American stars Jerry Coons Jnr and Jonathan Allard won the opening rounds of the Samsung International Midget World Series and the International Sprintcar Series respectively, at Western Springs Speedway on Boxing night in front of a massive Holiday crowd. It was certainly one of the biggest crowds seen at The Springs for many years, with lots of action and incidents to keep the eager fans entertained.

Reigning Australian Midget Champion Kevin Swindell was the top qualifier for the World Select group from the Midget qualifying heats, while Kiwi Scott Buckley topped the Western Springs Qualifying group. Swindell decided to start from the inside row as the overall top qualifier, with the World Group making up the inside grids in qualifying order, while the Western Springs group lined up on the outside row, also in qualifying order from the heats. Earlier on in the night, the four heats were won by Buckley, Swindell, Michael Pickens, and USAC Triple Crown winner Jerry Coons Jnr. With three feature wins already this season at The Springs, Pickens would start from grid ten in the feature, after struggling in his first heat with a ninth place finish.

Buckley went into the early lead of the 25 lap feature chased by Swindell, Coons Jnr, and Brad Mosen. Coons Jnr worked his way to the front with a couple of great passes, and was then never headed for the balance of the race. The Wendys #3USA Spike Esslinger was working anywhere on the racetrack, and Coons Jnr was simply too good for the rest on the night. Pre series favourite Pickens was an early retirement, making contact with the main straight fence after something broke on the #54 GVI Breka.

Swindell and Mosen traded slide jobs in a furious battle for second place as Coons controlled the pace out front. Swindell moved into second, but was struggling with a down on power Hawk engine. The Graham team had been chasing some issues right throughout the night with the #1 Australia Spike. National Champ Shane Alach was on a charge into fourth, but retired to the infield soon after, with a lump of clay turning the fuel tap off on the #11 Parker Store Spike! Mosen then got by Swindell on the final lap for second, but out front Coons Jnr took the chequered flag and the victory. Behind Coons, Mosen and Swindell, Shaun Insley finished fourth, followed by Scott Hatton, Lance Beale, Michael Kendall, Michael Brunt, and Dave Gick making up the top ten.

California’s Jonathan Allard came back to The Springs on a mission for the opening round of the International Sprintcar Series, after being excluded for noise at the Sprintcar Classic earlier in the season. Three - time World of Outlaws Champion and Sprintcar Legend Sammy Swindell however would prove to be the man to beat after some stunning heat race action. Swindell set a 12.0 second lap in his first heat win, setting one of the fastest laps seen at Western Springs in a Sprintcar for two seasons. The other heat wins went to Jamie McDonald, Allard, and former NZ TQ Champ Ryan O’Connor.

Swindell moved to the front early on in the feature, chased initially by Allard McDonald, and O’Connor. In just four laps the American was into lapped traffic, closely pursued by Allard. O’Connor got around McDonald, and was right with Allard in lapped traffic. Swindell looked more than comfortable out front, but then a late race restart gave Allard the opportunity he needed, moving by Swindell on the inside in more lapped traffic. Allard was right on the edge, but knew he had to make some big passes to try and keep ahead of the Salter Cartage #7USA Maxim. Allard took a hard fought win ahead of Swindell and O’Connor, with Alan Wakeling fourth, followed by NZ Champ Dean Brindle, and 3NZ Greg Pickerill.

Ross Linklater won his second TQ feature of the season, ahead of Lawrence Baker, and Brock Maskovich. Linklater also takes over the points lead for the Track Championship, with previous joint point’s leader Shane O’Connor crashing out spectacularly in a triple TQ flip which also involved Harris team mates Gina Harris and Shaun Cooke.

The next meeting at Western Springs on Wednesday night December 30, features round two of the Samsung International Midget World Series, and the International Sprintcar Series.

You can listen to the full race commentaries from the Midget and Sprintcar Features on www.thedirttrackchannel.com. Check them out!

TQ Feature - (1) 56 Ross Linklater, (2) 15 Lawrence Baker, (3) 3NZ Brock Maskovich

Samsung 25 Lap Midget Feature - (1) 3USA Jerry Coons Jnr, (2) 13 Brad Mosen, (3) 1AUS Kevin Swindell

Intl. Sprintcar Feature - (1) 0USA Jonathan Allard, (2) 7USA Sammy Swindell, (3) 8 Ryan O'Connor

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