Defending WA Champion Steven Ellement has got his Title defence off the to best possible start, going through the opening night at Geraldton Speedway undefeated.
Ellement would score two heat races wins from two starts, seeing him atop the points table after night one, with Ryan Higgs, Brendon Marshman and Glenn Carstairs all tied for second, Carstairs and Marshman each claiming a heat win and a third while Higgs got two seconds.
Although it counted for no points, the preliminary night would also see the Johnny Andersson salute, in honour of one of the hardest working and long serving members of Formula 500’s of WA Inc, with Ellement starting off the front row courtesy of his earlier points haul.
As the race went green Ellement would shoot out into the lead, with Ryan Higgs and Glenn Carstairs following closely behind, the race settling into a rhythm, with minimal stoppages across the distance.
On lap twelve Carstairs would make his move to grab second from Higgs as Todd Broadwood and Brendon Marshman had an epic battle at the same time, their positions changing four times over the next few laps.
In the end though it was Ellement who rounded out a perfect night, claiming a strong win over Carstairs, with Higgs, Chris Dymock and Broadwood rounding out the top five.
Interestingly, out of a total of 36 racing laps across his heats and the feature, Ellement was so dominant that he led thirty five of those…his only blemish? Chris Dymock leading the opening lap of the second heat before Ellement took control!
The Formula 500’s will return to the Geraldton Speedway track again tomorrow night with one more round of heats prior to the all important feature race!

Release by DTN Media.
Pics Courtesy Midwest Speedway Photography, Geraldton.

Official Results
Heat One, 8 laps: 1.36 Brendon Marshman, 2. 17 Todd Broadwood, 3. 24 Mark House, 4. 117 George Eaton, 5. 14 Matthew Edwards-Pope, 6. 76 Tyler Carter. DNS: 5 Cody Turacchio. Total Time: 2.03.186. Winning Margin: 2.182. Fastest Lap: 14.484 36 Brendon Marshman.
Heat Two, 8 laps: 1.WA1 Steven Ellement, 2. 7 Ryan Higgs, 3. 49 Glenn Carstairs, 4. 3 Chris Dymock, 5. 45 Sam Haythornthwaite, 6. 71 David Carstairs, 7. 101 Damien Della. Total Time: No Time. Winning Margin; 1.047. Fastest Lap: 14.216 WA1 Steven Ellement.
Heat Three, 8 laps: 1. 49 Glenn Carstairs, 2. 7 Ryan Higgs, 3. 71 David Carstairs, 4. 14 Matthew Edwards-Pope, 5. 76 Tyler Carter (7). DNF: 24 Mark House (6). DNS: 5 Cody Turacchio. Total Time: 1.59.888. Winning Margin: 2.337. Fastest Lap: 14.453 49 Glenn Carstairs.
Heat Four, 8 laps: 1. WA1 Steven Ellement, 2. 3 Chris Dymock, 3. 36 Brendon Marshman, 4. 17 Todd Broadwood, 5. 45 Sam Haythornthwaite, 6. 101 Damien Della, 7. 117 George Eaton (7). Total Time: 1.57.729. Winning Margin: 2.170. Fastest Lap: 14.230 WA1 Steven Ellement.
Johnny Andersson Salute, 20 laps: 1. WA1 Steven Ellement, 2. 49 Glenn Carstairs, 3. 7 Ryan Higgs, 4. 3 Chris Dymock, 5. 17 Todd Broadwood, 6. 36 Brendon Marshman, 7. 45 Sam Haythornthwaite, 8. 71 David Carstairs, 9. 14 Matthew Edwards-Pope (19), 10. 101 Damien Della (18), 11. 76 Tyler Carter (18). DNF: 117 George Eaton. DNS: 5 Cody Turacchio, 24 Mark House. Total Time: No Time. Winning Margin: 0.748. Fastest Lap: 13.959 WA1 Steven Ellement.
Points After Night One
1. WA1 Steven Ellement 40
2. 7 Ryan Higgs 38
3. 36 Brendon Marshman 38
4. 49 Glenn Carstairs 38
5. 3 Chris Dymock 36
6. 17 Todd Broadwood 36
7. 71 David Carstairs 33
8. 14 Matthew Edwards-Pope 33
9. 45 Sam Haythornthwaite 32
10. 117 George Eaton 31
11. 76 Tyler Carter 31
12. 101 Damien Della 29
13. 24 Mark House 18
14. 5 Cody Turacchio 0


Heat Lineups
Heat 1
117 George Eaton 14 Mathew Edwards-Pope
24 Mark House 5 Cody Turacchio
36 Brendon Marshman 17 Todd Broadwood
76 Tyler Carter

Heat 2
WA1 Steven Ellement 7 Ryan Higgs
71 David Carstairs 49 Glenn Carstairs
101 Damien Della 3 Chris Dymock
45 Sam Haythornthwaite

Heat 3
5 Cody Turacchio 24 Mark House
49 Glenn Carstairs 76 Tyler Carter
14 Mathew Edwards-Pope 71 David Carstairs
7 Ryan Higgs

Heat 4
17 Todd Broadwood 45 Sam Haythornthwaite
3 Chris Dymock 117 George Eaton
36 Brendan Marshman WA1 Steven Ellement
101 Damien Della

THE JA SALUTE A MAIN lineup
WA1 Steven Ellement 7 Ryan Higgs
36 Brendon Marshman 49 Glenn Carstairs
3 Chris Dymock 17 Todd Broadwood
71 David Carstairs 14 Mathew Edwards-Pope
45 Sam Haythornthwaite 117 George Eaton
76 Tyler Carter 101 Damien Della

Pics Courtesy Midwest Speedway Photography, Geraldton.