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Ben Bray Takes Second Straight Australian Tin Top Titles Crown
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Courtesy of www.dragster.com.au Photos by Carl Witt and Jeremy Reimann |
Reigning Australian Top Doorslammer Champion Ben Bray claimed back-to-back Tin Top Titles by defeating his father and six-time Australian Champion Victor in the final of the Australian Tin Top Titles at Willowbank Raceway.
Despite being defeated by Victor Bray in the Semifinals Stevens has all but wrapped up his maiden Australian Top Doorslammer Championship, holding a lead over Ben Bray of 120 points with one round remaining. Stevens simply has to turn up to the Winternationals in June to claim the Championship. In the final it was Ben who got the jump off the line to lead the way in his Super Cheap Auto '57 Chevrolet. Victor endured some tyre shake unsettling his Castrol '57 Chevrolet allowing Ben to extend his lead and take the win.
After each run we had to give my engine a major service so to come through and take back-to-back Tin Top Titles is great. For the first time in my career dad out-lighted me at the start; no doubt I'll hear about that for a little while but it was great to get another win under my belt.
Once again it was Tony Wedlock and Peter Ridgeway who faced off in the Travelaire Tours Pro Stock Final. After setting the quickest qualifying time Ridgeway was unable to stop the dominance of Wedlock in the final, making it 15 consecutive rounds that he has been unbeaten. The last time Wedlock was defeated was the 2003 Winternationals. The final was won off the start line with Wedlock getting the better launch of the pair by 0.3 seconds. Despite setting the quickest pass Ridgeway was unable to chase down the margin as Wedlock claimed the win.
The Australian Pro Stock Championship will now go down to the wire between Ridgeway and Wedlock entering the Willowbank Winternationals on June 11-14.
Aaron Tremayne simply had to face the starter in the Lifestyle Carpets and Vinyl SuperComp Final to take the victory after mechanical problems forced Trevor Mass out of his solo semi-final run. Luke Crowley broke through for his maiden victory in Morgan and Wacker Competition Bike aboard his Kawasaki defeating Harley Davidson rider John Parker.
A red light cost David Mullins a shot at the victory in the final of Quarter Motive Modified Eliminator as Michael Adams put in an 8.01 second pass for the victory. A mere one-thousandth of a second separated Allan Burley and Steve Carpenter in the final of Ultimate Financial Group Super Sedan with Burley taking the narrowest of victories in his Chev powered Torana.
The Whale's Motorcycle World Modified Bike bracket went the way of Eddie Todd defeating Mike Grunwald in the final. Eight-year-old Brandon Gosbell defeated his more experienced rival Dan Fletcher to take the honours in Queensland Diesel Spares Junior Dragster. David Stevenson proved too good in the Morgan and Wacker Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson bracket defeating Mark Woods in the final. The Ipswich City Council is fully committed to motorsport in the region and is an active member of the Carnival of Horsepower promotion that seeks to encourage the general public to attend three major events on the Ipswich sporting calendar.
The Willowbank Raceway Winternationals will be held on June 11-13, the Ipswich Turf Club will host the Ipswich Cup on June 19 while V8 Supercars are featured during the 6th round of the Australian V8 Supercar Championship series at Queensland Raceway on July 2-4. |
The Bray pair set up their fifth meeting in a Top Doorslammer final with Ben defeating Steve Stanic in the Semis and Victor narrowly defeating fellow Queenslander Brett Stevens. Despite being defeated by Ben Bray Stanic re-wrote the record books setting a new Australian Top Doorslammer record of 239.62 miles per hour (385.63 kmh). 
By taking the victory Ben also extended his lead in the head-to-head battles with his father four victories to one. It wasn't all plain sailing over the weekend, the Super Cheap Auto team did a great job keeping on top of my engine all weekend, said Ben Bray. 
Qualifying for the Top Doorslammer category was exceedingly close with Stevens setting the best time of 6.166 seconds for the quarter-mile pass to top the charts ahead of Ben Bray (6.174) and Stanic (6.181) who set the fastest speed of 238.60 miles per hour (383.99kmh). 
Russell Schaefer put in a near perfect run in the final of iTEL Community Telco Supercharged Outlaws to defeat Daniel Reed in the final. 
Juan Kudnig took out Ian Boettcher Race Parts Super Street in his Holden HT by 0.065 seconds over Neil Maxwell aboard his 355ci Corolla. 