HALLETT ADDS THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN TITLE TO HIS RESUME
By Phil Michell Motorsport Media
Brock Hallett continued his recent dominance at the Murray Machining and Sheds Murray Bridge as he captured his first South Australian Sprintcar Championship on Saturday night, November 15.
After winning the top 6 dash, Hallett elected to start on the outside of the front row and after trailing early race leader Ryan Jones for the opening five laps Hallett eventually got the better of a torrid battle with Jones and then he cruised to victory, winning by over 4 seconds ahead of Matt Egel and Jones.
Fourth across the line was 2020 South Australian Champion Lockie McHugh, with fellow Queenslanders Dylan Menz and Randy Morgan following. For Morgan it was a great recovery after damaging an engine in qualifying that required a change. As a result, he missed his heat race and was forced to start at the back of the Mid-Pack Scramble.
Portland’s Daniel Storer, rookie Brad Vaughan, and Luke Storer were the only other finishers in what was a gruelling event.
Unfortunately, at the end of the 30 laps there were more cars on the infield than on the track and it all started before the open lap as Brendan Guerin had his right rear tyre go flat on the formation lap. Then on lap 2 Parker Scott rolled in turn 1 after contact with Ricky Maiolo.
The red lights were also shown for Craig Vanderstelt, Brendan Quinn, and Kinser Claridge, who all rolled in turn four in separate incidents.
With 19 drivers in attendance the format saw Time Trials to decide the line-up for the two heat races, a Mid-pack Scramble and a Top 6 Dash prior to the 30-lap Championship decider.
Hallett started the night off in style as he set the fastest lap in qualifying with a lap of 11.066 with Dylan Menz (11.115), Ryan Jones (11.188), Luke Storer (11.245), and American Thomas Meseraull (11.271) completing the top 5.
With the top two from each heat transferring directly into the Dash qualifying proved to be extremely important with the top four all making it through as Ryan Jones and Brock Hallett made it through from heat one while heat two saw Luke Storer and Dylan Menz progress.
Therefore, the remaining two spots in the 10 lap Dash would come from the Mid-Pack Scramble with Lockie McHugh and Thomas Meseraull tagging onto the back. After starting on the second Meseraull managed to secure the runner-up spot in the Scramble after passing Matt Egel, relegating the three-time State Champion to a seventh place starting spot.
During the dash, the big movers were Meseraull and McHugh, who both moved up a complete row in the A-main starting grid after finishing third and fourth behind Hallett and Jones, while Menz and Storer completed the field.
