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Vaughan claims Sandown in wild final race
In an incident-filled second race of the Dunlop Super2/Super3 fourth round, Brad Vaughan came out the winner of Super3 and took the round’s major points as well.
The Anderson Motorsport Ford Falcon FG only took the lead on the final lap. He avoided any race-ending carnage that happened around him to take the class ahead of Chris Smerdon (Vectra Corp FG) and Jim Pollicina (Mocomm Holden Commodore VE).
Kai Allen (Eggleston Motorsport VE) was the fastest in qualifying and led Super3 until he fired off at turn one. He may have been fortunate because there was a major incident at turn three as he attempted to regain the circuit.
Jason Gomersall (Unit Racing FG) slipped off into the turn three barrier and while several cars spun on the mud that was deposited on the circuit, several cannoned into him.
Fourth across the line was a battered Garry Hills (Valmont VE) who survived a coming-together with James Masterton (VE) several laps beforehand at turn one. The Hills Commodore had damage to the drivers’ door while Masterton was out with broken steering and a tyre off the rim.
Brendan Strong was next after a mid-race spin. He was third in a freight train behind Smerdon and Gomersall and ahead of Hills when he looped his Commodore at turn one.
The next two home were the Falcons driven by Jordan Michels (FG) who made a late pass on Tony Auddino (BF). They were ahead of Stephen Page, the recovering Allen and the Blake Fardell Holdens. Third in class from the outset, Ray Hislop was caught up in a concertina when the race went green after a safety car. Jarred Danaher (FG) pitted early with an engine issue.
Vaughan’s victory gave him the round victory over points leader Allen with Pollicina third. The latter also took the Super3 Cup class honours where Smerdon was second and Hills third.