Eight times New Zealand sprintcar champion, Allan Wakeling took out the second running of the Salute to Goodie Classic at XPH Ruapuna Speedway on Friday evening. The Aucklander headed home American, Ricky Logan, with local driver Matt Honeywell holding off Skinny Colson for third place with Christchurch’s Jamie Duff and Scotti Savage coming home in fifth and sixth place respectively.

Twenty two cars from throughout the country, plus Logan turned out to honour the memory of former NZ champion, Noel Goodwin, in the first of a double header in the Sprintcar Summer Slam at Ruapuna before the national title at Cromwell next weekend.

The Feature was red lighted on the opening lap after Invercargill’s Chris Burns was involved in a nasty flip on the front straight after moving across the track after Savage clipped the safety fence with Burns then clipped by Jamie McDonald’s car, which sent Burns car into a violent roll.

When the race resumed current national title holder, Dean Brindle took the lead on the green and ad Wakeling and Logon were locked in a great dice for second place Brindle opened up a handy lead with the leading driver lapping caps by mid point of the 20 lap race. Brindle looked to have the race in control when coming out of the Prison Bend on lap seventeen could not avoid the spun car of Nelson’s Greg Teece, which resulted in damage to Brindle’s car forcing the Aucklander on to the infield for the final thee laps.

Wakeling held off one last challenge by the American before the chequered flag with Honeywell, who set the fastest time of the meeting showed his potential in what is his only second season the 800 horse powered V’8s in holding on to third place with less than half a second separating Colson, Duff and Savage.

In the supporting classes Ryan Stone, Aiden Barclay and Lindsay Bailey recorded wins in their TQ’s with Kieran Harris and Tom Lumsden the standouts in the Modified events while Matt Leversedge took out three of the four Quarter Midget races.

Sprintcars.

Canterbury Spray On Grass Salute To Goodie Sprintcar Classic

Ht 1. Jamie McDonald (Auck) 1, Dean Brindle (Auck) 2, Ricky Logan ( USA ) 3.

Ht 2. Colin Entwistle ( Bay Park ) 1, Scotti Savage 2, Skinny Colson ( Bay Park ) 3.

Ht 3. Matt Honeywell 1, Brindle 2, Allan Wakeling 3.

Qualiflying Points; Brindle 38, Wakeling 35, Logan 34, Honeywell & Duff 33, Colson 32, Savage & Nelson Hartley (P North) 30, Daniel Eggleton (Auck) 27, Corey Price (Cromwell) 26, Greg Teece(Nelson) 25, Greg Clemence 24, Chris Burns (Inv) 23, Entwistle & McDonald 20, Michael Gourley 19, Jeremy Halpin (Auck) 17, Jason Scott (Cromwell) 17,  Ray Baughan 16, Danny Mayson 12, Steve Mora 9, Martin Halcrow (Well) & Kerry Barlett (Bay Park) 0.

B Main . McDonald 1, Halpin 2, Baughan 3.

A Main Feature.  Wakeling 1, Logan 2, Honeywell 3, Colson 4, Duff 5, Savage 6.

Three Quarter Midgets Cars

Ht 1. Ryan Stone 1, Aiden Barclay 2, Lindsay Bailey 3.

Ht 2. Barclay 1, Stone 2, Brian Fridd 3.

Ht 3. Bailey 1, Fridd 2, Stone 3.

Feature. Bailey 1, Stone 2, Gareth Nixon 3.

Modified Sprints

Ht 1. Kieran Harris 1, Darryl Harris 2, Tom Lumsden 3.

Ht 2. Brett Robinson 1, Anthony Dawson 2, Lumsden 3.

Feature. K Harris 1, Lumsden 2, Robinson 3.

Quarter Midgets

Ht 1. Matt Leversedge 1, Hunter Rowlands 2, Nathan Clive 3.

Ht 2. Baylee Clive 1, Leversedge 2, N Clive 3.

Ht 3. Leversedge 1, B Clive 2, N Clive 3.

Feature.  Leversedge 1, N Clive 2, B Clive 3.