Local drivers among silverware as Raceway action resumes

The setting was ideal for some exciting action and the fans were not disappointed, with the usual mix of fast racing, close finishes and a few spectacular spills all on display throughout the evening.

There was local success too, with Irish Junior Rod Champion Aaron Moody from Ballymena leading the way. Moody opened the evening with a dramatic last lap victory in the Gilmore Engineering Gold Roof race and would go on to add the Supreme Championship later in the meeting as well!

Another Ballymena driver on top form was Noel Hazlett who steered his Vauxhall Astra to a heat and final double which earned him the 2014 Challenge Cup.

Main race of the day was the SHP Engineering National Hot Rod Irish Masters where Portadown’s Andrew Stewart edged home just ahead of impressive National newcomer Adam Hylands and Kells based racer Carl Sloan.

Races for the Classic / Retro Rod and the Euro Stock divisions completed the packed schedule and it was double delight for Donegal visitors Declan Rodgers (Retros) and Shaun Arbuckle (Euros) who both headed back to the North West with the silverware.

NATIONAL HOT RODS

Broughshane teenager Jaimie McCurdy made his debut appearance in the premier Hot Rod division and was joined on the grid by another National debutant, Adam Hylands from Portadown, the current European and British Champion in the Two-Litre Hot Rod class.

Andrew Stewart from Portadown took a hard fought victory in the opening heat before Hylands marked his debut with a fine win in the second qualifier.

The heat results earned Stewart pole position for the SHP Engineering sponsored Irish Masters race which Stewart controlled from the front in his Peugeot 206cc. Once again Hylands was Stewart’s closest challenger, with Carl Sloan from Kells joining the lead battle over the final few laps. Stewart was not being denied at this late stage however and held on for a well judged win ahead of Hylands and Sloan, with McCurdy a creditable fifth.

Irish Masters: 1st. 1st. Andrew Stewart, 2nd. Mark Hylands, 3rd. Carl Sloan, 4th. Les Compelli, 5th. Jaimie McCurdy, 6th. Garry Kelly.

GROUP TWO LIGHTNING RODS

Two reverse grid qualifying heats determined the line-up for the Challenge Cup race and the first qualifier brought a tidy win for David Gillespie from Ballymena.

The second qualifier went the way of Noel Hazlett and when the points were totalled up it was heat winners Hazlett and Gillespie who occupied the front row for the final, with Rodney Fleck and Stewart Nicholl tucked in behind on row two.

Hazlett made the perfect start and steadily pulled away from the field for a comprehensive win, while a race long duel for second between Fleck and Gillespie was eventually settle in Fleck’s favour.

Challenge Cup: 1st. Noel Hazlett, 2nd. Rodney Fleck, 3rd. David Gillespie, 4th. Stewart Nicholl, 5th. Kenny Carson, 6th. James Burleigh

EURO STOCKS

Once again the reverse grid qualifying heat system was deployed to establish the line-up for the Supreme Championship and the heat wins were split between Shaun Arbuckle and Nigel Doherty.

This pair shared the front row for the final which started in very lively fashion with Arbuckle receiving a tough examination from his nearest rivals.

Gradually however the Donegal man managed to edge his Honda Civic away from his pursuers and eventually went on to win by a handsome margin. Moneymore’s Mark Frew motored through into second spot in his Vauxhall Astra, with Trevor McFaul’s similar car in third.

Supreme Championship: 1st. Shaun Arbuckle, 2nd. Mark Frew, 3rd. Trevor McFaul, 4th. Stephen Doherty, 5th. Bobbie Johnston, 6th. Nigel Doherty

RETROS/CLASSICS

Declan Rodgers drove his Vauxhall Corsa to a commanding win in the opening heat before Drew Russell reversed the order to take the honours in heat two.

The final was a straight fight between the pair, but this was cut short a few laps from home when Russell’s immaculate Peugeot 205 developed problems which handed the win to Rodgers, with Keith Peoples next across the line in his Toyota Starlet.

SHP Super Cup: 1st. Declan Rodgers, 2nd. Keith Peoples, 3rd. Drew Russell

JUNIOR RODS

The opening event for the young chargers was their Gold Roof event and it was Niall McFerran who set the pace in this one, with Aaron Moody in hot pursuit. Irish Champion Moody reeled in his opponent to set up a grandstand finish and pulled off a great overtaking manoeuvre around the outside of the final bend to snatch an unlikely win by the length of a bonnet over McFerran.

Two qualifying heats for the Supreme Championship followed and the first of these went to Taylor Broggy in his Ford Ka. Broggy hit the headlines in the second qualifier as well, this time when his car barrel-rolled down the back straight! The County Down lad emerged unscathed to a warm round of applause from the race fans in the Warden Street grandstand, but his night’s action was over.

Moody was declared the winner of that one and the Ballymena lad wrapped up a very successful evening with a dominant flag to flag win in the Supreme Championship race.

2014 Gold Roof Race: 1st. Aaron Moody, 2nd. Niall McFerran, 3rd. Taylor Broggy, 4th. Matthew McKinstry, 5th. Liam Wilson, 6th. Samuel Wilson

Supreme Championship: 1st. Moody, 2nd. Jack Kennedy, 3rd. McKinstry, 4th. McFerran, 5th. L. Wilson, 6th. S. Wilson

NEXT MEETING

The date of the next Raceway meeting is Friday August 15, when the National Hot Rods will contest Round 2 of their 2015 World Qualifying Series.

The Formula 2 Stock Cars compete for the Norman Cromie Memorial Trophy, with Speed Stocks, Group Two Lightning Rods and Junior Rods completing the race programme.