Jason “Double Down” Sides doubled up tonight on main event success when he took out the seventh round of the ENZED World Series Sprintcars (presented by Hogs Breath Cafe) Championship at Sydney Speedway.
The American won the Friday night preliminary main event (passing fellow countryman Jason Johnson on the final corner) and tonight backed it up to score a comprehensive victory in the 30 lap A-Main.
Sides led home fellow Americans Jason Johnson in second, Daryn Pittman in third and Shane Stewart in fourth with Sydneysider Garry Brazier fifth across the line to be the first Australian home.
“This win is such a great reward to my boys,” beamed a delighted Sides on the podium, “the new Inglis motor ran beautifully and the boys had the car on the money all weekend. “
Sides paid tribute to the fans that had endured a long night with extended wheel-packing and two sets of hot laps to combat a very wet racetrack before heat racing could get underway.
“I appreciate you guys (the fans) sticking by us tonight. I know that the track crew did the best job they could to get this program in tonight and the teams all did their part to pack it in. The track really did widen up throughout the night and I hope you all enjoyed that race just now. I know I did.”
Jason Johnson played bridesmaid to Sides both nights, finishing in the runner-up spot on both occasions.
“You gotta bring you’re A-Game any time you come to race Jason (Sides),” Johnson conceded, “if you’re even a bit outside your marks you’re going to pay for it and tonight we just couldn’t run him down. We need to go back to the drawing board and work out how we can go one better.”
Oklahoma born Daryn Pittman stormed home to finish third in the Brent Aprile #42 entry, edging out fellow Oklahoman Shane Stewart.
“It seemed like we just got going there and the race was over,” explained Pitman, “I looked up at the scoreboard and I saw there was only one lap to go. I couldn’t believe it, the whole race seemed to go so fast.”
Shane Stewart continued his consistent weekend with a fifth place finish in the Monte Motorsport #7 whilst Garry Brazier thrilled his home town fans with a gutsy drive from 15th (he won the B-Main) to fifth in the #21.
“The car was great in the B-Main when we were out in front,” Brazier explained, “but I was worried that it mightn’t be so easy to get around in a crowd. Fortunately the car was good in the A-Main too and I could get past a few cars.”
Sixth home was Californian Kyle Hirst from Brooke Tatnell in seventh, Roddy Bellbowen in eighth, Californian Tim Kaeding in ninth and Robbie Farr rounding out the top ten.
The next cars across the line from there were Steven Lines, Jamie Veal, Trevor Green, Ben Atkinson, James McFadden, Warren Ferguson, Daniel Pestka and Matthew Smith rounding out the field.
DNF’s included Luke Dillon and David Muir.
The eighth round of the ENZED World Series Sprintcars Championship, presented by Hogs Breath Cafe, will be held at Adelaide’s Speedway City on
Saturday, February 2, 2013.