Bracher Hat Trick

Day 2 of the Hotstox northern swing and round 2 of the Northern and Midland Championship plus World Qualifying points on offer. Kev Stuchbury held a 17 point lead over 2nd placeman 112 Jamie Marson. Also in contention was 373 Rob Hartley and the more experienced 210 Matt Smith and 161 Mark Allen who were over 20 points behind.   With Kevin not racing due to not having his shale car ready, Marson looked poised to claim a first ever title if he could have a half decent day.

Heat 1

16 cars for the first race with Chris Fort in the Nick Blach car and Leighann Wright making her shale debut 24 hours after her first ever Hotstox race. Marson led them off but over cooked it on turns 1 and 2 so Rob Barber took it up. He didn't have much time to settle as a lack of Yellow tops meant Chris Bracher had a trouble free run to Barber's back bumper. Bracher hustled past Barber who's car was developing a bad push whilst 575 Darren Cottrill as expected was making the break from the rest of the reds and superstars. 373 Rob Hartley and Marson tangled on the home straight and clattered into the fence. Marson managed to limp to the centre whilst Hartley remained in the fence for the rest of the race. Bracher took an easy win with Cottrill 2nd and 210 Matt Smith 3rd keeping his claim on the Northern and Midland well alive.

Heat 2

14 for heat 2 as Hartley and Marson were still making repairs back in the pits. 473 Bracher made even shorter work of hitting the front this time. 356 Mark Wright spun with help from 439 Jay Kellett on turns 3 and 4. 314 Steve Bowman then clattered into the home straight fence doing quite a bit of damage to car, fence and driver. The race was cautioned and a winded Bowman was assisted from his car. Steve was ok but was done for the day. On the restart Bracher led with Barber in 2nd but he was soon overhauled by Cottrill, Fort, Wainman and Allen finishing in that order.

Final

15 for the final with Marson and Hartley back on track and both with a chance of lifting the title. Matt Smith needed to win it and Mark Allen needed 4th to clinch it. This race also carried an extra incentive as the Forestry Commission sponsored the race with £50 going to the first driver across the line from each grade plus the winner would recieve £50 also. Marson and Barber led them away but Marson compounded a bad day when he lost it on the back straight - pretty much kissing goodbye to his chances. Barber's car was going well and he opened up a good lead over Bracher who was catching the 42 car. Further back Matt Smith was chasing Bracher and Mark Allen was making great headway ahead of Fort and Cottrill. Cottrill then passed Fort and an errant 286 Bradley spun in front of a then 4th placed mark Allen. Allen scrambled by but not before Cottrill and Fort had passed the unlucky Allen. Up front Bracher barged past a stubborn Barber who gave chase but didn't have enough to offer back. Instead the white top would have his mirrors full of a closing Matt Smith desperate to get the win. Allen made his way by Fort and set after Cottrill needing the 4th place finish to win the title. Bracher wrapped up a successful day with a win and Barber managed to hold on to 2nd with Smith a valiant 3rd. Mark Allen got up the inside of Cottrill coming off the final turn but Darren had the drive and took 4th by a wheel which meant Allen tied with the absent Stuchbury for the Northern and Midland title. As I write this, it is still uncertain who will be crowned champion but talking to Mark he fully accepts that the trophy should go to Kevin considering his tremendous points haul from a single days racing. What a good sport.

Some great action from the V8's. A shame that most of the crowd had left to make the Belle Vue show before the final. Chris Bracher made it look far easier than it was and will surely see flashing lights as he sits 2nd in the points and tops the Qualifiers. The last word goes to Leighann Wright who had the balls to race at Sheffield in her 2nd ever meeting. Although she is taking things slowly, she is doing all the right things. Speed will come with confidence. Bravery she has plenty of, well done girl ! .