Sydney: Utes: Series Saturday notes

Elsegood extends Series lead at Sydney V8 Ute final round

George Miedecke took out Race 1 of Round 8 of the 2009 Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series – protected by Armor All and has moved into third in the leader-board behind front-runner Coopers Pale Ales, Jack Elsegood who extended his championship lead by 53 points after a consistent drive at the Sydney Telstra 500 today, Saturday, 5 December at Sydney Olympic Park.

The title is really heating up with only 3 points between second and fourth position, which includes Grant Johnson (745), Miedecke (743) and Kim Jane (742).

Penrith driver, Layton Crambrook got off to a good start in Race 1 but not good enough to keep Miedecke from taking an early lead through turn 1.

Crambrook was on his tail when a Safety car was deployed early into the first lap after Kurt Wimmer and Gary Baxter were forced wide in turn one and made contact with the wall. Glenn McNally was also caught in the fire and ran up the back of Samboy Racings, Scott Jennings, and saw his championship title diminish when he rolled over the line in 27th.

Unlucky on the restart was Racer Industries Rookie of the Year contender Gary Carson who was caught out and hit the back of Scott Jennings The Rookie was forced to retire leaving rival Paul Williams with a chance to take the title, this wasn't to be the case however when Williams was called in to the pits after a bump with other Rookie Jason Gomersall, which resulted in a punctured radiator.

After the restart, Miedecke's Ford flew ahead of the field and didn't look back setting the first lap record for the track in a time of 1:47.91.

"I made sure I got a cracker restart and really went for it for 2-3 laps building a gap to Layton. (I think I was doing about the same lap times as I did in qualifying). After that I slowed and controlled the gap to the finish," said Miedecke.

Crambrook finished comfortably in second, so did Andrew Fisher in third. It was a little different for fourth; with the Series title looming Kim Jane was all over the back of Ex NRL star Jack Elsegood but wasn't able to take him and settled for fifth.

Gary MacDonald finished in sixth place with West Aussie Grant Johnson hot on his tail.

Narellan Pools Brad Patton had a great race and overtook teammate Craig Dontas to claim eighth. Sydneysider Ben Dunn did well to finish in tenth position, one of his best results for the year and Workhorse Collision Repairs Ben Kavich was right behind him in 11th.

Matt Holt who is filling in for George Elliot in the Vittoria Coffee Holden Ve is currently leading the SS Inductions Hard Charger Award for overtaking eight V8 Utes in Race 1.

This will soon change with Race 2, top 16 reversed grid race, which will see ISRI Trucks Steve Hodges start on Pole next to V8 Ute veteran Charlie "Handlebars" Kovacs in at 9:50am tomorrow (Sunday, 6 December).

The reversed grid race will be followed by Race 3, which will be televised live on Network Seven, 12:45pm (EDST).

-credit: utes