After a very disappointing Friday night, Adrian Haywood looked to atone on Saturday night in the QSS World Series Sprintcars Grand Final, with the goal again to make the A Main.

Despite not making the A Main automatically, Haywood would qualify via the B Main to make the final event of the 14 round series.

A key focus for Haywood was to qualify well, but would also need some luck with the draw, as the track was a little greasy early after a hot and humid day. Ultimately, Haywood would set the 19th quickest time, and with the top 24 cars being inverted in the heats, Haywood for the second night in a row, would find himself starting off of the front row.

Haywood would be pitted to a heat two showdown with Cory Eliason and Lynton Jeffrey, both from the United States and Brooke Tatnell along with Andrew Priolo and Brad Maiolo, both of whom qualified extremely well earlier in the night. Haywood would get a fantastic start, leading through the first two laps, before Eliason assumed control of the race. Both Eliason and Haywood were well clear of the remainder of the field in the early going, before Eliason opened a gap. Haywood would drive a consistent race to finish second ahead of Jeffrey, Jason Pryde and Tatnell.

Heat four would see and even tougher assignment for Haywood, who would be assigned Lucas Wolfe from the United States along with series heavy weights Kerry Madsen, James McFadden and David Murcott. After two false starts, which had cars on the third and fourth rows in front before the finish line, the third attempt would be slightly better. Of the three starts, it would be the worst of the three for Haywood, who would be consumed by the drivers around him, dropping to second last at the end of the first lap, a position he stayed in until the chequered flag.

Haywood came agonisingly close to qualifying automatically, as drivers around him on points all had issues or finished lowly in the standings in the second round, with the driver of the Plus Fitness Halls Head, Thorny Devil Craft Beer & Cider W88 starting on the front row for the B Main, with just the first four drivers to qualify. Haywood was determined to be one of those, leaving nothing to chance, with a flying start which put him not only into the lead, but a healthy one.

It would not be until lap seven that Haywood was caught and passed by Ben Ellement, with still a substantial distance back to third place. Haywood was able to hold the position and qualify for the main race.

It was always going to be a tall order to get momentum and rhythm in a 24 car field, starting from the back, and quickly the field closed in on the back markers after six laps. Haywood was fortunate to miss Ben Ellement in Pits Bend, when the winner of the B Main crashed into the fence, causing the third stoppage of the race, after the initial start was recalled when Taylor Milling crashed before the finish line, and Kerry Madsen lost a wheel on lap three.

Haywood would have a battle with Mitch Wormall, with the duo again under siege as the leaders made their move. At lap twenty in heavy traffic, Haywoods car started to misbehave and three laps later, Haywood would retire, officially in 19th place, ironically the same position he qualified in at the beginning of the night.

There were many positives on Saturday night, with the most laps in the seat under race conditions for the season being one of them, something that Haywood desperately needed. Haywood also showed some great car speed, particularly in the B Main to set up the A Main promotion.

Haywood will next be in action at the Sprintcar Silver Cup in March at the Perth Motorplex.

Adrian Haywoods Results:

Heat 2, 10 Laps: 1. USA26 Cory Eliason, 2. W88 Adrian Haywood, 3. USA1J Lynton Jeffrey, 4. W14 Jason Pryde, 5. V55 Brooke Tatnell, 6. W8 Andrew Priolo, 7. W77 Bradley Maiolo, 8. W25 Taylor Milling, 9. W50 Tom Callaghan, 10. W79 Kris Coyle (4 laps). Time: 2.21.628, Winning Margin: 4.166, Fastest Lap: 13.788 USA26 Cory Eliason

Heat 4, 10 Laps: 1. 5W Lucas Wolfe, 2. W20 Ryan Lancaster, 3. W2 Kerry Madsen, 4. W17 James McFadden, 5. V88 David Murcott, 6. W53 Ben Ellement, 7. W25 Taylor Milling, 8. W63 Todd Davis, 9. W88 Adrian Haywood, 10. W94 Matthew Cross. DNS: W79 Kris Coyle. Time: 2.20.867, Winning Margin: 1.359, Fastest Lap: 13.812 5W Lucas Wolfe

B Main, 15 Laps: 1. W53 Ben Ellement, 2. W88 Adrian Haywood, 3. W14 Jason Pryde, 4. W50 Tom Callaghan, 5. W79 Kris Coyle, 6. W21 Troy Lawson, 7. W94 Matthew Cross, 8. W42 Ben Butcher (14 laps), 9. S20 Glen Sutherland (14), 10. W63 Todd Davis (11). DNS: W12 Daniel Harding. Time: 3.36.029 RECORD, Winning Margin: 12.816, Fastest Lap: 13.988 W53 Ben Ellement

A Main, 35 Laps: 1. W17 James McFadden, 2. USA26 Cory Eliason, 3. V88 David Murcott, 4. W77 Bradley Maiolo, 5. W11 Jason Kendrick, 6. W80 James Inglis, 7. V40 Rusty Hickman, 8. S60 Brock Hallett, 9. V55 Brooke Tatnell, 10. W75 Ben Van Ryt (34 laps), 11. 5W Lucas Wolfe (34), 12. T22 Jock Goodyer (34), 13. W20 Ryan Lancaster (34), 14. W14 Jason Pryde (34), 15. W50 Tom Callaghan (34), 16. W97 Mitchell Wormall (32). DNF: 17. W3 Callum Williamson (28), 18. W8 Andrew Priolo (26), 19. W88 Adrian Haywood (23), 20. USA1J Lynton Jeffrey (17), 21. W9 AJ Nash (9), 22. W53 Ben Ellement (6), 23. W2 Kerry Madsen (5), 24. W25 Taylor Milling (0). Time: No Time, Winning Margin: 0.097, Fastest Lap: 13.528 USA26 Cory Eliason

Adrian Haywood is proudly supported by:
Plus Fitness 24/7 Halls Head
Thorny Devil Craft Beer & Cider
Performance Racewear
BoatLand Mandurah
Scardifields Smash Repairs
Watson Logistics & Transport
NCA Accounting
Jason Crowe Media

Photo courtesy of Mel Parker

Adrian Haywood in full flight at the Perth Motorplex. Photos courtesy of Mel Parker