Thunderous Racing

The fifth edition of the Thunder on the Downs lived up to its reputation at Hi-Tec-Oils Toowoomba Speedway at Toowoomba.

A capacity crowd witnessed a feast of slide jobs and wheel-to-wheel racing, with $10,000 on the line.

Lachlan McHugh cemented his place in Thunder on the Downs history by winning a fierce battle with Jock Goodyer.

The pair of former Australian Champions exchanged the lead with a series of slide jobs just millimetres from the wall, lap after lap.

Goodyer eventually settled for second while Jamie Veal crossed the line third.

Goodyer elected to start the 35-lap A-Main, from position two with Jamie Veal from pole.

Veal and Goodyer led the way, but McHugh raced through on the bottom and into the lead momentarily before Veal surged to the front around the outside. McHugh raced back underneath just as Goodyer was set to claim second.

McHugh again slid underneath Veal to take over the race lead, only for Veal to quickly fire back.

Veal and McHugh continued to trade places while Goodyer began to challenge the leading pair, who were having their own race for the lead, which worked to Goodyer’s advantage.

McHugh, brilliant in traffic, eventually weaved his way past, with Goodyer getting around Veal and setting out after him.

Things escalated at the halfway mark as Goodyer slid underneath McHugh and into the race lead, only for the latter to hit straight back with a slider of his own.

McHugh and Goodyer soon opened a handy margin on the rest, while Hallett made his way inside the top five.

With five laps to run, Goodyer slid underneath McHugh to start a remarkable series of slide jobs that lasted several laps despite contact at one point.  McHugh’s right rear tyre rode up over Goodyer’s left rear, but they both came out unscathed.

McHugh raced on to take the win ahead of Goodyer and Veal.

Other results from Night 1: Keith Blatch drove a consistent race in the Lightning Sprints to finish third in their feature.

He and Sean Iacono had a close race to the lower step of the podium.

Dave Fanning went on to win the event, with Harry Lumsden finishing third.  Terry Leerentveld dominated the Modlite feature, leading from green to chequered, demonstrating why he is the current Australian Champion.

The Modlites put on a good show for the capacity crowd, Cameron Birch finishing second, while Klinton Hancey rounded out the podium finish.

Brisbane won the AFL Grand Final on Saturday night, and Hallett got the win at Toowoomba following a standout performance for GW Racing. Having had to build a new car for night two after making contact with Luke Oldfield, which left Hallett in the wall, the win was a sweet success.

“It’s a great way to reward the team after putting a new car together this morning,” Hallett said.

Earning his right to start on the front row alongside Veal, who started from position two.

Hallett got the better start only for Veal to quickly slide underneath to take over the race lead.

Hallett then switched back to regain control, as Goodyer and Veal argued over the next two placings.

Goodyer eventually got the upper hand on Veal and settled into second as he was under pressure from Randy Morgan.

Heavy traffic was slowed Hallett’s progress as he searched for a way through. Goodyer didn’t hesitate when the opportunity came, dropping to the bottom underneath Hallett for the race lead.

But soon after Hallett was quick to regain control and take the win.

Goodyer settled for second ahead of Veal who rounded out the podium.

In the V8 Dirt Modifieds current Australian Champion Kevin Britten won their feature race from a hard charging David Clark while Luke Dunn finished third in the prelude to their Australian Title in Toowoomba in May next year.

Casey O’Connell won the Wingless Sprintcar feature race from  Zane O’Toole and Liam Atkinson.