SUPER consistent Australian speedway V8 champion Steve Jordan, of Queensland, extended his lead in the National Super Sedan Series with a solid second place at Latrobe on Saturday night.
The 35-lap final was won by former Tasmanian champion Brad Smith, of Devonport, who also moved from fourth to third in the series with the victory, which was his second this season after also scoring in round three in Sydney last month.
However, it was Launceston-born Jordan's consistency which came to the fore again on Saturday night after also finishing a good second in the sixth round of the series at Carrick on Friday night.
Jordan recorded a win, a second and a third from his three heats at Latrobe to equal top qualify with fellow Queenslander and former national champion and Hobart-born Darren Kane.
Winning the toss to decide the coveted pole position, Jordan elected to start from grid two, suspecting more drive on the high side of the track.
His decision proved to be the right one as he led Kane at the start, with Smith, who had qualified fourth, also taking advantage of the better line on the outside to hold out Queensland's Wayne Randall for third in the early stages.
By lap six Smith was finding extra speed and blasted past Kane to take over second, with Randall advancing to third a further six laps later.
On the next lap, Smith launched his attack on the lead, rounding up Jordan with a stylish move to take the lead.
Once in front, Smith started to open a gap, which he was able to maintain, despite having to negotiate lapped traffic.
Jordan also proved skilled in lapped traffic, but was unable to narrow the gap.
Meanwhile, back at the head of the chasing pack, Kane and Randall traded places several times in a thrilling battle before Randall gained a decisive edge in the dying stages to claim third, making it a Tasmanian trifecta of sorts on the podium, as the Queenslander was driving a car owned by Launceston's Steve Jessup.
On the same programme, Hobart's Luke Gunn claimed back-to-back state titles when he won the Tasmanian championship for Tassie Sixes.
Gunn had to come from behind after being penalised by officials for an indiscretion, but managed to pass fellow Hobart driver Marcus Cleary twice during the 30-lap final to claim the championship.
RESULTS _ BBCarline Mufflers National Super Sedan Series (round seven) Heat one: S Jordan (Qld), 1; M Nicola (Vic.), 2; McPherson (Tas.), 3. Heat two: D Kane (Qld), 1; B Miller (SA), 2; P Townsend (Tas.), 3. Heat three: D Gartner (SA), 1; T Wilson (Qld), 2; S Latham (Tas.), 3. Heat four: B Smith (Tas.), 1; S Jordan (Qld), 2; S Best (SA), 3. Heat five: L Roberts (Vic.), 1; D Kane (Qld), 2; M Doblo (NSW), 3. Heat six: W Randall (Qld), 1; S Latham (Tas.), 2; D Nichols (Tas.), 3. Heat seven: B Smith (Tas.), 1; J Harper (Tas.), 2; S Jordan (Qld), 3. Heat eight: S Hughes (Tas.), 1; L Onley (NSW), 2; D Kane (Qld), 3. Heat nine: D Nichols (Tas.), 1; W Randall (Qld), 2; S Latham (Tas.), 3. B Main consolation final: L Onley (NSW), 1; P Townsend (Tas.), 2; M Doblo (NSW), 3. Final (35 laps): B Smith (Tas.), 1; S Jordan (Qld), 2; W Randall (Qld), 3.
Tassie Sixes Tasmanian Championship Heat one: L Gunn, 1; D Sonners, 2; M Cleary, 3. Heat two: M Cleary, 1; D Sonners, 2; T Frankcombe, 3 Heat three: L Gunn, 1; M Cleary, 2; D Sonners, 3. Final (30 laps): L Gunn, 1; M Cleary, 2; T Frankcombe, 3.
Lightning sprints Heat one: N Hale, 1; K Short, 2; M Freeman, 3. Heat two: K Short, 1; M Freeman, 2; B Webster, 3. Final (15 laps): K Short, 1; S Pitt, 2; M Freeman, 3.
Wingless sprintcars - Heat one: T Watson, 1; G Hoekstra, 2; D Gallagher, 3. Heat two: D Gallagher, 1; V Rockliff, 2; T Watson, 3. Heat three: D Gallagher, 1; G Hoekstra, 2; T Watson, 3. Final (15 laps): D Gallagher, 1; G Hoekstra, 2; T Watson, 3.
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