Nathan Smee provided more fodder for the theory that he is the master of the marathon races by posting his second fifty lap race victory in a month with an intelligent drive to the front to score a decisive win over Mark Brown and Todd Wanless in the Auto Upgrade Midget Fifty Lapper at Supercheap Auto Archerfield Speedway on Saturday night May 19. Smee, the winner of the NSW edition of the event in April, also won the annual Brisbane race in 2010.
Starting mid-field was never an issue for the former Australian Champion who was on the move early and was already in third spot behind runaway leader Anthony Chaffey and NZ Champion Michael Pickens when Pickens rolled the JBR #29 on lap fifteen while the leaders battled lapped traffic. The incident also saw Wanless come to a stop in the middle of turns one and two and Michael Kendall's race come to an end as they both tried to avoid what was unfolding ahead of them.
Chaffey continued to pace the field and was doing an outstanding job up front until he almost spun the MAC/Ed Pink #4 at the halfway point of the race as he began to thread his way through the tail of the field once more, coming to a stop in turn one and handing the lead to Smee. Leading twenty-five laps at $100/lap will be of some consolation to Chaffey but he will rue what may have been an even larger pay day had he gone on with it all the way to the chequers.
The final half of the event became a story of Smee out in front and Mark Brown chasing but also relying on a couple of late yellows to close within striking distance. Wanless had worked his way back through the field and passed Sid Whittaker on lap twenty eight for the final podium spot while Mark George and Michael Harders battled each other for fifth, George eventually taking the chequered flag just over 0.2s ahead of Harders.
NSW driver Jason Bell finished seventh, Darren Vine eighth, Chaffey coming from the back to finish ninth and Rob Stewart completed the top ten. Steve Swingler, Rob Mackay and Chris Singleton were the only other three to complete the distance. QSRA Club Championship contenders Brock Dean (battery) and Brendan Palmer (flat tyre) were out on laps fifteen and seventeen respectively.
In other racing on the night, Keith Muller took out the final of the Crossley Racing Engines V8 Dirt Modified Series from Andrew Pezzutti and Qld Champion Kevin Britten, with Rob Hamilton, Ray Klarich and Australian Champion Mark Robinson completing the top six. Daniel Moes continued his impressive season by winning the twenty lap Wingless Sprints Feature from Neil Howard and Mitch Gowland, with Brant Chandler fourth ahead of Travis Woods.
Racing continues at Supercheap Auto Archerfield Speedway next Saturday night May 26 with Round 14 of the KRE Race Engines Sprintcar Track Championship, Super Sedans, a Caravan, Boat And Dunny Race, Fireworks and support class racing on the programme.
Results:Visit http://www.brisbanespeedway.com.au/results.asp for full results of all events held at Supercheap Auto Archerfield Speedway.
Auto Upgrade Midget Fifty Lapper Podium: L-R Mark Brown (3rd), Nathan Smee (Winner), Todd Wanless (2nd) - Photo: Ben Graham
