Narrogin Speedway hosts successful first meeting of season as Sam McAuley claims modified sedan victory

Sam McAuley has cruised to victory in the modified sedan feature race held at Narrogin Speedway on Saturday night. Narrogin hosted the standalone event in conjunction with the Perth TQ Car Club, to kick off the 2022-23 season for modified sedans. A strong field of 15 nominations were received for the event, headlined by State champion Jason Batchelor, while Narrogin local Paul Stevens was also among the competitors. After his victory in the top-six shootout, McAuley started on pole position for the 20-lap final alongside Albany’s Batchelor. With light rain starting to fall McAuley quickly fired to the lead as the feature race began, while Laurie Dowsett and Luke Fraser, starting from the second row, did not let the frontrunners get away. McAuley stretched his advantage out in front as the battle for spots developed behind him with Anthony King, Jamie Higgs, Branden Fraser and Stevens all jostling for the minor placings. Branden Fraser retired from the race and King was dicing with Batchelor, Dowsett and Luke Fraser for a podium finish. The field couldn’t stop McAuley, however, as he steered his car to an impressive win, crossing the line 3.138 seconds clear of Batchelor. Dowsett claimed third place in an exciting finish over Luke Fraser and King, with little separating that trio. Michael Clark was sixth ahead of Higgs while Stevens was credited with eighth place to be the last remaining car on the lead lap. Earlier in the event, McAuley won the opening heat in top style before Batchelor produced a dominant performance in heat two. Heat three was closely contested as McAuley hit the lead but had to settle for second behind Branden Fraser and in heat four King proved successful. Batchelor was credited with a second preliminary victory in heat five after a post-race relegation and Dowsett won the six and final heat race. In the support divisions Glenn Carstairs prevailed in a thrilling formula 500 final, beating Chris Dymock by 1.599 seconds. James Berry won the junior formula 125 final and Lucas Stevens took out the new star juniors feature. Barry Rose was in a class of his own in the production sedans, crossing the line more than 15 seconds ahead of his nearest rival in the final, and in the senior formula 125 class Bill Beeck claimed top honours. Three Narrogin lap records were broken at the first meeting of the season. McAuley set a new 20-lap record for modified sedans in 6min. 20.519sec. while Rose set a new 10-lap pro-duction sedan record of 3:18.698 and Beeck a new 10-lap record in the senior formula 125s of 3:20.923. Narrogin’s next meeting is on October 29 featuring the Kulker Cup.