2022 Round 25 Cup Results
Martin takes Daytona after night of greatest hits!
The mood inside each of the thirty-two starters of this final addition of the 247 ANZCAR Cup Series varied wildly depended on the individual scenario of the driver occupying its seat.
Some already locked into The Chase could not have been more relaxed, while those not in contention would be hoping for a good run in the lottery like atmosphere of a Daytona race.
The biggest nerves however would be found in those lurking “on the bubble” in terms of making the top ten, for them the stakes were as high as a barbeque on Mt Everest, the prestige of running for an ANZCAR Cup Series championship only eighty good laps away.
Jason Martin would collect another pole position with Neil Pearson lining up next to him. Dyson and Dautanac would form row two with Hettersheid and Urquijo starting on row three. The drivers sparred early, the bottom line appearing to be the place to be and attracting more than a few to slot in and run close to the yellow line. Martin, Dyson and Hetterscheid would lead the bottom which would remain dominant until Pearson teamed up with Foster to take the lead around the top before dropping down in front of the former leaders.
On lap thirteen a quartet of Nigel Paton, Jaeger, Douglas and Schultz would push to the front, the first two dropping in successfully but Martin and Schultz came together sending Martin across the grass, Douglas for a spin and leaving Pearson with a small amount of front end damage. This had the effect of splitting up the field and while it would reform to a degree, Paton would lead until lap thirty-one when Scurlock would push to the lead with Michelmore, Hobson and Russell.
This lead most to try and slot in on the bottom lane once more, with Wellman making contact with Martin as he did so. Hit number two for Martin. The green flag stops began around half distance, with cars pitting depending on fuel consumption and that of any allies they had found in the field until this point. When the stops all shookout, Douglas and Whitcher would lead the pack although almost a lap down, with leader Paton being trailed by Jaeger, Foster and Dyson. With all drivers having their minds on fuel, most settled in to single file running with judicious use of the throttle the order of the moment.
Approaching twenty to go, teammates Paul Jackson and Barry Neale made their move, pushing around the outside to join the leaders. Meanwhile Greg Spencer spun across Martin's nose, putting himself into the inside wall and Martin across the infield again. The race would remain green, and Martin would continue on after his third adventure of the evening.
With five to go Foster would pull up to lead the outside line, which became the lead of the race when the “lead” cars of Douglas and Whitcher had to stop for fuel. When the outside lane began to fade, teammates Paton and Jaeger pushed to the outside and past Foster, an opportunistic Martin driving around the outside of all of them to move into the lead.
As the field took the white flag and headed to the back straight Paton got a wobble and ran up into Neale, kicking off “The Big One” on the race's final lap.
Cars would take to the apron to avoid and this would leave Jaeger to trail home a disbelieving Jason Martin who would take the most unlikely of victories in what has to be one of the most incident filled races of his long career.
Dyson would run third ahead of Scurlock, Foster, Tompkins (from 32nd place!), Nankervis, Hettersheid, Phelps and Clark to complete the top ten. So that is that. The regular season comes to a close with Dyson topping the points, The Chase for the Cup begins next week at Darlington.
Do not miss this.
Stewards report
Lap 80 – Protest 231 on 23 dismissed, 23 not at fault
The mood inside each of the thirty-two starters of this final addition of the 247 ANZCAR Cup Series varied wildly depended on the individual scenario of the driver occupying its seat.
Some already locked into The Chase could not have been more relaxed, while those not in contention would be hoping for a good run in the lottery like atmosphere of a Daytona race.
The biggest nerves however would be found in those lurking “on the bubble” in terms of making the top ten, for them the stakes were as high as a barbeque on Mt Everest, the prestige of running for an ANZCAR Cup Series championship only eighty good laps away.
Jason Martin would collect another pole position with Neil Pearson lining up next to him. Dyson and Dautanac would form row two with Hettersheid and Urquijo starting on row three. The drivers sparred early, the bottom line appearing to be the place to be and attracting more than a few to slot in and run close to the yellow line. Martin, Dyson and Hetterscheid would lead the bottom which would remain dominant until Pearson teamed up with Foster to take the lead around the top before dropping down in front of the former leaders.
On lap thirteen a quartet of Nigel Paton, Jaeger, Douglas and Schultz would push to the front, the first two dropping in successfully but Martin and Schultz came together sending Martin across the grass, Douglas for a spin and leaving Pearson with a small amount of front end damage. This had the effect of splitting up the field and while it would reform to a degree, Paton would lead until lap thirty-one when Scurlock would push to the lead with Michelmore, Hobson and Russell.
This lead most to try and slot in on the bottom lane once more, with Wellman making contact with Martin as he did so. Hit number two for Martin. The green flag stops began around half distance, with cars pitting depending on fuel consumption and that of any allies they had found in the field until this point. When the stops all shookout, Douglas and Whitcher would lead the pack although almost a lap down, with leader Paton being trailed by Jaeger, Foster and Dyson. With all drivers having their minds on fuel, most settled in to single file running with judicious use of the throttle the order of the moment.
Approaching twenty to go, teammates Paul Jackson and Barry Neale made their move, pushing around the outside to join the leaders. Meanwhile Greg Spencer spun across Martin's nose, putting himself into the inside wall and Martin across the infield again. The race would remain green, and Martin would continue on after his third adventure of the evening.
With five to go Foster would pull up to lead the outside line, which became the lead of the race when the “lead” cars of Douglas and Whitcher had to stop for fuel. When the outside lane began to fade, teammates Paton and Jaeger pushed to the outside and past Foster, an opportunistic Martin driving around the outside of all of them to move into the lead.
As the field took the white flag and headed to the back straight Paton got a wobble and ran up into Neale, kicking off “The Big One” on the race's final lap.
Cars would take to the apron to avoid and this would leave Jaeger to trail home a disbelieving Jason Martin who would take the most unlikely of victories in what has to be one of the most incident filled races of his long career.
Dyson would run third ahead of Scurlock, Foster, Tompkins (from 32nd place!), Nankervis, Hettersheid, Phelps and Clark to complete the top ten. So that is that. The regular season comes to a close with Dyson topping the points, The Chase for the Cup begins next week at Darlington.
Do not miss this.
Stewards report
Lap 80 – Protest 231 on 23 dismissed, 23 not at fault
