On a wild night of racing at Ausdeck Patios Archerfield Speedway on Saturday night (May 23), Michael Kendall (Midgets), Rodney Pammenter (Modified Sedans) and Darren Kane (Super Sedans) have shared the spoils in the three feature races amid carnage, controversy and some damn good racing.

In the penultimate round of the Polar Ice Midget Series, Kendall gave himself every chance of successfully defending his series crown when he powered home to beat Brendan Palmer and Brett Thomas in the 20-lap feature event. It was actually Palmer who led the opening three laps of the event after a great start from the outside front row. However, once Kendall powered into the lead, he never again looked under any serious threat, despite a couple of restarts that negated any advantage he had accrued. As the laps wound down, the margin fluctuated and Palmer looked like he might be making some inroads into Kendall’s lead, but the former New Zealand champ drove faultlessly in lapped traffic to secure a victory that sets up a final round showdown for the Polar Ice crown.

Troy Ware finished in fourth spot ahead of Darren Vine and Mark George, who was running strongly in third until some contact with Thomas saw him lose momentum and drop several spots. Heading into the event with a narrow points lead, Michael harders could do no better than seventh ahead of Lance Towns, with Reid Mackay and Craig Smith rounding out the top ten. Having executed a wild roll earlier in the night, Scott Wilson soldiered on to greet the chequer as the final car on the lead lap, with Jack Bell trailing the field home in 12th spot.

Vine, George, Kendall and Palmer were the respective heat winners and it was runner-up results from both Kendall and Palmer in their other heats that landed them on the front row for the feature.

After a series of nine heat races that produced some high quality racing, the Modified Sedan Cannonball feature race descended into a race of attrition that resulted in only nine of the 22 starters surviving the 30-lap duration. Pole qualifier Aidan Raymont shot to the front at the drop of the green and remained in control throughout the first half of the race with Todd Doyle throwing down an early challenge. However, Doyle’s raced ended on lap 7 when he speared to the infield during a restart that resulted when Mark Raymont stopped on the track following a clash with Shane McDonald in turn two. From this point, Pammenter took up the chase, but Aidan Raymont looked comfortable at the front of the field until the complexion of the race changed dramatically on lap 20. Having been hit hard by Gavin Fletcher into turn one whilst running in third spot, Max Clarke retaliated as the duo charged into turn three and the result was Fletcher finishing upside down and Clarke ordered to the infield by officials. Immediately after the restart, Aidan Raymont slowed and joined the growing infield contingent, elevating Pammenter into the lead ahead of Shane McDonald and Greg Worling. As the field continued to dwindle, Mark Raymont was making serious inroads from the back and had advanced into the top five on lap 24. As the laps wound down, Raymont continued to charge, moving into third spot with three laps to run.

Greg Worling finished fourth ahead of Russell Harris and Robert Trapp, who found himself jostled out of a top four spot in the closing stages. Jason Beer, Graham Beer and Shannon Blackburn were the only other survivors.

Heat winners were Pammenter (2), Doyle, Worling, Aidan Raymont, Fletcher, Clarke, Mark Raymont and Jessica Raymont, whose feature race ended against the infield wall on lap 7.

The Super Sedans mirrored the Modified Sedans in that their heat races also produced plenty of good, clean racing, only to have the feature race marred by several incidents. In the end, Darren Kane was simply unstoppable and emerged a comfortable victor ahead of Brett Randall and Sean Black. In a race that saw several outstanding performances go unrewarded, Kane took control of the race on lap 2 and never looked likely to lose. Having started from row five, a combination of good luck and some terrific driving advanced Randall through the field. After leading the opening lap, Black occupied second spot for another eight circulations before Matt Williams moved ahead despite a flat left front tyre. In a heroic performance from Williams, the former Queensland champ continued to run strongly and it was only a final restart with three laps remaining – with the tyre now having shredded from the rim - that saw him unable to the keep his pursuers at bay and ultimately resulted in him finishing sixth behind Barry Craft and Grant Shaw. It was a night of fluctuating fortunes for Craft who finished as equal top qualifier with Kane, only to draw four in the pre-race grid draw while Kane snared pole position. An incident in turn four on lap 11 that put Matt Pascoe and Wayne Brims out of action saw Craft ordered rear of field and it was a great drive from this point to climb back to that position by race’s end.

Another highlight came courtesy of Steve Jordan who started dead last in the 19-car field as a replacement for an unwell Jon Taylor and, having not completed any laps prior to the feature, charged his way into fourth spot after just 17 laps, only to head infield three laps later when the bonnet dislodged. Ian Brims finished in seventh position ahead of Paul Coleman and Dale Christensen, with Brendan Doyle and Craig Shaw the remaining finishers.

Taylor won the opening heat from Leigh Williams and Kane, with Craft romping home by more than eight seconds in heat two to defeat Sam Roza and Ian Brims.

Heat three went to Wayne Brims over Mark O’Brien and Randall, while Grant Shaw scored a narrow win over Craft and an impressive John Sheehan in heat four.

Matthew Williams streeted the field in heat five, finishing more than 9 seconds clear of Wayne Brims and Craig Shaw and clocking a new 8-lap track record. However, in the final heat, Kane lowered the mark further in his emphatic win over Black and Pascoe.

Australian champion Darren Vine took out the Compact Speedcar feature event in advance of Wayne Corbett and Audie Malt, with Dave Swan and Daniel Maloney completing the top five.

Dudley Ward scored a somewhat fortuitous win in the Stock Car feature race, while Gus Sanson took out the Ford vs Holden vs Sigma feature event.