Auckland’s Brad Mosen won the first round of the 2009 International Midget World Series on Wednesday night (Jan. 28), winning the 25-lap feature at Western Springs Speedway. Mosen also helped the NZ Midget team defeat the Profreight International Team USA 35 -20 in the first NZ versus USA Midget Test Series race, earlier in the night.

Two major crashes in the Midget qualifying heats highlighted the necessity to run and qualify well to ensure a premium starting position for the International Midget World Series features.

The first heat started with Shayne Alach and Carl Worboys off the front row, and also featured Americans Davey Ray and Dave Darland. Alach led the entire heat chased by Graham Standring, with Dave Darland storming from grid twelve all the way to third. That’s how they finished, followed by Worboys, Chris McCutcheon, and Ray.

Heat two was an all out war compared to heat one. First Michael Pickens survived a 360 degree spin onto the Western Springs infield after trying to avoid a spun Andrew Stewart, and then Brad Mosen made an attempted inside pass on American Henry Clarke into turn one. The ensuing contact saw the young Californian crash heavily into the wall, ending his night with a badly damaged racecar. Jerry Coons Jnr took control from the restart, eventually winning from Mosen, defending International Midget World Series Champion Brad Kuhn, Michael Kendall, Bill Clarkson, and Wayne Green. Pickens limped across the line in seventh with a flat left front tyre.

Heat three ran green to chequer, with Scott Buckley winning by half a lap from Standring, Tony Fabish, Shaun Insley, Ray, and Alach. Cory Kruseman struggled with an engine down on power.

Dave Darland dominated heat four from the pole, followed by Wayne Green, Pickens, Christchurch’s Phillipa Melrose, Kuhn, and Angus McLeod. Kuhn was relegated one position for running on the infield.

Mosen then won the fifth and final heat, which meant he top qualified from the heats. Lance Beale was second in heat five, followed by Coons Jnr, Insley, Kendall, and Kruseman. The heat featured another huge crash, this time involving Nick James, who climbed a wheel, and flipped spectacularly into the turn two catch fence. Unfortunately, like Clarke, his night was over as well.

The Profreight International NZ versus USA Midget Test was next, with the top five drivers from each team racing each other over ten laps. Mosen started from pole for the Kiwi’s and was never headed, with Standring third for the Kiwi’s as well behind the first American Jerry Coons Jnr. Insley and Pickens were fourth and fifth. Dave Darland suffered a crank sensor issue, ending his race, so the US team was on the back foot early. The Kiwi’s won the first test 35 – 20.

Mosen started the feature event from pole position as the top qualifier from the heats and test races, but was passed for the lead by American USAC star Jerry Coons Jnr at half race distance. By then, early retirements included Darland, Kendall, Melrose, Alach, Kruseman, and Davey Ray. Coons then took control of the race, comfortably leading Mosen, Graham Standring, NZ Midget Champion Shaun Insley, defending International World Series Champion Brad Kuhn, and Michael Pickens.

With three laps to go, Coons made a crucial mistake in turn one, nearly spinning, handing the lead back to Mosen, with Insley also taking advantage of the Americans mistake, having just passed Standring for third. Mosen held on for a popular win, followed by Shaun Insley, and a disappointed Jerry Coons Jnr. The top six was completed by Graham Standring, Pickens, and Brad Kuhn.

Former NZ Minisprint Champion Shawn Cooke won an entertaining TQ feature in just his second ever TQ start, with visiting Christchurch racer Ricky Brett in second. 3NZ Shane O’Connor stormed from grid twenty-one to finish third.

NZ Sprintcar Champion Carl Wilson won his second Sprintcar feature at Western Springs this season to maintain his lead in the season long Western Springs Open Wheel Championship series. Sprintcar rookie Ryan O’Connor finished second, completing a great night for the O’Connor brothers, followed by new Manawatu Sprintcar Champ Hans Boere.

Round two of the four round International Series features the prestigious 30-Lap World Derby and the second Profreight International NZ vs USA Midget test, at Western Springs Speedway this Saturday night (Jan. 31).  

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