Wood wins, Allen takes Super2 lead and Stewart seals Super3

Ryan Wood dominated a wild Dunlop Adelaide opener, but it was all about the locals as Kai Allen and Jobe Stewart made massive steps towards the Super2 and Super3 crowns.

Zak Best carried a 30-point lead into the penultimate race and crossed the line fourth, just one spot behind Allen on the road.

However, due to a 15s penalty for forcing Nash Morris into the turn 5 tyres, Best slumped to 14th and lost the championship lead as a result.

Following a huge 63-point swing, Mount Gambier’s Allen heads to the final race with a 33-point lead in Super2 at his home race.

Fellow Blue Lake boy Stewart had an eventful race, but did enough to secure the 2023 Super3 title in 19th, while Cameron McLeod won the class.

Stewart led the class until he was nudged by Matt Chahda, but made sure he took the chequered flag to secure the championship at the race he attended annually as a kid, producing a moment the Image Racing driver will never forget.

They were the big talking points from a wild 40-minute race that had something happening at every turn.

Jobe Stewart wrapped up the Super3 title in Race 1 despite a nervous moment with Matt Chahda at turn 7. Image: EDGE Photography

Morris made the most of his first front row by getting a flying start and launching into the lead ahead of WAU teammates Wood and Zach Bates.

Best lost a spot but was importantly two spots ahead of Allen with Cooper Murray between them.

But the #17 Mustang was not in front of the Eggleston Motorsport cars for long as Murray made a massive move, diving down the inside of Best at turn 9.

This was pivotal as it arrived seconds before the first safety car was called and left Best in the clutches of Allen.

The safety car was required due to the CarCity Commodore of Jordyn Sinni going straight off at turn 5 due to steering issues.

Zak Best has lost the Super2 lead to Kai Allen after an eventful Adelaide opener. Image: Peter Norton

Racing resumed with 28 minutes to go and Morris nailed the restart while Allen sensed a chance.

The Blue Lake boy dived down the inside of his championship rival with an opportunistic move at turn 4 and got it done smartly.

The Eggleston cars continued their charge as Murray had a look at Bates at the final corner for third but their side to side contact sent the #25 WAU Commodore dropping down the order to eighth.

Meanwhile, Murray found himself in the thick of an intense battle for the lead which came alive seven corners later.

Wood found an overlap on Morris on the entry to Bartels Road and did not need another invitation, taking the lead with a brave move on the inside of turn 8.

This left Morris on shaky ground and he was immediately picked off by Murray.

Cameron McLeod took out the penultimate Super3 race ahead of Jett Johnson: Image: EDGE Photography

The #67 then had both championship contenders all over the back of him and the duo engaged in some hand to hand combat.

After Allen explored a move on Morris at turn 4, he was caught napping by Best at the following corner, who regained fourth.

All of this happened within the first half of the wild race while in Super3 Stewart lost ground to Super2 cars but stayed first in class.

He sat ahead of the two Altimas of Mason Kelly and McLeod with the trio running line-astern after accounting for the chicane-hopping Zane Morse.

As the championship leaders ran nose to tail the likes of Aaron Cameron, Aaron Love, Cameron Crick, Jay Hanson and Bates formed an angry pack of cars.

It had a messy ending as Love was sent spinning into the inside wall on the exit of turn 6 by Bates, who himself ran wide at the following corner.

By the time they got to turn 9, Hanson found himself pointing the wrong way having been tagged by Jordan Boys.

Whilst this was happening Allen was busy making some championship defining moves.

When Best was looking at Morris and got caught wide, Allen pounced and snatched fourth at turn 6 before picking off Morris for third two corners later.

This left Morris and Best banging panels but the championship leader landed himself in hot water by escorting Morris into the tyres at turn 5.

It proved to be a costly move due to Best receiving a 15s time penalty.

The drivers were on the edge and the safety car finally arrived with 9 minutes to go.

Kelly was sitting a strong second in Super3 until he lost control of his Altima at turn 7.

Kelly lost his rear into Turn 7 which collected Morse in a big contact moment. Image: Fox Sports

Car #22 bounced off the concrete and directly into the path of Morse, resulting in heavy front to rear contact and both cars out of action.

It set up a grandstand finish with Allen the big winner having the 13s deficit between himself and the leading pair wiped, while Stewart led McLeod and Gray in Super3.

Racing resumed with just 3 minutes to go and whilst there were no moves at the front, there was a major development in Super3.

McLeod snatched the Super3 lead as Stewart started tumbling down the order after being escorted wide at turn 7 by Matt Chahda.

He crawled to the line with a massive bite taken from the rear of the VF Commodore to wrap up the Super3 championship.

There were no such dramas upfront as Wood led home Murray and Allen, while Best took the flag fourth but on adjusted results was 13th in Super2.

This means Allen has stolen the initiative and heads into Sunday’s finale with a 33-point advantage.

The 12th and final race of the year will begin at 13.50 AEDT and if today was anything to go by, it will be no simple route to the Super2 title.

Image: Mark Horsburgh EDGE Photographics

2023 Dunlop Super2 Super3 race 1 Adelaide results

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