Ryan Farrell has become only the second rookie in the Chariots of Thunder Sprintcar Series to win an A Main event with a strong showing in the preliminary event for Round 1 at Ostojic Group Northline Speedway in Darwin last Friday night. Farrell, now racing for the well-funded and extremely professional, Monte Motorsports team was in control for most of the night and when his teammate, Luch Monte 'gave the race away' during the middle of the 20-lap event, Farrell did not need a second invitation to the lead.

Monte would in fact drop back to 3rd spot by the end of the event after Ian Loudoun cruised past him in the closing stages. James McFadden made his debut for Scott Milling's team and with his father, Dave now his crew chief, the 20-year-old Brisbane based racer instantly shined, finishing 4th to cap off a great night. Adrian Maher was one of the nights 'movers and shakers' in the field, finishing 5th, while the biggest surprise was Tasmanian born, 16 year old, Shaun Dobson, who finished an excellent 6th place.

The 2007 series arch rivals, Ben Atkinson and Warrenne Ekins finished in 7th & 8th respectively, Ekins was nursing a car that was not to his liking, while Atkinson in the #21 Torque Motor Group Shark chassis, did his best to finish in 7th after starting 11th. Cameron Gessner made the highlight reel for all the wrong reasons during the event. The lanky Queenslander, grabbed the wall on the main straight, which turned the #10 instantly into the wall and then flipping violently into the air and finally into the fence in turn 1.

While this was happening, another incident had occurred at the opposite end of the speedway. Chace Karpenko emerged from a now written off Ontraq Haulage Maxim chassis. Karpenko was battling with Shaun Bradford when the two made contact, sending Karpenko hard into the wall. It is unlikely he will return to the series, a disappointing event for the talented driver. Jason McIver was very unlucky when the left front wheel parted ways with the Harbor Haulage #66 XXX chassis on the last lap, while running 3rd. McIver started his campaign in sensational from, setting a new one lap record in qualifying earlier in the night. The time of 11.555 was nearly 3/10ths of a second quicker than the record and a further 4 cars also eclipsed the mark. Farrell, Ben Ellement and Ekins all achieved this feat. Tasmanian 16-year-old sensation, Shaun Dobson was the first rookie to win on debut in the heat races, snatching the win on the very last lap from Daniel Goldoni, who had been leading the race from the beginning.

Adrian Maher won the second heat from Cameron Gessner and Ryan Farrell, who started from 10th place. Luch Monte won the 3rd heat from Ian Loudoun and Bryan Mann. Monte inherited the lead after Ben Ellement was forced from the track while leading after a small fire begun to burn from the engine of his Stingaz Surf & Skate Cool chassis. Ellement was far from impressed with the decision. Jason McIver then went into the record books again with a win in the 4th heat, which was also the 125th race in the series 4 year history. McIver won from James McFadden and Warrenne Ekins. Ryan Farrell then turned up the wick and won the penultimate heat from Ben Atkinson and Cameron Gessner.

Ian Loudoun finished of the heats with a win ahead of Luch Monte and Jamie O'Neill, the latter having a great start to his series, the placing helped him make the preliminary event.

TOP 10 FROM NIGHT 1 A MAIN
Ryan FARRELL
Ian LOUDOUN
Luch MONTE
James McFADDEN
Adrian MAHER
Shaun DOBSON
Ben ATKINSON
Warrenne EKINS
Alan BARLEE
Daniel GOLDONI

All results can be accessed post race at NATSOFT Race Timing - Natsoft Website
Produced and released by Matt Naulty Media - Matt Naulty Media