With multiple blue-ribbon events and their Everyday Finance Solutions Club Championship in the history books, the 2018-19 season has now come to an end for the Queensland Lightning Sprints Racing Association.
With 15 nights of racing scheduled and strong car counts at each event, this season has been nothing short of a success, with victories being shared between multiple Queensland drivers, while several NSW visitors also made their presence known.
Getting the run of blue-ribbon events underway in exciting fashion with the Stockmans Civil & Plant Queensland Lightning Sprint Title at Kingaroy Speedway, it was Jason Rae who outdrove his rivals, delivering a stellar performance to clinch the crown and in doing so achieve the second feature-race win of his career. Proving this win was no fluke, Rae later went on to win the NSW Title at Sydney’s Valvoline Raceway in quick succession.
Former Queensland Champion Sean Iacono proved that he was going to be one to watch throughout the season by coming home in the runner-up spot, but it was impressive newcomer Tyler Stralow who turned heads, completing the podium in third place off the back of only a handful of race meetings with the class.
Continuing his front-running form, Rae certainly gave defending champion Keith Blatch a run for his money in this season’s Blatch’s Mechanical Repairs Silver Cup at Hi-Tec Oils Speedway, emerging victorious in the first of two feature races, while Stralow continued to exceed expectations, starting on the front row for the second feature race due to a grid inversions and leading for part of the 20-lap distance, before being pipped by eventual surprise winner Rob Holmes.
However, despite not reaching victory lane throughout the event, it was Blatch who came away with the overall top honours thanks to a consistent performance, with Rae being forced to settle for second place ahead of fast-paced youngster Jayden Iacono in third.
Another surprise winner in Jim Henchcraft managed to assert his dominance to claim the Patrick Maroney Memorial at Archerfield Speedway, with Blatch and Rae once again filling the minor podium positions.
Concluding their season with the Childs Earthmover Tyre Service Australian Title at Archerfield Speedway, Kurt Wilson was the first Queensland club member to greet the chequered flag, rounding out the podium in third place, while rookie Stralow reached new heights, crossing the finish line in fourth place and receiving the MP Heavy Diesel First B Grader Award.
Fellow rookie Scott Jukes also impressed during the event, receiving the Stockmans Civil & Plant Hard Charger Award by virtue of having made up 10 places to finish eighth after starting out of position 18.
With no less than 27 drivers collecting points during Everyday Finance Solutions QLSRA Club Championship rounds, it’s Blatch who was leading the way heading into the final rounds, followed by Andrew Sparks, Jukes, Stralow and Rae, who will all be eager to find out the final placings during the QLSRA presentation night, which will be held on the Saturday night of August 3 at the Caxton Hotel.
“It’s been a fantastic season for the QLSRA and we’re thrilled with the amount of participation we’ve had in each of our Club Championship rounds and blue-ribbon events,” commented QLSRA President Keith Blatch.
“With new talent, such as Tyler (Stralow), Scott (Jukes) and Jayden (Iacono), coming through the field and already producing some impressive results, the Lightning Sprint class is getting more and more competitive throughout the state of Queensland and we’re keen to see this continue next season.”
Special thanks must go to Everyday Finance Solutions for their support of this season’s Club Championship. Based on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Everyday Finance Solutions deals in all forms of financial loans from domestic to commercial, with an experienced team of mortgage brokers dedicated to helping clients find the right loan to suit their needs, with as little hassle as possible. To find out more about Everyday Finance Solutions, visit their website on www.everydayfs.com.au or contact Alan Peters via mobile on 0438 794 548.
To find out more about the QLSRA, visit their website www.queenslandlightningsprints.com or FOLLOW them on Facebook by searching Queensland Lightning Sprints.
