Summer Sizzler - Memphis, TN
Heat One
Bob Alexander, Charlie Clayton, Lynne Higgins, Steven Redden, Andy Bing, Darryl Lozier, Will Thompson, Randy Corson, Don Davis, Norm Gibson, Ed Smith, Jason Ingle
The first elimination came quickly when Ed Smith made contact with both Don Davis and Darryl Lozier before Norm Gibson crushed him against the barriers, and five-time finalist Randy Corson was not too far behind when he stalled out after he collided with Gibson.
It was the Lobster Nationals champion Norm Gibson who left in tenth place, but not until the nine minute mark of a sixteen minute heat. Gibson was denied a fourth straight final but his race was an eventful one with a short stall, a brief stop on the barrier, and eight hits against him, two of them coming off Steven Redden.
Quickly after that Bob Alexander (3rd Lobster) was taken out by Jason Ingle having the final say in their battle, but not before the three-time finalist laid on eight hits of his own with Lynne Higgins, Don Davis and Ingle all suffering twice. Charlie Clayton (7th Frostbite) took three shots from Alexander to help the three-time finalist barely miss out on the consolation heat despite re-firing a very long stall.
Andy Bing was hit nine times, becoming locked up at the bumper with Lozier before Redden laid his fourth hit of the day on Bing to free the drivers and send the double event winner into the second chance race. Championship leader Darryl Lozier will make a rare appearance in the consolation heat after coming out second best on multiple contacts with Will Thompson, and Jason Ingle became a popular guy towards the end to finish his heat in fifth place just behind Lynne Higgins who survived a stall only to become Steven Redden's favourite new target.
Will Thompson becomes the second driver to reach eleven finals (Lozier) and he reaches his fourth in a row by mowing through Randy Corson early on, his first of eight targets in the heat, before ending up in a stall, and Steven Redden makes it seven finals on the year with his first back-to-back qualifications. Redden was relentless against both Bing and Higgins before finishing off Thompson. This, and multiple hits from his remaining opponent, led to a stall of his own where he could only wait for the final blow.
It came courtesy of Don Davis as the replacement driver for Will Murphy claimed his second heat victory of the season to qualify for his third final. Suffering multiple stalls Davis rode both his luck and some late challenges from Thompson to survive until the end and lay a hat-trick on Redden for the result.
Race Result
1. Don Davis
2. Steven Redden
3. Will Thompson
4. Lynne Higgins
5. Jason Ingle
6. Darryl Lozier
7. Andy Bing
8. Charlie Clayton
9. Bob Alexander
10. Norm Gibson
11. Randy Corson
12. Ed Smith
No comments:
Post a Comment