News - Modified Production Number 8
Maryborough
Maryborough Speedway was hosting the final round of the G & W Racing Series. The Mod Prods are always huge in Maryborough and tonight was no different with 44 cars nominated.
Heat 1 saw Rodney start out of 2 beside Glen Pagel. They went into turn 1 side by side, but coming out of 2 Rodney was on the high line and got great drive out of the corner and pulled away from Pagel. Rodney led the race from start to finish and was thrilled to lead a master home on his home track.
Heat 2 Rodney was off the rear. He started out of 7th. After only a few laps some cars had retired to the infield and on the restart Rodney was out of 4. He followed the leaders for most of the race till 2 laps to go Thompson's #8 suffered mechanical problems and baulked Stott. Rodney shot to the high line and took the opportunity to get around them both and finished the race in 2nd behind Mark Raymont who had disappeared out in front.
Heat 3 Rodney started out of 5. Again another heat race filled with retirements. On the first start Todd Doyle sustained damage that saw him sitting on the infield and Mark Raymont restarted the race at the rear. On the 2nd attempt at getting the race underway, Welby and Maroske came together in turn 1 and Maroske ended up facing the wrong way against the fence. Both cars were sent to the rear which had #8 out of pole beside Grotherr for the complete restart. The track had just been watered and it was really greasy on the pole line so Rodney went for his usual slow start, but Grotherr got the run on the drivier part of the track and pulled out in front. Rodney was under seige from Mark Raymont for many laps, when he got a little too high in turn 2 and Raymont got underneath him and Welby followed Raymont through. Rodney had to settle for 4th. Going searching for some more drive on the track didn't pay off.
A-Main. Rodney qualified out of 4 with Aiden Raymont on pole, Troy Ware out of 2 and Mark Raymont out of 3. On the start Rodney followed Mark Raymont through under Ware into 3rd. A few laps later Rodney took the high line and drove around Mark Raymont and into 2nd place. A rare move on a tough competitor, number 8 was coming on strong. It took a few laps to close the gap to Aiden and at one point in turn 2 got up on the outside around Raymont, but the high line was disappearing fast and getting slippery. Rodney couldn't pull off the brave move. While Rodney was challenging Aiden there was a battle Royale in the back 1/2 of the field with cars running 3 and 4 wide, swapping positions. A testament to how strong and competitive this class is. There was action a-plenty. Aiden went on to win the race from Rodney and Dale Grotherr, Mark Raymont and Troy Ware. In perhaps one of the strongest performances from #8 setting the quickest lap time in the feature race with a 16.061, we came home with another 2nd place... again the bridesmaid.
The car got quite hot again in the feature race and has a bad noise in it. The engine has been pulled out and will be checked over and repaired for the Queensland title in Cairns. A big thanks to Andrew Harper for his tireless efforts on the race car.