Chace Karpenko picked up his fourth A-Main victory of the Northline Speedway season in Darwin, but tonight’s was the biggest as he captured the 2018 Ben’s Tree Services Northern Territory Sprintcar Championship.

After starting from position three Karpenko charged past race leader Jason Gebert in turn three as the duo negotiated lapped traffic on lap 8 and from that point he was never headed as he raced to the flag defeating Jason Gebert and Ben Atkinson.

“Those 30 laps ran pretty quick actually. I could run on the top and the bottom, I was surprised at how good we were. I have been running around this place for over 20 years now and its my first NT 410 Title so that’s a tick off the bucket list” added an elated Karpenko on the podium.

Fourth across the line was Scott Reilly, who enjoyed another strong Darwin outing with Victorian Ryan Davis completing the top 5. Jamie Landrigan, Glen Sutherland, who started from the back row, Kaiden Manders, Mitch Wormall and Tasmanian teenager Jock Goodyer rounded out the top 10.

The 30-lap feature event saw two caution periods with Jason McIver bringing out the yellow light on lap 11 while Nick Halkitis lost the left front wheel on his #55 bringing on the red light with 13 laps remaining.

Pole sitter and defending Champion Tim Van Ginneken fell out of the race early with an engine failure. “We had been running on seven cylinders all night. Unfortunately, I think we will be heading home during week. That was the only motor I have” conceded the dejected Victorian.

Another high-profile Victorian to strike issues in the final was 2018 Grand Annual Sprintcar Champion Corey McCullagh, who retired the Jamie O’Neill owned #24 following a fuel leak. McCullagh was a late entry for the event in preparation for his tilt at the Chariots of Thunder Series that kicks off next Friday night.

Heat winners were Ben Atkinson, Chace Karpenko, Jamie Landrigan and Tim Van Ginneken while Brendan Guerin, Steven Ling, Jason Pryde, Jock Goodyer, Kale Quinlan and Glen Sutherland transferred to the final via the last chance qualifier.