After delivering a faultless performance, it was interstate invader and veteran racer Shane Newstead who claimed top honours in Saturday night’s Austec Irrigation Northern Territory AMCA Nationals Title at Darwin’s Northline Speedway, scoring his second state title crown in the process.
A dominant force from the outset, the Northern NSW-based driver could not be stopped throughout the duration of the event, winning each of the three heat races and going on to lead each of the 15 laps in the NT Title-deciding feature race to take what was a momentous victory, having achieved yet another a major career milestone.
Home in a gallant second place was local youngster Jacob Belcher, who did well to compete, let alone secure a podium spot, following a large crash the night prior during the Harvey Distributor Darwin Cup which caused significant damage to his car. Belcher had featured strongly throughout the heat races but was unable to knock Newstead off the top step. Another strong qualifier in Brendan Kenna completed the podium in third, ahead of remaining finishers Maria Panasewycz, Jason Hillier and Janet Belcher (Jacob’s mum).
Photo: Damo Shoots Cars
Peter Harding was the only casualty, while Paul Paget and Andy Allcorn were unable to start the feature race.
The night prior, Newstead gave his rivals a taste of what was to follow, driving to a convincing feature-race win in the Harvey Distributor Darwin Cup, with Jacob Belcher once again occupying the runner-up spot, ahead of Harding in third. South Australian Jeremy Moore, who was the only other interstate driver to compete throughout the weekend, finished just off the podium in fourth, with Maria Panasewycz rounding out the top-five finishers.
Remaining finishers include Jason Hillier, Janet Belcher, Andy Allcorn, Brendan Kenna, Paul Paget and Raymond Thomsen.
Earlier in the night, Moore was in strong form, collecting a pair of heat-race wins, with Jacob Belcher winning the remaining heat race.
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