Utes: Series Sandown Saturday notes

Leadfoot Layton takes V8 Ute Championship Lead at Sandown

Layton Crambrook took out the Armor All Pole Award today for the fastest Ute in Qualifying, however it wasn't enough to keep him up the front after Gary "Chuckie" Baxter blew him away to claim victory in Race 1 of Round 6 of the 2009 Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series – protected by Armor All.

Qualifying saw strong performances from Crambrook, Johnson, Miedecke, Baxter, Elsegood and WA star Glenn McNally, with Fisher, Dontas, Kim Jane and Kurt Wimmer rounding out the top ten.

It was a Ford versus Holden start in Race 1 with reigning champion Layton Crambrook and 2007 Champion Grant Johnson starting from front positions, Baxter back on third was too quick off the mark and took an early lead.

"I got a really good start as Grant and Layton were dicing which kept me free to drive the track and keep it all together," said Baxter.

Crambrook and Johnson battled it out for second and the Mother Energy drink driver reclaimed a spot on lap two. This lasted until the final lap when the Grove Fruit Juice Holden made contact with Crambrook at Dandenong corner forcing him off track, which left him to contend with fourth for the Race.

"What do you do, this is tough racing. This is a black mark for Grant and I owe him one," Crambrook said with a grin.

Johnson was given a drive through penalty applied to the post race results for the incident.

The bump from Johnson gave Lubrimaxx Racings George Miedecke a free run for third after a duel with Series Leader Jack Elsegood, who went wide off turn 1 in the final lap which dropped him back to 6th position and handed his Championship lead to Crambrook.

"I had a good start but lost two spots. I drove well to get them back and then made a mistake that I shouldn't have," said Elsegood.

Elsegood's mistake was Glenn McNally's fortune claiming fifth position and a new lap record in a time of 1:24.55.

Nandi Kiss posted one of his best result with a 10th placed finish.

Rookie Gary Carson is in good contention for the SS Inductions Hard Charger Award after he passed 10 Utes to end in 14th position for Race 1.

Drive through penalties were awarded in Race 1 to Paul Williams for turning Robert Jarvis around in the first lap and Andrew Fisher for coming together with Craig Dontas.

Colin Dunn had to sit out of qualifying after installation problems with a new engine however rejoined the field for Race 1 where the Wilson Brothers Fabrics car broke a Tail Shaft.

Jason Gomersall will sit out for the remainder of the weekend due to an issue he had earlier in the year at Winton Raceway - his Cam shaft Bolt breaking in the engine.

The Utes will hit the track at 9:40am tomorrow (Sunday, 2nd August) for Race 2 and again at 3:40pm for Race 3 to conclude Round 6 of the Series.

To catch the highlights from the round tune into Network Seven, Saturday, 15th August at 1:30pm (EST).

-credit: utes