Photos: 1 - 12 Matt Bull, 13- 24 Jim Harrod, 25 - 36 Damien Widdows

There wasn’t anything Domestic about this meeting, the drivers turned out in great numbers to support, with the meeting fully booked just a few hours after bookings opened. Wild card places on the line in the 2L Bangers and 1500cc Bangers in the Final for the winner and top entertainers, it was a night of non stop crashing with some superb action.

“There were some pretty scary hits going in on track in both formulas.  Although the 2 Litre Bangers were contesting their last 2020 Shale World Qualifier, the meeting was purely a domestic fixture for the 1500 class, which meant that the entry of nearly 70 cars was very special indeed.  For those that witnessed the meeting, you will know just how hard some of the crashing was with 591 Jack Giddings heavily involved all night in the smaller class.  340 Wes Freestone was off the scale with his utter flattening of 321 Kieran Fry in the 2 Litres followed up by an eye-watering head-on with 550 Phil Jackson in the 1500 DD.  It all bodes well for the 2 Litre Shale World Championship which takes place in two weeks and the 1500 National Championship meeting recently announced for the month after.” by Al Oxby

Junior Bangers by Keith Organ

The first race up was for the white graders Levi Murkin (609) starting in pole led them off with 14 cars on the wet track, Riley Shinn (400) and Alfie Nottingham (707) the early spinners, Ben Kaleta (702) no where to run collects. Jobie Gough (199) run into the fence in turn 3, Perry Williamson (8) and Kaleta trip up and pile in, a large portion of the track now blocked in turn 3. Lexi Finney (455) leads. Rhys Parrin (750) puts Alfie Painter (65) to the fence in turn 3 collecting the parked Gough machine in the proces. Finney, Nottingham and Murkin, all caught out with the cars strewn around turn 3 as another blockage takes form. Murkin found his way through the pile up and took over the lead, Painter moves in to second and Finney third. The lap boards now presented3 to go, Finney reeled in second, took that position back, before charging after the leader to within striking distance, going in for a last bender, but collecting the fence instead. Murkin wins, Painter second and Finney recovering for third.

Heat 1 saw a field of 21 cars on track; led off by Lexi Finney (455).  Leah Whitehead (620) trips up in turn 3; Riley Shinn (400) joining her for company as Sophie Allen (825) went to a spin in turn 1. Alfie Nottingham (707) then took around Perry Williamson (8) in the backstraight before Jacob Rushton (800) spun out Reagan Flatters (515) in the homestraight. Reggie Turnbull (19) was your leader, Ben Kaleta (702) second and Katelyn Parrin (150) third. Ryley Marsh (701) punts out Nottingham into turn 1. Flatters was in further trouble tripping up with Williamson by the pit gate; Kaleta taking around Williamson for good measure down the homestraight. A train of Juniors went in to turn 1 together including Jobie Gough (199), Finney, and Lexie Genders (448) with Finney coming off worse in the fence; waved yellows called for.  Turnbull, Kaleta and Loui Cottrill (999) the top three on the restart. Kaleta held off the challenge from Cottrill for a number of laps on the restart, battling the Star grader hard for position; but as the lap boards came out, Cottrill’s bumperwork in to turn 1 was enough to unsettle the 702 machine wide and Cottrill move up to second. Genders offering the same to Marsh in turn 3, promoted her up to fourth. Cottrill went in with the bumper on Turnbull at the final stages; giving himself enough space to dive up the inside of 19 in the last bend. Cottrill taking the win, Turnbull second and Kaleta third.

Heat 2 was led off by Alfie Painter (65); 19 cars joining him. Sophie Allen (825) was in trouble at the start when she was taken around by Riley Shinn (400); Rhys Parring (750) also involved. Reggie Turnbull (19) was punted out wide, whilst Leah Whitehead (620) got caught with Ben Kaleta (702) ni turn 3. Turnbull went back for retribution and put the bumper in on Katelyn Parrin (150) in turn 1, Parrin collecting an infield marker tyre in the process. A train of 5 or so cars went into turn 1; Painter came off worse when he was spun to the fence. Jobie Gough (199) put away Lexie Genders (448) and Lexi Finney (455) to turn 1 fence, the two tripping up in turn 2 with Cottrill and Alfie Nottingham (707) for company, Finney left across the track; waved yellows called for. Levi Murkin (609) leads them off, Turnbull second and Genders in third.  Louie Cottrill (999) collided with Riley Shinn (400) bouncing off the wheels; whilst the laps boards were presented to Murkin. Genders went in on Turnbull in to turn 1; he holds off the 448 challenge with Max Eaton (670) also closing in. The five; 609 19 670 999 448 now altogether at the closing stages; Turnbull put Murkin wide in to turn 3 at the last bend to take the win, Murkin finishing second, Eaton trying to sneek by but resigned to third. Genders went in on Jacob Rushton (800); taking him in the last bender, as Robbie Dillon (833) took out Painter, Ryley Marsh (701) went in on Dillon for good measure.

Levi Murkin (609) led off the Final, 18 cars on track. A big push in to turn 1 and the white graders ploughed in to the fence, prompting a caution period and a complete restart. Murkin led them off once again, down to 15 cars for the rerun. Leah Whitehead (620) the first casualty sent in to a spin at the green flag. Reggie Turnbull (19) took Lexi Finney (455) deep in to turn 1, the pair coming to rest in the plating. Louie Cottrill (999) took around Jacob Rushton (800) in to a spin under Race Control. Murkin your current leader, Ben Kaleta (702) in second and Rhys Parrin (750) third, Parrin going in with the bumper on Whitehead down the homestraight, taking her to a spin in turn 1. A lap later Perry Williamson (8) went around in the entrance to turn 1, Parrin and Cottrill having to take avoiding action; whilst Whitehead went in on the attack of Max Eaton (670), Eaton sent sideways around the roadside bend. Williamson in trouble again a lap later, Robbie Dillon (833) went in on the back of him, taking him in to a spin once more; half a lap later and Turnbull offered the same treatment to Williamson under the Scoreboard. Lexie Genders (448) tripped up with Whitehead down the homestraight as the lap boards were presented to Murkin, Cottrill now third closing in on Kaleta. Cottrill using the bumper into turn 1 on the last lap to take second, but a last bend lunge saw the 999 make the successful pass baring by 702. Murkin taking the win, Cottrill second and Kaleta third. Eaton and Ryley Marsh (701) having a drag race to the line for fourth, Eaton just pipping the 701 machine.