History At Ellenbrook
Jason Crowe - SSA Media
Jamie Olfield tonight has won the A Main of the National Street Stock Title, after winning the C Main, then the B Main before winning the A Main, after losing the lead to Anthony Beare on the last lap.
In an extraordinary race Oldfield defeated Troy Neilson, Damien Amato and Greg Avins. Beare crashed on the last corner while side by side with Oldfield.
The race started with Anthony Beare as highest qualifier, electing to start on the outside of the front row, in the A Main which was run in the traditional anti clockwise direction.
Beare took the lead, but National Champion Brad McClure who qualified fourth took it from him to lead the early laps of the race which was set at a frantic pace.
Wayne Thomson of Western Australia would be an early casualty. Starting from position six, Thomson would spin on the opening lap, and would take no part in the race.
McClure and Beare would open a handy lead over Tim Coxall of Western Australia and Evan Wakefield, Shane Kulker and Michael Hamon, who were all fighting for third place. Behind them, four other drivers were engaged in their own battle, with Damien Amato, Troy Neilson of Victoria, Jason Oldfield and Mick Dann, racing side by side.
Beare chased McClure for eight laps before hitting the front on lap nine, as the race turned into a classic battle for the title, with both drivers having won the event previously. Coxall remained in third place, holding off the challenge from Wakefield, Amato and Neilson who had moved into sixth place.
After twelve laps the first stoppage occurred when Shane Kulker spun. Mark Furphy was deemed to be the primary cause and went to the rear. This would intensify the battle for the lead, as the leaders prior to the stoppage had just caught the back markers.
Beare led the restart, under immense pressure from McClure, who at times hit the front, only to have Beare take it back.
Meanwhile, Jamie Oldfield had moved into fifth place behind Amato after fifteen laps, as Tim Coxall slowly went back through the field, after a great weekend of racing in the qualifying heats.
Beare and McClure continued the battle for supremecy and cleared away from the rest of the field, as Oldield, Amato and Neilson had a great battle raging for third place.
Jamie Oldfield passed both Amato and Neilson on lap twenty two and set out after the leaders, in what even at this point looked destined to provide a thrilling finish.
McClure and Beare meantime continued to trade the lead, and Oldfield caught the pair with ten laps to go, to set up a classic finish to a National Title.
Oldfield passed the defending Champion with ten laps to go, as the three battled for the lead, while Neilson, Amato and Greg Avins along with Michael Hamon were engaged in a battle for the minor placings.
McClure would suffer mechanical problems in the concluding laps and would slowly slip down the order.
This would leave Jamie Oldfield and Anthony Beare to fight out a classic battle, with Oldfield hitting the lead with six laps to go. Beare though would not be denied, and on several occassions, would level with Oldfield, as one of the largest crowds ever to attend Ellenbrook Speedway, went into a frenzy.
A restart was ordered with three laps to go when one of the back markers stopped in the back straight against the fence.
Jamie Oldfield would lead Beare, Neilson, McClure who was gamely holding fourth, Amato, Avins and Hamon as the race resumed after the second and final stoppage.
Jamie Oldfield held off the challenge of Beare on lap thirty eight, and another challenge on lap thirty nine, but lost the lead on the last lap, as Beare passed Oldfield on the backstraight. Beare went into turn three, under Oldfield as the pair raced side by side, but Beare would launch into the air on two wheels, before landing and hitting the fence.
Jamie Oldfield crossed the line to be crowned the Champion for the second time, as the crowd became delerious. Troy Neilson of Victoria drove a great race to finish second, while Damien Amato would finish one second ahead of Greg Avins who finished fourth.
Eleven of the twenty finalists finished an amazing A Main.
Earlier, Jamie Oldfield started the C Main from position seven, a race he led from lap two, and was never troubled in downing Shaun Peters who also transferred to the B Main. Clint Udecz finished third ahead of Ken McPherson and Paul Joss who filled the minor placings.
The B Main was also an exciting race with numerous leaders throughout the twenty laps.
Odin Smith led the first ten laps, before a restart would lead to his demise with a flat tyre. Jason Oldfield took the lead as Jamie Oldfield moved into third place, before the brothers engaged in a race for the lead.
Jamie took lead from Jason with five laps remaining, and although Jason Oldfield tried valiantly in the final lap to pass again, he was unsuccessful. Shaun Reed of Broome drove a quality race to finish third while Lloyd Wallace of South Australia finished fourth.
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