2022 Series 3 Round 1 Thunder Results
Round 1 of the ANZCAR Thunder series 3 2022 would see 28 cars line up for the ANZCAR 150 @ Daytona.
Ruben Phelps would continue his strong superspeedway qualifying form and take the pole position for this one with a time of 50.286. Tom Neil in 2nd, Raymond Jaeger in 3rd, Greg Spencer in 4th and Aiden Schultz making up the top 5 starting positions.
From the green flag the race would settle in with 2 wide running throughout the field with drivers logging laps testing out the fuel mileage and seeing how much fuel they could save.
If the race was to run green the entire distance only 1 pit stop would be needed to make it.
Phelps would lead the inside lane with Spencer and Jaeger running in line behind. Neil would lead the outside line with Nigel Paton and Josh Michelmore running inside line behind.
Back in the pack there was a bit of door banging going on which would lead to a handful of cars making contact with the wall, ending up with damage that would affect their cars performance in the draft.
Up the front as the leading pack caught up with a lapped car Jaiden Russell would work with Michelmore on the high line to clear Phelps and drop down to the low line, taking over 1st and 2nd position.
Luke Georgeson would link up with teammate Tom Neil and lead the outside line challenging for the lead at times as the run would continue. Lap 36 would see the After Dark Sim racing team members Georgeson and Neil working with Wesley Clothesy on the outside line get a good run and drop down in front of the low line cars, taking over 1st and 2nd position.
However, Clothesy would be left high and dry on the outside unable to drop down to the low line and drop back down the field after this. Green flag pit stops would start for the leaders on lap 40 with Georgeson, Neil, and Clothesy pitting. Unfortunately for the latter coming in too hot and taking a trip through the grass on pit entry ending up costing a finish that would’ve capped off a strong run.
Next lap around would see Phelps and Nankervis pit and the end of lap 41 would see a big group of leader’s pits. Nigel Paton locking up on pit entry and taking the bail out option of across the grass for another lap around and contact on pit road leading to Andrew Dyson opting to retire the car early from this one.
The rest of the field would follow the leaders in for their pit stop as well.
Once cars settled back into place on their out laps Russell would be lined up with Michelmore behind and new to the league racer Hart in 3rd. A 4 second cushion from the 4th place car.
The top 3 cars able to stay close to each whereas the next pack of 4 cars from 4th on backwards not being able to make the draft work would see the leaders increase that gap as the race went on. In fact, stretching the gap our to 6.5 seconds at the end of the race.
At the finish line it would see Russell take home the win with Michelmore 2nd and newcomer Sean hart finishing 3rd.
Results:
1st: Jaiden Russell
2nd: Josh Michelmore
3rd: Sean Hart
4th: Luke Georgeson
5th: Jamie Nankervis
Notes:
For a replay of the live race broadcast head to Performance E Streaming YouTube or on the ANZCAR Facebook page. ( a few tech issues on this one unfortunately but hopefully better next week)
https://youtu.be/W0yUHfyf36M?t=5
Next week the series heads to the lady in black Darlington for 110 laps
Ruben Phelps would continue his strong superspeedway qualifying form and take the pole position for this one with a time of 50.286. Tom Neil in 2nd, Raymond Jaeger in 3rd, Greg Spencer in 4th and Aiden Schultz making up the top 5 starting positions.
From the green flag the race would settle in with 2 wide running throughout the field with drivers logging laps testing out the fuel mileage and seeing how much fuel they could save.
If the race was to run green the entire distance only 1 pit stop would be needed to make it.
Phelps would lead the inside lane with Spencer and Jaeger running in line behind. Neil would lead the outside line with Nigel Paton and Josh Michelmore running inside line behind.
Back in the pack there was a bit of door banging going on which would lead to a handful of cars making contact with the wall, ending up with damage that would affect their cars performance in the draft.
Up the front as the leading pack caught up with a lapped car Jaiden Russell would work with Michelmore on the high line to clear Phelps and drop down to the low line, taking over 1st and 2nd position.
Luke Georgeson would link up with teammate Tom Neil and lead the outside line challenging for the lead at times as the run would continue. Lap 36 would see the After Dark Sim racing team members Georgeson and Neil working with Wesley Clothesy on the outside line get a good run and drop down in front of the low line cars, taking over 1st and 2nd position.
However, Clothesy would be left high and dry on the outside unable to drop down to the low line and drop back down the field after this. Green flag pit stops would start for the leaders on lap 40 with Georgeson, Neil, and Clothesy pitting. Unfortunately for the latter coming in too hot and taking a trip through the grass on pit entry ending up costing a finish that would’ve capped off a strong run.
Next lap around would see Phelps and Nankervis pit and the end of lap 41 would see a big group of leader’s pits. Nigel Paton locking up on pit entry and taking the bail out option of across the grass for another lap around and contact on pit road leading to Andrew Dyson opting to retire the car early from this one.
The rest of the field would follow the leaders in for their pit stop as well.
Once cars settled back into place on their out laps Russell would be lined up with Michelmore behind and new to the league racer Hart in 3rd. A 4 second cushion from the 4th place car.
The top 3 cars able to stay close to each whereas the next pack of 4 cars from 4th on backwards not being able to make the draft work would see the leaders increase that gap as the race went on. In fact, stretching the gap our to 6.5 seconds at the end of the race.
At the finish line it would see Russell take home the win with Michelmore 2nd and newcomer Sean hart finishing 3rd.
Results:
1st: Jaiden Russell
2nd: Josh Michelmore
3rd: Sean Hart
4th: Luke Georgeson
5th: Jamie Nankervis
Notes:
For a replay of the live race broadcast head to Performance E Streaming YouTube or on the ANZCAR Facebook page. ( a few tech issues on this one unfortunately but hopefully better next week)
https://youtu.be/W0yUHfyf36M?t=5
Next week the series heads to the lady in black Darlington for 110 laps
