Geelong’s Jamie Collins will have the distinction of carrying “V1” for the next year.
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Collins led from flag-to-flag to take out the Victorian AMCA Nationals Championship at Redline Raceway, Buninyong, on Saturday night.
Collins, who first won the state title in 2013, made the best start to lead for all 30 laps.
While being out in front meant Collins had a clean run, it was different scenario behind him where there were a series of spins and skirmishes, and one big pile-up midway through the event involving 10 cars.
Tony Blanch finished second, while Grant Cullinger overtook national champion Matt Hardy on the last lap to get third.
Heats went to Collins, Blanch Jason Robinson, defending state champion Steve Potts, Sharon Tindal, Keenan Casey, Tim Reidy, Frank Thierry and Dean Heseltine, with former champion Darren McCarthy winning a shortened B-main.
Mick Dann was the other feature winner on the night – winning the street stocks’ “Eliminator” in a field which started with 24 drivers.
The last eight cars were eliminated at the end of the first phase and the direction of racing reversed for the next 10 laps, at the end of which another eight were cut.
This left the final eight to again switch directions and contest a 15-lap final.
Dann earned top points with two heat wins.
He led Len Bates, Shaun Henry, Michael Clarke and Darren Giacometti to the first break. He did the same in the second sector, this time leading Clarke, Bates, David Barrie and Henry to a change of direction.
Bates mounted a challenge in the last stanza to briefly hit the lead before going to the in-field.
Clarke charged to put extreme pressure on Dann.
He drew up alongside Dann, but could not get past him and had to settle for a close second ahead of Giacometti, Henry, Barrie, Jason DeGoldi and Darren Forrest.
Scott Whittle dominated the open sedans.
He won the main event as well as two of four heats.
Leigh Bourke was second after taking out a heat win, while Sean Lister was third. Lucas Conder secured the remaining heat.
The V8 Thunder sedans were restricted to two heats owing to a time curfew, with Shane Stephenson and Kieran Brennan junior the winners.
A Eureka Sprintcar Series round and annual Chivers Memorial for standard saloons will be the feature events at the next Redline meet on Saturday, February 4.
This leads up to the Victorian unlimited sedans championship doubleheader on Friday, February 17, and Saturday, February 18, which will also a Daylesford invitational on the opening night.