Mick Clark in action.
COMMODORE driver Mick Clark has proved the ultimate survivor, winning Redline Raceway’s inaugural Street Stocks Eliminator on Saturday night.
The 50-year-old from Delacombe avoided being eliminated during the heats and then in the extended eliminator final to claim perhaps his biggest win at his home circuit.
Clark kept himself at the front of the field during the speedway’s first final using the new format, in which cars were progressively eliminated during the final until just eight remained for the final 15-lap charge to the finish line.
Despite losing the lead in the final, Clark managed to stay in touch with the leaders and then snatched the lead before holding off multiple state title winner Anthony Beare for the win.
To add to the Clark clan’s joy, Mick’s son Lewis finished third.
“I won all my heats and started off pole in the final,” Mick Clark explained.
“I got swamped at the start and was back in fourth. I tried to look after the car and to stay in the front group.”
With a restart with 15 laps to go, Clark slotted into second and then passed Brad McClure and from there on was challenged by Beare.
“On the last corner I took it a bit wide and we were then going side-by-side but I got a better run at it and crossed the line first,” Clark said.
The victory crowns a fine run of form for Clark in his older model Holden Commodore VS. He is now gearing up for the national title in three weeks.
“We’ve been racing all over the place and did the South Australian title a fortnight ago and finished fourth and then last weekend raced at Mt Gambier and again finished fourth, so I’ve been racing these guys fairly regularly,” Clark said.
“I was looking forward to this with the new format and a big prize money event.”
The Australian Street Stocks title will be run at Mt Gambier.
In other racing in the AMCA division Grant Cullinger took the win in the final, with Bill Lodwick Jr being declared second from Mick Jackson, Darren Nelson and Alan Cullinger. Ex-V8 Supercar steerer Darren Hossack was penalised by stewards for an accident while in third.
Junior Sedans had a handful of racers and Jordan Hussey was the best performed on the night from Chris Ansell and Wayne Furmston, and in Formula V8s South Australian Adrian Cotterill led home Anthony Wilson and Russ Matthews.
Racing returns to Redline on February 23 with the annual Standard Saloon Chivers Memorial.
gavin.mcgrath@fairfaxmedia.com.au