Fast-flowing evening of motorsport at Ballymena Raceway

If the local elections extended to the Showgrounds oval then the safest seat in the house would surely belong to Stock Car Irish Champion Christopher Kincaid, who roared to a heat and final double on Friday evening to make it three final wins in a row at the venue this season.

Another driver enjoying a healthy lead in the polls is Ross Houston from Waringstown, who went through the card undefeated after a faultless performance in the Saloon Stock Car formula.

There were however a few new candidates tasting success at the Evans Waterless Engine Coolant sponsored fixture, with three drivers collecting their first final wins of 2014.

Ballymena’s Daniel Norris timed his run to perfection to clinch the Group Two Lightning Rod silverware, while Lester McCloy edged his Toyota Celica in front within sight of the chequered flag to snatch a keenly contested Euro Stocks final.

Speed Stocks completed the line-up and there was drama here too, with on the road winner Steven McKane removed from all the results following post race technical inspections on his Vauxhall Astra.

His demise handed a first final win of the season to Irish Champion Billy Finnegan Jnr, with the heat wins awarded to Rodney Stewart and Jason McCreight.

F2 STOCK CARS

Antrim’s Conor Hughes motored home for his first win of the season in the opening heat, while Christopher Kincaid secured second after a tough battle with Craig McConnell.

Irish Champion Kincaid was back to his winning ways in heat two however, with Hughes demoted to second in this one and McConnell third once more.

Martin Stewart set the early pace in the final, but heat winners Kincaid and Hughes quickly eased into the front two places. Their high speed contest continued to the chequered flag with Kincaid always firmly in control to confirm his third final win of the season at Raceway.

Final: 1st. Christopher Kincaid, 2nd. Conor Hughes, 3rd. Craig McConnell, 4th. Sam McKay

The following day Kincaid and Hughes travelled over to Scotland to compete at the Racewall track in Cowdenbeath, which is the venue for this year’s F2 World Final.

Kincaid finished sixth in the meeting final, while Hughes recorded a fourth place finish in one of the heat races and concluded the trip with an excellent win in the Grand National race.

SALOON STOCK CARS

Ross Houston tracked down long-time leader Kieran McIvor in the closing stages to secure the honours in heat one.

Houston took the flag again in heat two, but only after a terrific scrap with Ryan Wright from Cullybackey.

Wright bundled past Houston at the start of the final lap, but Waringstown based Houston returned the compliment on the very last corner to fire Wright wide and snatch the victory.

Houston continued his excellent 2014 form with victory in the final as well, easing ahead of McIvor 3 laps from home to complete a flawless hat-trick of wins.

Final: 1st. Ross Houston, 2nd. Anthony McIvor, 3rd. Kieran McIvor, 4th. Ryan Wright

GROUP TWO LIGHTNING RODS

Once again David Gillespie came on strong during the closing stages of a race to snatch victory on the very last bend of the opening heat.

Broughshane’s Freddie Fleck and long time leader Darryl Reid followed the winner across the line. Reid set the pace again in heat two and this time his Vauxhall Astra would not be caught as the Cullybackey racer took the chequered flag for his first win of the campaign.

Reid led the final as well, but a menacing bunch that included Gillespie, Fleck and Daniel Norris gradually reeled in the leader.

With only 3 laps remaining Norris managed to squeeze ahead and coolly completed the distance to take his first final win of 2014. Fleck was forced to settle for second once more, with Gillespie in third.

Final: 1st. Daniel Norris, 2nd. Freddie Fleck, 3rd. David Gillespie, 4th. Darryl Reid

EURO STOCKS

Newcomer David Doherty recorded his first ever wins at Ballymena Raceway with a well taken brace of victories in the two heat events.

Those two heat victories pushed Doherty further down the starting grid for the final and the extra handicap for the novice allowed his rivals to chase down his Vauxhall Astra in the feature race.

Doherty gamely withstood stern challenges from both Johnny McCloy and Philip Doherty for the lead, but in a rousing finish Lester McCloy dived in front at the very last bend to dash Doherty’s hat-tricks hopes.

Final: 1st. Lester McCloy, 2nd. David Doherty, 3rd. Stephen Doherty, 4th. Johnny McCloy

SPEED STOCKS

Steven McKane rattled off a hat-trick of wins at Round 4 of the Super Pole series, but was subsequently removed from all results following problems with his Vauxhall Astra during post race technical inspections.

That handed victory in the opening heat to Rodney Stewart, with Jason McCreight classified as the winner of heat two.

Irish Champion Billy Finnegan Jnr. gained the final honours in his Honda Civic, with McCreight in second and Stewart in third. Final: 1st. Billy Finnegan Jnr, 2nd. Jason McCreight, 3rd. Rodney Stewart, 4th. Adrian Finnegan

NEXT MEETING

The next Raceway action takes place on Friday June 6 where the final round of the National Hot Rod World Qualifying Series is the main event on the programme.

Group Two Lightning Rods, Junior Rods, Stock Rods, Speed Stocks and Retro/Classics complete the busy schedule, with the first race commencing at 7:15pm.