by Geoff Rounds
STEVEN Linesย blistering form continued at Avalon Raceway last nightย when he swept to victory in the fourth round of World Series Sprintcars championship presented by ENZED, Hogs Breath Cafรฉ and Geelong Harley Davidson.
The star Mount Gambier driver grabbed his second win of the Series from just four rounds and lies second in the national 15-round tournament just 41 points behind Robbie Farr, who was runner-up to Lines at Avalon with Australian sprintcar champion James McFadden third.
Lines hot streak this season is staggering with nine wins from 14 feature races and his most recent victory was his third at Avalon Raceway in eight seven weeks and described his car as “perfect” on the night.
“The car kept getting better and better,” Lines said.
“We really didn’t have to change a thing, even during the red light stoppage. I knew we had a great car because that’s what the boys gave me. There wasn’t much I couldn’t do with it. This really makes up for our disappointment in Mt. Gambier two nights ago.”
The 35-lap A Main at Avalon went all Lines’ way as he assumed the lead after starting from pole position despite posting a 12th best time trial earlier in the evening behind Farr who was quickest with 12.080 second lap of the 52-car field.
Lines jumped Brad Keller to lead and was never headed despite Keller and Farr making advances mid-race.
The race for the minors was intriguing with Brooke Tatnell in third and McFadden in chase behind him while Garry Brazier had raced from ninth to sixth in one lap and was hunting the leaders until Shaun Dobson passed him a lap later.
Lines had slipped into lapped traffic on lap 10 when American Brad Sweet nudged into the turn three wall and at the restart Farr was in striking distance of Keller and passed him on lap 13 for second.
The turning point in the race came when Mitch Foster spun in turn four and American Kyle Hirst cannoned into him and rolled while trying to avoid the carnage was an unlucky Brazier, Grant Anderson and David Murcott who all parked into the fence.
Hirst couldn’t restart, neither could Brazier, and Anderson and Murcott made it back out there with limited impact on the remaining laps.
With 15 laps left Lines still commanded the lead from Farr, Keller, Tatnell, McFadden and Dobson while American Brad Sweet had jumped from 14th to seventh.
McFadden made his move under Tatnell and chased down Keller inside the next two laps and would hold down third place, while Luke Dillon who won the B Main had got to seventh but was passed on the finish line by Sweet.
Farr who now leads the WSS on 1181 points as a result of his second place finish tonight and the fact that he played his ‘joker card’ and doubled his points in the main event was a real bonus but he will miss the next vital round at Warrnambool’s Premier Speedway due to racing commitments in Sydney tonight.
Prior to the World Series Sprintcars feature event was thrilling display of driving from winner Jack Bell and runner-up Kye Walters in the Junior Sedans final.
The next race meeting at Avalon Raceway will be this Saturday night for the annual K-Rock Cup for Super Sedans with support from Super Rods and a $5000ย  to win Demolition Derby.
Public gates will open at 4pm and racing from 7pm.
For more information go to Website: www.avalonraceway.com
For more info contact Jeff Drew 0418 160 985 / Geoff Rounds 0413 024413.