignment but managed to hang on for third.

There was a strong battle going on for fourth between Gold Coast veteran Charlie O'Brien, Jesus Racing's Andrew Fisher and Coopers Clear Racing's Jack Elsegood.Elsegood made a great move on Fisher on the final lap and pipped him to claim fifth position for the race.

New Zealand V8 Ute champion Chris Pither claimed seventh for race two pushing him into a good position ahead of Hi Tech Motorsport driver Grant Johnson in eighth and Nulon Oil driver David Sieders in ninth. Thirsty Camel's Craig Dontas Rounded out the top ten in race two and started from seventh in race three.

Pither started on pole in the final with Johnson tailgating him and just waiting for the right time to overtake which he found in lap 3 and ran-away with the lead. The win gave Johnson enough points to claim second for the Round and increase his Series lead.

"I waited for Pither to make a mistake and I took my chance. I'm happy to put more points on the board, which is my main objective at the moment, I happy with second for the Round," said Johnson.

Nulon Oil driver David Sieders drove well to claim third for the Race and the Round ahead of current champion Elsegood in fourth. Baxter still struggling with his wheel alignment managed to hold out Jesus Racing's Fisher, for fifth. Jeremy Gray had Shooters Superclub backed driver Ryal Harris moving through the field in his rear-view mirror moving up six places to claim eighth just behind the Rockstar Energy drink driver.

Thirsty Camel's Craig Dontas had a lonely last few laps but drove home to claim ninth for the Race ahead of Rhys McNally who had an unlucky start with damage to the front of his car dropping him back from 3rd to round out the top ten for Race three. McNally also took out the Champion Spark Plugs Hole Shot Award and $500 cash to top off his best round for the season.

"I'm just wrapped with my weekend, I've always wanted to pull off a win and to actually do it feels amazing. We have a few crew here from NRW and it's great to have such a great weekend for them. Without their support I wouldn't be here. I'm can't wait to get to Sydney," said McNally.

Wilson Security Racing's Charlie "Handlebars" Kovacs won the SS Inductions Hard Charger Award and $500 cash for the third time this year for passing 15 cars in Race two.

To re-cap on all of the action from Round 7 at the Armor All Gold Coast 600 tune into Network Seven, Saturday, 13th November.

The V8 Utes will be back on track at the Sydney Telstra 500 for Round 8 of the 2010 Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series - protected by Armor All 2 - 4 December for the final showdown.

-source: aus v8 utes