Big crowd enjoys thrills and spills
Daniel Harding has won the inaugural City of Karratha Sprintcar Stampede in a race that saw a field of 12 whittled down to three by the final lap, much to the entertainment of more than 3000 spectators at the weekend.
Harding won the A main feature in 20min. 50.287sec., 2.8sec. ahead of Cameron Gessner and 4.4sec. ahead of Robert Watson, in a race reduced to 20 laps after several competitors crashed out in quick succession.
Five cars pulled out early in the race but it was in the eighth lap when the carnage really began as Clint Kimpton met with the wall for an intimate date in front of the home straight.
Kimpton walked away with nothing more than a bruised ego but on the restart, the last of the locals, David Sandon, and recent World Series finalist David Priolo connected, sending both into the wall and out of the race on turn one.
Derby driver Brinley McGaffin was the only other driver left on the track but pulled out four laps short of the chequered flag.
Harding said he enjoyed racing on the Nickol Bay track at his first appearance in Karratha.
"With the sun beating down, it makes the track hard but they've done a really good job all weekend in maintaining it," he said.
"I've raced on about 40 different tracks this year and this is definitely in the top 10 for being well-prepared and a good shape."
Harding said the $20,000 prize money would be put back into the team to prepare for next season.
Nickol Bay Speedway President John Magerl said the hard work by the volunteers, committee, sponsors and City of Karratha paid off.
"We were very happy to run the event and provide such great entertainment for the spectators," he said.
"Though their cars were obviously of a different calibre, it was good to get out there and race with the guys up from Perth."
Mr Magerl said he would push to make the Sprintcar Stampede an annual event.
