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| Added: 06 May 2013 |
Category: 2013 Oval Racing |
| 2013 - #16 - Tullyroan Oval - 5/5/13 |
It’s hard to believe that this time last year Nuttscorner Oval had closed and Tullyroan Oval was much anticipated, but no one really knew how it would all pan out.
A year ago I was sceptical about the extra travel, not sure how the fields of cars would go on a bigger track, not sure if there would be a gain or loss of drivers in the move. I was looking forward to seeing F2’s, Stock Rods and Saloons at my regular haunt and was looking forward to seeing the 2 Litres around Aghadowey.
The way things worked out in the closed season has meant a lot has changed in that year, I never did get to see the 2 Litre’s at Aghadowey or for that matter the saloons, the Stock Rods have become a regular Tullyroan Oval class, which I don’t wholeheartedly agree with the way they’ve been split, Superstox have also joined the ranks and this weekend had more cars out than the F2’s at Ballymena, how that compares with Nutts Corner, I’ve no idea. The car numbers at Tullyroan Oval have soared with the ProStocks fielding up to 35 cars in recent meetings and other classes regularly into the twenties in car numbers and the travelling doesn’t really bother me because I know it’ll be worth it when I get there. A number of times I’d have found myself standing on the infield at Nuttscorner watching a race and wondering why exactly I do what I do, but I haven’t had one of those meeting at Tullyroan yet.
Anyway, my initial point would have been that this time last year I’d a few free weekends which didn’t help the cause of racking up 50 meetings in a year, the next few meetings are a wee bonus in a like for like comparison of where I was last year, it was the end of May last year before I’d done 16 meetings and now I’ve a few weeks to get ahead of that.
On the track the regulars were joined by Tony Lattka in his Superstox as well as Colm O’Sullivan and Chris Lattka in their Stock Rods and a few more Ballymena registered drivers including World Champion Chris Gordon. Nathan Beattie, Petie Donnelly and Gary Jackson also joined the Superstox regulars.
The Junior Productoins opened the meeting, Bradley McKinstry took heat one and Dean McCrory took heat two. As part of their Murrays Of Randalstown backed series there was a closed grid for the final. Dean McCrory and Shane McMillan battled for the lead exchanging places with McCrory eventually taking the win.
In the Lightning Rods there was an opening heat win for Brendan McConnell, Dane Ferry took heat two and Martin O’Flaherty won the final.
Kyle Beatty dominated the Superstox taking both heat wins from the blue grade thus moving back to red for the final, but drawing the front row of the grade where he went on to take the win.
In the Stock Rods Jonny McMillan won the opening heat and was then spun out from the lead in the closing stages of heat two, the race was taken back to the lap before and McMillan declared the heat two winner.
Micky McFall won a closely contested final with Chris Lattka keeping him honest all the way.
The 2 Litres were action packed throughout the day. Wayne Woolsey was first over the line in both heats giving him pole for the closed grid final as the class raced for the first round of their wash ‘n’ dash series. Woolsey was joined up front by Adam Hylands who found his way into the lead in the opening laps. Woolsey and Murray diced for much of the race for second before coming together on the back straight which seen Woolsey come off the wall on the back straight and run wide around the corner. Hylands took the win, while Woolsey went on to spin Murray after the race which seen him loaded from the meeting, giving the heat wins to Hylands and Davy Potter.
The Caravan DD finished off the meeting with Willy Ogilby taking the win.
Approx Car turnout: 72 cars (16 Lightning Rods, 10 Superstox, 20 2Litre Hot Rods, 13 Stock Rods, 13 Junior Productions)
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| More Photos on TullyroanOval.com |
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