FORMER Australian V8 champion Darren Kane was one race away from winning Tasmania's longest running speedway feature event in Hobart late last night after qualifying on pole for the Tasmanian Grand National.
Kane, of Queensland, was the top qualifier after Friday night's heats with the ex-Hobart driver and four-time Tasmanian champion continuing to shine on his former home track last night winning a further heat from the two he contested to remain on top of the points.
Reigning Australian champion Steve Jordan, also from Queensland, but originally from Launceston, joined Kane on the front row for the 50-lap final with another consistent night, with former six-time Tasmanian champion and six-time Grand National winner David Nichols, qualifying on the second row with former Tasmanian champion Brad Smith, of Devonport.
Smith actually qualified ninth, but was able to jump five places in the pre-final pole shuffle, after winning a series of one-lap dashes.
New South Wales driver Lachlan Onley qualified fifth with Ulverstones Jason McPherson, also a previous winner of the Grand National joining him on the third row for the final.
Earlier in the night Hellyer Beach driver Cameron Abel scored a flag to flag victory in the final of the Mini-Grand National for speedway karts in the modified clubman final.
Abel qualified on pole position for the 10-lap final and led from green light to chequered flag to score a convincing win ahead of Burnies Ben Jackson and Devonport veteran Geoff Lawrence.
The 125cc final was won by reigning State champion Leigh Revell, of Penguin, beating home Richmond's Laura Davidson, with Devonport's Hayden McBain third, while the junior final was dominated by the visiting Aylett brothers from Western Australia, with Karl Aylett, beating his younger brother Leigh, reversing last year's result, with Devonport driver Ben Boun a distant third.
LATE FRIDAY NIGHT RESULTS: Mountain Dew Ice Tasmanian Grand National (V8 super sedans) - Heat five: L Roberts (Vic.), 1; B Smith (Tas.), 2; D Korn (Qld), 3. Heat six: D Kane (Qld), 1; L Onley (NSW), 2; D Gartner (SA), 3.
Wimgless sprimtcars Final (12 laps): V Rockliff, 1; D Gallagher, 2; B Herbert.
Tassie sixes - . Final (12 laps): L Gunn, 1; M Cleary, 2; D Sonners, 3.
Junior sedans - Final (12 laps): J Smith, 1; N Russell, 2; J Nolan, 3.
LAST NIGHT'S RESULTS: Mountain Dew Ice Tasmanian Grand National (V8 super sedans) Heat seven: D Gartner (SA), 1; L Roberts (Vic.), 2; B Smith (Tas.), 3. Heat eight: S Jordan (Qld), 1; W Randall (Qld), 2; A Beechey (Tas.), 3. Heat nine: D Nichols (Tas.), 1; L Onley (NSW), 2; D Kane (Qld), 3.
Dohertys Hotel Campbell Town Speedway Karts Mini-Grand National (continued from Friday night) Heat seven: G Lawrence, 1; B Jackson, 2; C Abel, 3. Heat eight: L Aylett, 1; K Aylett, 2; B Tyler, 3. Heat nine: L Revell, 1; H McBain, 2; L Davidson, 3. Heat 10: C Abel, 1; B Jackson, 2; Joe Breitkopf, 3. Heat 11: L Aylett, 1; B Boun, 2; K Aylett, 3. Heat 12: L Davidson, 1; G Lawrence, 2; L Revell, 3. Junior final (10 laps): K Aylett, 1; L Aylett, 2; B Boun, 3. Modified clubman final (10 laps): C Abel, 1; B Jackson, 2; G Lawrence, 3. 125cc final (10 laps): L Revell, 1; L Davidson, 2; H MCBain, 3.
G W Landscape and Timber Supplies Street Stock Sedan Series (round six) Heat one: B McKendrick, 1; C Bauld, 2; J Riley, 3. Heat two: T Auton, 1; B Morrice, 2; R Riley, 3. Heat three: D Croft, 1; A Garwood, 2; J Young, 3. Heat four: A Cooper, 1; B Morrice, 2; R Riley, 3.
Central Steel Junior Sedan Championship series (round seven) Heat one: B Piper, 1; J Smith, 2; S Bond, 3. Heat two: J Smith, 1; J Stephens, 2; N Russell, 3. Final (15 laps): J Smith, 1; B Piper, 2; N Russell, 3.
Wingless sprintcars Heat one: V Rockliff, 1; D Gallagher, 2; T Watson, 3. Heat two: B Herbert, 1; J Padman, 2; D Gallagher, 3 . Final (15 laps): D Gallagher, 1; B Herbert, 2; J Padman, 3.
Sidecars Heat one: N Broomhall and D Bakes, 1; R Waters and C Clarke, 2. Heat two: N Broomhall and D Bakes, 1; R Barker and R Ellings, 2; R Waters and C Clarke, 3. Final (4 laps): N Broomhall and D Bakes, 1.
Bombers Heat one: S Devine, 1; D Hart, 2; J Knight, 3. Heat two: J Knight, 1; D Greaves, 2; D Hart, 3. Final (10 laps): J Knight, 1; D Greaves, 2; S Devine, 3.
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