High stakes for Sportsman racers at the Bend
The first ever Aeroflow Sportsman Western Conference Champions will be celebrated at Dragway at The Bend’s Riverbend Nationals this weekend, but there is still a lot on the line.
In addition to chasing a National Drag Racing Championship Western Conference title, the winner and runner-up at The Bend will get a ticket to the coveted Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship Grand Final in October.
The Sportsman’s will run alongside the Top Fuelers, Top Doorslammers, Pro Stockers and Pro Stock Motorcycles.
NDRC Co-Founder Andy Lopez can’t wait to see how the competitors perform in the high pressure environment.
“There sure is a lot to play for at the Riverbend Nationals this weekend,” he said.
“Across 11 Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship categories, we will see high stakes battles for the Western Conference title, for event glory, for Grand Final invites, and also for Eastern Conference points.
“The performances that we have seen from our sportsman competitors across our inaugural season have just been phenomenal, and I can’t wait to see what these highly talented and passionate racers have in store for us this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.”
In Competition Eliminator, Matt Forbes and Craig Geddes lead the way for the Western Conference, each having reached the 300 points cap, ahead of Mitchell Oxley (260) and Connor McClure (180).
In Super Stock, Steve Norman, Kim Fardella and Graeme Simms have all reached the cap, with Adrian Vella also in the mix on 250 points.
In Competition Bike, Joe Khoury, Edge Mallis, Chris Allen, Jake Hamilton-Moderate and David Willis have all reached the cap, ahead of Rob Church (245), Wayne Patterson (212.50), Daniel Natalotto (190) and Gavin Dohnt (190).
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In Supercharged Outlaws, Dale Tucker is the only racer to have hit the 300 points cap so far, sitting atop the points ladder for the Western Conference ahead of Shaun Kerkman (240), Doina Day (230), Kasey McClure (220), Shane Baxter (220), Mike Evans (200), Mark Hunt (190) and Bob Sherry (180).
In Top Sportsman, Glenn Henley, Vlado Turic, Leon Davies and Ricky Smith are all on the points cap ahead of Stuart McBain (240), Dean Cleary (240), Greg Damiani (230), Peter Cates (210) and Cory Read (190).
In Modified, Simon Barlow, Kenny Stewart and Adriana Cartledge have all reached the cap in the Western Conference standings, with Ashley Johnson (267.5), Derek Wills (245), Cory Dyson (240) and Neil Gannaway (180) all in the mix.
In Super Sedan, Tony Miskelly, David Todd and Lance Larcombe lead the way, each on the 300 points cap, ahead of Robert Kardum (240), Alex Gkroidis (240), Martin Mirco (220), Joe Carbone (210) and Chris Lioulios (190).
In Super Street, Michael Jennings and Tony Antonino sit atop the Western points tally, each on the cap, ahead of Michael Bridges (240).
In Modified Bike, Lucas Neagoe and Johnny ‘Hog’ Ireland are both on the cap ahead of Derryn McGregor (290), Dean Jamieson (280), Cheryl Beddoes (220), Louise Ridgway (220), Nick Thompson (200) and Jamie Dohnt (200).
In the Junior Dragster ranks, Cooper Plummer, Lachlan Walker, Seth Jarvis, Luca Lamattina, Sarah Osborne and Taylor Horton are all on the cap, with Todd Wagner not far behind on 280 points.
In Super Gas, Colin Griffin is the sole racer on the points cap, with Graeme Spencer, Jordan Spencer and Robert Bergamin hot on his heels on 280 points each. Also in the mix is Jason Wilson on 220 points.
The Riverbend Nationals will be held at Dragway at The Bend across April 5-7.
Image: Cackling Pipes Photography
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