Donny Schatz and Max Dumesny leave Western Australia with 2 wins each in World Series Sprintcar action

It was a shame that someone had to run second, though Max Dumesny may not agree with that sentiment, because tonight at Bunbury City Speedway race fans were treated to one of the most spectacular main events in World Series Sprintcars history for Round Four of the Championship.

Max Dumesny and Donny Schatz put on one hell of a show with Dumesny claiming his second main event victory for the WA leg of the 2001/2002 Championship by less than a car length over his American adversary.

Indeed both Dumesny and Schatz leave Western Australia with two wins a piece, but it's the three times WSS Champ who has the series lead as the field head to Riverview Speedway, Murray Bridge for Saturday, December 1.

"I'm trying not to think too much about the Championship," Dumesny smiled from the podium, "but yes it's good to have the lead after the first four races."

Dumesny was electric throughout the evening in the #5 Valvoline / Protec Maxim and began the evening in style by winning the K&N Air Filters Quick Time Award by posting a 13.070 second go around. He progressed through the heat races without complication and then blasted through the Weld Wheels Pole Shootout to claim pole position. "I can't decide yet whether we'll go inside pole or outside pole but I reserve my decision until before the main event," he said coyly after ousting Donny Schatz from the final round of the Shootout.

He chose inside pole, and that move proved a clever one as he wheeled the V#5 Maxim into the lead in turn one for the 30 lap main event. Red light incidents brought the race to a halt on two separate occasions. Victorian Daryn Maggs upended the #7 Frawley Signs Eagle in turn two, tagging Danny Smith in the process.

Smith attempted to sneak the #20 Barter Card / Tamar Cars Maxim past Maggs' moment but the rear end tagged the #7 and did some major damage to the rear end. "It's probably one of the worst pieces of damage you can pick up," Smith frowned, "we didn't need that at this point."

Smith had been enjoying his best night to date in the series for car owner Robin Dawkins. He timed well, won a heat, made it to the Weld Wheels Pole Shootout and looked to have a top five finish locked in for the A-Main.

Maggs' was philosophical about the crash. "There are some pretty major size holes in turn two and one of them got us. I know it looks bad when the main wing is all crumpled up and stuff but I don't think the car is too bad. It's not the way I wanted to go to South Australia though."

The second red light incident involved Cameron Gessner in the #68 Tri-Steel Viper and Darren Jensen in the #75 Cresta Australia Maxim. Jensen flipped the #75 hard in pretty well the same spot as Maggs, and ruefully examined the damage trackside. "I don't think the car is too bad but it's difficult to say at this point. This is a really disappointing way to end what has been a pretty encouraging start to the series for us." The restart after Jensen's crash was good for some, and lousy for others.

Schatz came at leader Dumesny with startling tenacity on the highline and what followed were two of the greatest laps in World Series Sprintcars recent memory. Side by side they raced, Dumesny protecting his lead in the race and preserving his lead in the series to date. "Max was a little better than we were tonight," conceded Schatz, "this is working out to be a real good battle for the series championship and I have to thank him for the race tonight."

The restart breathed new life into Schatz campaign but it let the air well and truly out of Skip Jackson's charge to second in the #1 Pennzoil / Toyota Genuine Parts Maxim. "The restart ruined us," admitted car owner Shane Krikke, "until then I thought we might have had something for Donny but he got going again after the reds."

The O'Brien Aluminum Hard Charger Award was a difficult one to pick because so many drivers starred on the evening. In the end judges settled on Drew Kruck to score the new top wing - thanks to O'Brien Race Components - for his spectacular racing over the heats and main event. Kruck shone in the #36 Titan Garages /Australian Roller Doors Eagle all evening.

The Extreme Race Components Lucky Sevens recipient was Sydneysider Garry Rush, who brought the International Trucks / Pick and Payless Maxim home in 7th place.

(Article From World Series Sprintcars - www.sprintcarworld.com.au/wss)
(Photos by Daniel Beard and Paris Charles)