Grant Anderson’s timing couldn’t have been better.

The Albury NSW second generation racer finally clinched his career first Valvoline Raceway main event success last night in the Brian Healey Gold Cup and in the process dedicated the milestone to a close family friend whose father had passed away suddenly the morning before.

“We have a really special friend and sponsor of our team who lost her Dad just yesterday,” Anderson explained on the podium, “he was always a big supporter of mine and I know that the whole family is really hurting right now. I really want to dedicate this win to Laurie.”

Anderson sped the #37 WASP/Bandag Latrobe Valley entry from the tenth row of the grid to run down and pass entire racer leader Daniel Sayre in dense lapped traffic.

“We got a great start,” breathed Anderson, “and we were able to do just pick our way through traffic and make the most of our opportunities. I can’t explain what it means to finally win here after so many years of trying.”

Teenager Sayre was gracious in defeat, still managing an optimistic smile and thanking sponsors and family for their support after nearly pulling off the win of his short career.

“It’s very encouraging for us to run like that, it gives me a lot of confidence that we can do something like this more often. It’s not easy but it shows me we can do it.”

Robbie Farr trailed the lead duo home in third place.

“Congratulations to Ando and Daniel, they both did a great job,” said the defending USC champion, “we’ll take third place tonight and bank some points. I got a terrible start and really didn’t put us in a position to get the win, so we’ll take this podium tonight and move on. It’s a long season ahead.”

Former USC Champion Jamie Veal looked destined for a podium finish as a minimum but contact he between he and Shaun Dobson in turn three saw the #35 SWI Maxim spin to a stop and have to begin from the rear of the field at the restart.

Veal stomped back to an eventual seventh place in the laps that followed.

Queenslander Mitchell Gee rewarded his Titan Racing team with a strong top ten performance on season debut whilst West Aussie USC rookie Callum Williamson also got off to a positive start qualifying straight into his first VR main event.

Albion Park Rail USC racer Steve Caunt had a bruising wreck in the B-Main where he all but totalled his ex Kasey Kahne entry and was briefly knocked unconscious in the rollover in turns one and two.

USC Sprintcar A-Main results:

1. Grant Anderson
2. Daniel Sayre
3. Robbie Farr
4. James Thompson
5. Matt Dumesny
6. Shaun Dobson
7. Jamie Veal
8. Mitchell Gee
9. Jordyn Brazier
10. Warren Ferguson
11. Alex Orr
12. Max Dumesny
13. Callum Williamson
14. Mick Saller
15. Matt Geering
16. Grant Tunks
17. Blake Skipper
18. Glen Sutherland
19. Guy Stanshall
20. Jessie Attard DNF
21. Troy Little DNF
22. Danny Reidy DNF
23. Ben Atkinson DNF
24. Jackson Delamont DNF

The Speedcar main event saw a small field but ferocious competition and Bungendore young gun Michael Stewart emerging with the victory in his new look black #51 Kelley’s Body Works CP3 chassis.

Stewart accounted for veteran Darren Jenkins home in second place and lively youngster Reid Mackay relishing his new Hawk motor to finish third and show that he’s clearly stepped up his game.

“The track was beautiful,” smiled the second generation victor, “the car felt really nice throughout the entire race and I knew we had a good chance of getting the win if I could keep hitting my marks.

17 year old Kaidon Brown recovered from a second heat rollover on the start on the main straight to return in the main event and finish fourth.

Speedcar A-Main results:

1. Michael Stewart
2. Darren Jenkins
3. Reid Mackay
4. Kaidon Brown
5. Reagan Angel
6. Gary Rooke
7. Don Mackay
8. Jeffrey Burns
9. Michael Jordan DNF
10. Matt Jackson DNF
11. Robert Mackay DNF
12. Alan Day DNF
13. Dillon Ghent DNF

The A-Main was marred by a violent flip for Michael Jordan in an earlier heat when the right front wheel appeared to sheer off as he entered turn one.

The Dominator Engines #6 flipped many times coming to a rest against the turn two fence where Jordan fortunately emerged unscathed much to the relief of the big crowd on hand.

Liam Heaton celebrated his first Valvoline Raceway main event win in the #89 Legend Car to lead home Nathan Camilleri in second place and Dan Morris in third.

Typically hectic and competitive racing was again a hallmark of the Legends class and the traditional battles between the youngsters in the category is off to a good start already on Night One.

Legend Car A-Main results:

1. Liam Heaton
2. Nathan Camilleri
3. Dan Morris
4. Bailey Goodwin
5. Grahame Keats
6. Stuart Bond
7. Linden Martin
8. Dalton Rowell
9. Liam Camilleri
10. Adam Parker
11. Sean Rooney
12. Keanu De Palma
13. Greg Thompson
14. Alec Morse
15. Ashley Hodak
16. Matt Elliott
17. Chris Peterson
18. Cameron Jewell

The next event at Valvoline Raceway is this Saturday, October 7, with Late Model sedans, Wingless Sprints, Street Stocks and AMCA Nationals.
USC Sprintcar action turns to Murray Machining & Sheds Speedway Murray Bridge in South Australia for the Bill Wigzell Battle of the Bridge and first round of USC SA.

Ends release…