Darwin’s Alan Barlee is the new Australian 360ci Sprintcar Champion after winning a torrid final tonight at the Moore Engineering Murray Bridge Speedway. After starting from the second row in the 40 lap Murray Machining and Sheds supported final Barlee sat behind early race leader and defending National Champion Ryan Jones before making a bold outside pass in turn two on lap 22 and from that point he was never headed to record the biggest win of his 20 year Sprintcar racing career.

“It has been a huge effort by everyone to keep us going. We have been down here for two months getting ready for this race. The support from my entire family and crew has been amazing. Ray Bartlett put us in his car around Christmas time to help us qualify for the event. The biggest thing has been the relationship I have built up with all of the 360ci drivers, the track here at Murray Bridge along with Speedway City. They have all been fantastic to me over the years and I am extremely proud to wear the Australia 1 for the next 12 months” commented Alan shortly after the presentation.

Second across the line was Bendigo’s Darren Hickman who started from position five with local hero Darryl Wright the first of the South Australian drivers in third. Victoria’s Phil Lock, Josh Ruhs, who transferred from the B-Main, Karl Enderl, Ryan Jones, Jamie Hendry, Ricky Barrand and Colin Brooks completed the top ten.

After starting from the pole Ryan Jones led the opening 22 laps before being passed for the lead by Barlee. From there on his race didn’t go plan as he began to fall back from the leader with a car that appeared to be a little too loose. Then on lap 26 he spun coming off the second turn relegating the defending champion to the rear of the field with only 14 laps remaining.

Several other drivers experienced difficulties throughout the final including Darwin’s Jason McIver and Mark Caruso. McIver, who starting on the outside of the front row, had a horror run spinning out on two occasions in the opening 8 laps forcing him to sit out the remainder of the event. Caruso fared much worse as crashed out in spectacular fashion in turn three on lap 19 after making contact with Adam Currie as they battled inside the top five.

Prior to final the last two rounds of heats were completed with Scott Hoskin, Chad Ely, Caruso, Jones, Barrand and Barlee all taking a heat win.

Unfortunately heat 11 was marred by a massive accident as Craig Vanderstelt rode out one of the biggest crashes ever seen at Murray Bridge as he collected the front straight wall before launching the car high in the air and landing in turn one after a wild series of flips.