Neville Lance claimed another victory for the sandgropers on Saturday night, taking out the blistering third round of the Speedcar Super Series at Avalon Raceway, Victoria ahead of Sydney’s Mark Cooper and Troy Jenkins!

After coming home second to fellow West Aussie Dene McAllan at Timmis Raceway Mildura the week prior, Lance set his sights on stamping his authority on the SSS Championship; taking out The Speedway Shop’s Quick-time Award, then qualifying 4th behind Dene McAllan, Troy Jenkins and Mark Brown for the 30 lap A Main.
 

At the drop of the green Jenkins grabbed the lead on the low-line in a three wide dash for the first turn, followed by Lance, McAllan and Cooper; while in the opening laps, SSS big guns; Peter Bourke, Nathan Smee and Mark Brown retired from the race with mechanical difficulties. Lance quickly began his challenge for the lead; running the tail of the BOC Gases N2 Stealth of Jenkins with 27 laps left on the board.

Behind the frontrunners, Dene McAllan maintained his race line and held strong despite the fast paced pressure of fourth placed Mark Cooper in the N7 American Tires & Racing Services machine, putting on a sensational sight for the Avalon crowd; before contact was made between Victorians Craig Smith & Eden Jordan both coming to a stop on turn four bringing on the yellows, with 24 laps remaining. Back to the racing line-up, McAllan was identified with a broken front right shock, forcing the round two winner out of third and onto the infield.

At the restart Jenkins again led away Lance, Cooper, Morris, Harley Bishop, Peter Ghent Jnr, David Crabtree, Matt Young, Ben Wiese, Tim Evans and Troy Jordan. Immediately at the green, Lance gave every indication he was ready to wage war for the lead, riding the tail of the N2 machine and looking across every line. Driving hard into turn three only one lap later, Lance shot under Jenkins and seized the number one position! Jenkins fought back, giving Lance as good as he got until Cooper tacked onto the tail of the contest, challenging for second and allowing Lance to pull ahead.

Further back in the pack, a brilliant battle had begun between the likes of Crabtree, Wiese and Young in 7th, 8th and 9th respectively; the trio fighting to move forward as the track continued to slicken. Wiese looked out wide on Crabtree, until Young braved the highline and screamed past both Wiese and Crabtree into turn three only to see the duo zip back under on the lowline as they reached the main straight! Unfortunately with 18 laps left on the board, Young’s machine began to slow through turns one and two, bringing on the yellows and forcing the Swarfega N67’s retirement from the race.

Lance took the field to the greens at the restart ahead of Jenkins, Cooper, Morris, Bishop, Ghent, Crabtree and Evans. Wiese drove under Crabtree to claim 7th as Lance, Jenkins and Cooper again distanced themselves from the field, until a clash between Eden Jordan and Roger Smaill brought on the yellows with fourteen laps remaining.

Crabtree and Evans slipped by a wide running Ghent after the restart; fighting back Ghent reclaimed 7th spot one lap later. Upfront Lance had progressed to a corner lead ahead of the wrestling Jenkins and Cooper. In a skilled single sweep, Cooper shot low under Jenkins exiting turn four, capturing second down the main straight with eight laps remaining.

The chase was on with Cooper setting his sights on Lance who had sped away to a secure lead, while still holding off Jenkins who was fighting to reclaim second place position. Gradually regaining precious inches on Lance, Cooper was only a corner behind as ‘Big Rev’ Neville Lance took the chequered flag and victory at Round 3 of the Speedcar Super Series!

With a few weeks break, pencil December 30th in as the Speedcar Super Series heads to country New South Wales for round 4 at Gilgandra Speedway.

PHOTOS BY STEPHEN PICKERING