By Dean Thompson, DMT Sports Media for Nyora Raceway Inc
NYORA Raceway was a packed venue on its latest race night that included fan favourites the Monster Trucks and its related supporting cast with a sprinkle of racing from the Dirt Modifieds, Unlimited Sedans and Formula 500s.
Whilst families and especially the children were thrilled by the actions of the Monster Trucks jumping and riding over cars and performing tricks, Marcus Reddecliffe, Terry Rankin, Rusty Ponting and Warrick Taylor went about their business winning the feature event races for their classes.
Proud Nyora President Marcus Reddecliffe was able to pull off a victory in his Dirt Modified class and whilst he was beaming with winning the Monster Tonne 1000 event, he was ecstatic with the crowd.
“We sold out tickets for this event before race day. The financial contribution from attendance for this event will go a long way to assisting our club complete some critical updates around the venue that we are working on. Our club just wants to thank everybody for coming and supporting this community sporting club, we feel we are very important to bringing people into South Gippsland,” shared Marcus.
Reddecliffe won the first qualifying race leading all the way before his older brother did exactly the same in the second qualifying race. In the feature event Matt Reddecliffe took the lead on lap one and was leading Zeke Edwards and Marcus Reddecliffe when his car came to a slow and he drifted infield. Edwards then spun and slotted back into fourth spot handing the lead and the victory to Marcus
Reddecliffe from Daryl Hickson, Jack Smith, Zeke Edwards and Brett Hough.
Formula 500’s were racing in their state Stampede Series with many drivers from the Southwest and Geelong heading to join some Southeastern Victoria locals. Victorian Champion Dale Sinclair, Brady Cudia, Terry Rankin, and Bailey Stephens won the four qualifying races leading into the feature event.
Chad Bell, Rankin, Sinclair, Cudia, Bailey Wilson and Brad Malone began from the front three rows in the feature event. From the drop of the green flag, Rankin led the race with Stephens a quick mover into fourth spot. Cudia dropped through the field early. Late in the race Chad Bell got by Sinclair into second spot and as the race ended Rankin finished almost four seconds in front of Bell, Sinclair, Stephens and Bailey Wilson.
Junior Formula 500 competitors also competed with four qualifying races. Cody Malley, Hugo Chivell, Chase Muir, and Rusty Ponting were the respective winners. Chivell, Matilda Farrell, Ponting, Malley, Logan O’Shannassy and Rowdy Andreatta filled the top six starting positions for the feature event. Chivell from the front of the field held the lead of the race with Pakenham Upper driver Matilda Farrell in the top five as well as Mornington racer Rowdy Andreatta. Ponting put pressure on Chivell through the twenty laps. Chivell claimed the victory from Ponting, Andreatta, Farrell and Koby O’Shannassy.
Pakenham man Travis Ramsdale claimed victory in the first Unlimited Sedan qualifier setting a new ten-lap record for the class of 2:44.740, with Clyde-based racer Warrick Taylor winning the second. Taylor led every lap in the final to claim a win in front of Jimmy Harris, Ramsdale, Gavin Ough and Troy Hutchison.
Nyora will fire up with racing once again on February 8 when the Formula 500s return for the Golden Jacket Showdown, along with the Compact Speedcars for their Victorian title and Wingless Sprints.
