Parker drivers continue duel for WSS Championship

Max Dumesny may have a point's advantage over the rest of the field in the World Series Sprintcars Championship but that lead became less obvious after Donny Schatz scored victory in Round 12 of the Championship at Newcastle Speedway on Wednesday night, January 9, 2002.

Schatz took the #15 Monte Motorsport / Chantec / Castrol / J&J to a solid - albeit in the end narrow - victory in the 30 lap main event, despite the best efforts of Dumesny to close the leader down on the last lap.

It was Dumesny initially who led the parade in the #5 Valvoline / Parker Motion Control / GKR Transport Maxim but he was reeled in by Schatz around mid race. "The bottom went away around halfway through the race and it took me a while to get something going on the top," explained Dumesny, "by the time I got back on the pace Donny had gone by."

Schatz slipped away to a healthy advantage in the last third of the event before Dumesny began hauling the American back in around lapped traffic. With two laps remaining the Series Leader had closed to within 2-3 car lengths of the Race Leader.

"I heard Max was back there," smiled Schatz, "but I was just concentrating on what we had to do. The car was great and we felt good pretty well all night."

Third place in the main event was Brooke Tatnell in the Shell Helix / Sidchrome Tools / Phantom Comics Avenger. "It's great to get on the podium," he breathed, "I think we had the car pretty close to the mark most of the night and after a great battle with Brad (Furr) we came up with the third placing. It's not a win, but I'll take it."

Furr drove a great race to come from the third row to get as high as third before Tatnell battled with him for that position for many laps. Furr spun the #2 Sanmina Corporation / West Kimberley Fuels / Sanders Engineering Eagle in turn four but kept the car running and remarkably managed to avoid dropping a position as he rejoined the field.

Furr was unhappy with an earlier decision to disqualify him in the Weld Wheels Pole Shootout after being deemed to have passed Trevor Green on the infield. He blazed through the field in the A-Main before eventually settling for 4th. Following Furr home in fifth place was the #22 Ants Pants Gambler of Kerry Madsen.

Madsen drove James Thompson's car to a creditable top five, despite being unfamiliar with the equipment. "This is not all foreign to me," he smiled, "I ran this motor three seasons ago and it's a good old motor. We screwed up a bit in qualifying and that hurt us. I'd like to thank Bob and James Thompson for letting me run the car tonight though."

Sixth place was filled by Andrew Scheuerle in the #95 Lucas Oils / Merv Tennant Painting / Weld Wheels Maxim after starting on the second row with a creditable qualifying effort.

Seventh home was Darrell Hodges in the #5 Valvoline / Recochem / HMS entry - yet another strong result for the livewire QLD racer since joining up with the Series at Horsham.

Eighth was the #53 Peter Attard owned Supreme Poultry J&J of Danny Smith. Smith suffered badly in the time trials but powered on to win a heat and look good in the other to start from position #13 and eventually run top 8. "I gotta thank Peter Attard and the family for taking me in last night at 9 p.m. We bolted Pete's car together from 9 until 3 this morning and I'm whipped. I had a lot of fun tonight and worked with some good people, I just hope we can get a ride for Brisbane and come back with these guys for Lismore and the final at Newcastle."

Ninth across the line was American Kurt Winker in the #16 Gough and Gilmour / Genner Constructions JB. Winker started the A-Main from position #14 and drove well on a slick track to break into the top ten.

Speaking of top ten, Skip Jackson was tenth in the #1 Pennzoil / Toyota Genuine Parts Maxim after starting from dead last in the feature race.

Trailing Skip was Trevor Green in the ADRAD Maxim in 11th - not a bad drive considering he came from the rear after changing the left front tire on the #4 car.

12th place went to Cameron Gessner after the big fella from Toowoomba backed up slightly in the #68 Tri-Steel Viper after beginning from position #5. Gessner had the misfortune of having a push truck (4WD) climb over his right rear wheel and damage several components whilst pushing off for the Weld Wheels Shootout.

13th home was Adrian Maher in the #10 Bevelite Glass / Valvoline entry, from Stephen Bell in the #6 Speedflow / PRC / G Lime Eagle, with 15th going to Daryn Maggs in the #7 Penrite / Mercure Hotel Parramatta Eagle.

Last car running was Tony Bartlett in the #75 Caltex Havoline / Daytona Signs Eagle, with Brett Loadsman and Darren Jensen rolling in separate incidents and being unable to finish.

Loadsman in particular had done a great job throughout the evening, setting fourth quick time and looking strong in his heats.

(Article by Wade Unger)
(Photos by Brian Darby)

Final Results

Donny Schatz
Max Dumesny
Brooke Tatnell
Brad Furr
Kerry Madsen
Andrew Scheuerle
Darrell Hodges
Danny Smith
Kurt Winker
Skip Jackson
Trevor Green
Cameron Gessner
Adrian Maher
Stephen Bell
Daryn Maggs
Tony Bartlett
Brett Loadsman (DNF)
Darren Jensen (DNF)

Heat wins went to Donny Schatz (Drive of the night, judging by the crowd response) Andrew Scheuerle (2) Cameron Gessner, Stephen Bell and Danny Smith.

The K&N Air Filters Quick Time award went to Max Dumesny with a 12.237 second pass.

Schatz set second quick with a 12.246 - showing how even these two really are.