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MASTERS’ APPRENTICE WINS MAIDEN RACE AT CLIPSAL 500
A MOVE that could have been straight from the movie Talladega Nights has seen Cameron Mason power his way to a maiden ENZED Touring Car Masters victory today on the streets of Adelaide.
A sunning start from the second row of the rolling start saw him jump from third to first before turn one to take a lead he would never lose en route to his first ever TCM victory following in the footsteps of his 2007-championship winning dad Steve.
For Mason it really was a case of ‘Slingshot: Engaged’ as he fired past the two drivers on the front row.
The 28-year-old too over his Dad Shelby Mustang last season and instantly ran regularly in the top five but a storming drive from third to first saw him record a maiden victory in sweltering Adelaide conditions today.
Taking advantage of the top 50% inversion of the field Mason made a superb start and rocketed to a lead he’d never lose.
Mason’s victory does remain provisional however pending a stewards hearing tomorrow morning following an alleged breech of regulations by the driver of the No. 3 car at the race start.
While Mason escaped to his early lead there was drama behind as Paul Freestone (Camaro) and Jason Gomersall (Torana) made contact while racing side-by-side through turn four on the opening lap.
Gomersall ended up with a substantial impact in the wall while the concertina effect caught out the mid-pack John Bowe Glenn Seton and Brett Youlden – Bowe and Seton both forced to retire thanks to the damage sustained.
After three laps behind the Safety Car Mason escaped to a comfortable lead on the restart and was never headed on his way to the flag.
A mighty battle for the minors engaged behind the runaway leader though in the end Brad Tilley who started on the front row just held out his brother Cameron for second at the line.
Tilley had started seventh however had stormed his Valliant Pacer through the field following the safety car and closed in on his older brother on the final lap just failing short of grabbing second place in the family affair.
In a battle pack that at times featured eight cars the Tilley brothers made smart moves with Brad defending his podium spot and Cameron attacking from behind as he worked his way through.
Eddie Abelnica stormed his way from eighth to fourth while Mark King improved one from sixth to fifth – a strong improvement from his 11th placed finish yesterday.
Keith Kassulke finished sixth in his XB Falcon hardtop while race one winner Andrew Miedecke stormed from 16th to seventh in just five laps of racing – including dispatching a remarkable seven cars on the opening lap of the action-packed race.
As he did in race one Gavin Bullas followed Miedecke through the field today and finished eighth with Paul Freestone and Brett Youlden completing the top-10.
Tony Hunter started his Sunliner RV Chevy Monza from the front row thanks to the field inversion however slipped through the field to finish 13th.
The third and final race at the Clipsal 500 will be held Sunday and feature a grid based on the combined results from races one and two.
The race will be broadcast LIVE on FOX Motorsport (Channel 506) on FOXTEL and delayed at 2:00pm local time on the Ten Network around Australia.
*At the time of publishing results remain provisional.
RACE 2 RESULTS – CLIPSAL 500 ADELAIDE
Pos Car Competitor/Team Driver Vehicle Cap CL Laps Race.Time Fastest...Lap1 3 Hercules Engines Cameron Mason (NSW) Ford Mustang Fastbac 5000 8 17:02.3919 8 1:33.4515 2 28 Tilley Automotive Brad Tilley (NSW) Ford Mustang Coupe 4735 8 17:09.7143 8 1:34.2846 3 60 Tilleys Racing Equipment Cameron Tilley (NSW) Valiant Pacer 4390 8 17:09.8539 7 1:33.6011 4 48 Adelaides Cheapest Cars Eddie Abelnica (VIC) Ford Falcon XB Coupe 5800 8 17:10.2420 7 1:33.6736 5 85 Whiteline Transport Racing / K Mark King (QLD) Chevrolet Camaro RS 5800 8 17:11.2718 7 1:33.7640 6 52 Outbound Racing / wheels.com.p Keith Kassulke (QLD) Ford Falcon XB Coupe 5800 8 17:12.0800 7 1:33.6656 7 95 Whiteline Transport Racing / L Andrew Meidecke (NSW) Chevrolet Camaro SS 5800 8 17:12.1988 7 1:33.1314 8 16 Rain City Racing Gavin Bullas (VIC) Ford Boss Mustang 5800 8 17:13.1548 7 1:32.8075*9 25 Freestones Transport/Freestone Paul Freestone (VIC) Chevrolet Camaro SS 5800 8 17:13.3586 7 1:33.9717 10 56 Autolite Spark Plugs Brett Youlden (VIC) Holden HQ Monaro Co 5800 8 17:13.9717 7 1:33.6095 11 2 Shannons Insurance Jim Richards (VIC) AMC Javelin 5890 8 17:17.5989 7 1:34.1084 12 75 Mopar Performance Greg Crick (TAS) Chrysler Charger E55 5570 8 17:19.0518 7 1:35.0391 13 10 Sunliner RV Tony Hunter (VIC) Chevrolet Monza 2+2 5000 8 17:24.5918 5 1:36.3011 14 74 Lyndways Builders Wayne Mercer (VIC) Ford Falcon XY GTHO 5800 8 17:25.6055 7 1:36.1548 15 46 THD Motorsport Leo Tobin (VIC) Holden HQ Monaro Co 5800 8 17:25.6109 7 1:36.0991 16 22 PRT Race Fabrication Nigel Benson (SA) Holden HQ Monaro Co 5800 8 17:25.7389 6 1:35.9430 17 33 SportsMed Greg Keene (SA) Porsche 911 RS 3600 8 17:26.5161 8 1:36.0797 18 32 SportsMed Amanda Sparks (SA) Porsche 911 RS 3600 8 17:27.9073 6 1:36.6391 19 20 Palmer Promotions Ian Palmer (QLD) Pontiac Trans-Am 5800 8 17:28.6700 7 1:35.9832 20 9 Jesus Racing Andrew Fisher (NSW) Ford Falcon XY GTHO 5800 8 17:30.3203 5 1:33.4974 21 15 Hercules Engines/Bridgestone Graham Stewart (SA) Chevrolet Camaro SS 5800 8 17:33.7815 7 1:37.2710 22 13 Black Cat Racing Rory O'Neill (SA) Porsche 911 IROC 3600 8 17:48.8194 7 1:40.7986 23 50 Flo.gineering Carey McMahon (NSW) Holden Torana SL/R 5000 8 17:59.0816 5 1:35.5309 DNF 30 Thunder Road Racing Australia Glenn Seton (QLD) Ford Mustang Coupe 5000 1 2:07.4962 1 2:07.4962 DNF 35 iseek Racing Jason Gomersall (QLD) Holden Torana SL/R 5047 DNF 18 Dunlop Super Dealers/Wilson Se John Bowe (VIC) Ford Mustang Trans A 5800 DNF 17 Red Rock Winery Rohan Little (VIC) Porsche 911 IROC 3600