Lurgan’s Ian McReynolds made a winning return to the National Hot Rod fold by taking the final round at World Series NI Round 12. As the series nears its end and with World Championship qualification on a knife edge, there was always going to be tension in the air as the elite formula of the ovals took to the track. Terry Maxwell landed a very popular win in the opening encounter ahead of Andy Steward and Gary Woolsey, before World Champion Glenn Bell scythed through to take the honours in the second heat of the night. Adam Maxwell, son of Terry, chased him over the line ahead of Mark Heatrick, whilst there was a crucial retirement for Keith Martin which dented his qualification hopes.
McReynolds had been settling back into the old routine during the heats following his short lay off, but by final time he was most certainly in the groove and soon relieved early pacesetter Simon Kennedy of the lead. As the challengers for World Final qualification squabbled fiercely over the places, McReynolds cruised home to land the silverware. Thomas Dilly claimed his best result of the night in second, ahead of Stewart in third. Again one of the main contenders was a casualty as Woolsey suffered a technical problem as cost his vital points in the race to Ipswich in July.

The young stars of the future were in action in the new Ninja Karts class, and once again the 6-11 year olds didn’t fail to entertain! At what looked like breathtaking speeds at times, Ballymena’s Adam McFall showed them all a clean pair of heels in the first heat as he scorched through from the rear of the field to land victory over Matthew Nicholl and Stuart Emerson.
McFall and Jake Woolsey were on a mission in heat two, but neither could catch the flying Nicholl in this one and the Limavady lad held on for the win over McFall and Woolsey. The final all boiled down to another fantastic dice between Nicholl and McFall. It looked as though Matthew would hold on for the win having thwarted Adam’s advance, but McFall found a way down the inside on the final turn to snatch the win on the line in the closest of finishes.

Templepatrick’s Ben McKee made good use of his downgrading by taking the honours in the opening Lightning Rods heat of the night. For quite a time it looked as though it would be his brother Gordy who took the win, but he was sidelined in the latter stages with engine failure. Last week’s final winner, Martin O’Flaherty, took second ahead of Michael Lynch in third. Heat two saw Annaghmore man Mark Taylor take a morale boosting win after recent mechanical troubles, and for a time it looked like the feature race final might indeed fall to Mark too.
Taylor led for quite a part of the final, and when the pack closed he looked to have a major mechanical failure which pitched his car into a spin. A caution period was called and when racing resumed it was Coleraine man Dane Ferry who pulled clear to take his second final win in three outings. Brendan McConnell showed a return to form in second ahead of Nigel Jackson.

There was also a Ladies ProStocks race on the bill, and after some superb dicing between the 11 brave girls Aghadowey teenager Lauren McIlroy stole through from the rear of the grid to grab an excellent win over Stephanie McClure and Carolyn Gilpin.

Many thanks to our meeting sponsors, MBB Quality Homes of Portadown.