Team Sour were the toast of Tullyroan Oval on Saturday evening, as the Dublin based outfit were crowned winners of the Kings of Krash Unlimited National Bangers team event after a tremendous scrap. They came home just four points ahead of rivals Bad Company at the end of a great night of Banger racing action.
The other feature event was The Lee Cherry Memorial Trophy for 2.0 Hot Rods which fell to Portadown’s Stuart Cochrane, whilst Kilrea’s Joshua McMullan was the winner of the annual challenge between the Thunder Rods and Tipperary Raceway’s Premier Rods.
Birches star Steven Haugh took a hat-trick to claim the Grand Final of the McElmeel Mobility Services Supreme Series for ProStocks, whilst there was also a hat-trick in the Ninja Karts for Portadown’s Max Hobson at the meeting sponsored by Cherry Pipes and Ray McGrath Transport.
Max Hobson won all three races in the Ninja Karts at Tullyroan on Saturday night in a meeting sponsored by Ray McGrath Transport and Cherry Drainage Pipes
Steven Haugh won the McElmeel McElmeel mobility services final for the ProStocks at Tullyroan on Saturday night
Joshua McMullan (centre) won the Thunder Rod final at Tullyroan Oval on Saturday night with James Goldie (left) runner up and Ryan Campbell (right) in third
Stuart Cochrane won the Lee Cherry memorial trophy for the 2.0 Hot Rods and received the trophy from members of the Cherry family
Team Sour A Won the Unlimited National Bangers Teams Championship, Stevo McGrath (left), Adam Maxwell (centre) and Paul Gaffney (right) pictured receiving their trophies
Stevo McGrath (centre) won the National Bangers final at Tullyroan on Saturday night with Leonard Dunn (left) runner up and Steven Bolton (right) third.
Unlimited National Bangers
An excellent field of Unlimited National Bangers came to trade blows in the Kings of Krash team event, with lone ranger Steven Bolton taking first blood for himself with the heat one win racing as Team TBG. Anthony McIvor took a huge hit into turn one courtesy of Stevo McGrath as there was action all around early on. McGrath came home in second for Team Sour ahead of Bad Company’s Leonard Dunn. Heat two saw yet more heavy action on turn three with Jonathan Compelli, Kieran McIvor and Jonny Murdock amongst those involved. Dunn came through for the win this time ahead of McGrath and another Team Sour racer, Adam Maxwell.
The double points final was always going to play a huge part in the overall standings, and despite the best efforts of the chasing Dunn, it was McGrath who raced home to the win to secure the overall title for Team Sour. With the overall points decided before the Destruction Derby, it turned into an excellent free for all with Paul Compelli going for a rollover on the back straight just as his brother Jonathan took a huge home straight hit from Davey O’Connor.
The reds came out to rescue Paul who was thankfully unscathed, and at the restart a huge wrecking train kicked off on the home straight involving some huge hits from Stephen Boyd, Rocky McKenna, William Bingham, Darren Gaffney and Noel Anderson. Dunn avoided the carnage to take the victory, whilst Gaffney was awarded Entertainer of the Day and Jonathan Compelli took home the Best Wreck Award. Overall Team Sour A were victorious ahead of Bad Company A and Bad Company B.
2.0 Hot Rods
The Lee Cherry Memorial Trophy, in memory of the popular former racer, was the main event for the 2.0 Hot Rods, with Gary Wilson grabbing the opening heat win over Allen Cherry with a rapid looking Stuart Cochrane in third. Heat two saw returnee Mark Madill race to a clear win in his Tigra, ahead of a battle for second which fell the way of Adam Best over Cochrane.
From pole position Cochrane was always going to be a huge favourite for the final, and he duly eased clear to take a tremendous victory. A huge battle developed for second between Wilson, Best and Cherry, and it was Best who finally secured the runner up position over Wilson and Cherry.
Thunder Rods/Premier Rods
The local Thunder Rods were joined by a trio of stars from Tipperary Raceway’s Premier Rods for the annual challenge, with Coleraine’s Ryan Campbell taking victory in the opener over Davy Gurney and David Wilson, the latter having spent a number of laps alongside the leader. Joshua McMullan took a clear win in heat two, which was brought under caution after a huge back straight crash which eliminated a number of cars. Jason Darragh was runner up over Campbell and John Goligher.
Campbell was on pole for the challenge final, and he quickly was under pressure from James Goldie. McMullan made a bold move to hit the outside line, and he was able to superbly drag himself right around Campbell and into the lead. Goldie quickly followed suit but by now McMullan was home and dry and took the victory in some style over Goldie, Campbell and Andrew McLean.
ProStocks
The ProStocks were right down in numbers for the Grand Final of the McElmeel Mobility Services Supreme Series, with Steven Haugh grabbing a hat-trick of victories to claim the silverware and two race tyres from the series sponsors. Dan Shannon tried his best to get on terms with second in heat one, only to then be spun off by Haugh in the opening lap of the second race! Largey took second in that one, before Shannon again tried a late lunge on the last lap of the final, but Haugh was in control all evening and he duly completed his hat-trick over Shannon and Largey.
Ninja Karts
As always the young aces in the Ninja Karts produced some tremendous action, with Max Hobson taking the opener after passing Lauren Berry late on. Lauren was unfortunately docked two places for jumping the restart during the race, which elevated Andrew Hawe to second ahead of Rhea McConkey. Heat two saw a tangle amongst a number of karts on turn two, which closed the field up under caution. Hobson got the jump on the restart to take the win over Hawe and Odhran Monaghan.
Ben Hawe was the first to show in the final, whilst Hobson was again on a mission and the young Portadown lad swooped past to complete his faultless hat-trick for the evening. Ben Hawe impressed in second ahead of Monaghan and Andrew Hawe.
Next Meeting
The next race meeting at Tullyroan Oval is on Saturday September 7th from 6.30pm, featuring the second round of the Simpson Race Exhausts World Series NI for National Hot Rods, the Grand Final of the Percy Auto Body Repairs Challenge Series for Lightning Rods, The second round of the Superstox NIOvalTV Series plus Rookie Bangers and ProStocks.
