Sport
14 June, 2022
Pitcher win Vic Super Rod title
BANNOCKBURN teenager Jacob Pitcher secured his first Victorian Super Rod Title when the Super Rods took to Swan Hill’s Sonic Speedway on Saturday for the 2021/22 Victorian Super Rod Title.
BANNOCKBURNteenager Jacob Pitcher secured his first Victorian Super Rod Title when the Super Rods took to Swan Hill’s Sonic Speedway on Saturday for the 2021/22 Victorian Super Rod Title.
The 18 year-old third generation racer claimed the win ahead of Colac duo, defending champion Neville Gange coming in second with Clinten Scott third.
It was action aplenty in the first heat of the night when the cars of Tommy Marco, Bailey Pitcher, Jason Kavanagh and George Woolstencroft all tangled as they exited turn one bringing the race to a caution.
Kavanagh was able to continue on and claim the win ahead of Stan Marco Snr and Bob Wilson.
Jacob Pitcher took a green to checker win in heat two leading home Dane Court and Troy Gleeson.
Heat three was marred when the car of Stan Marco Snr took a spectacular roll over but it was Michael Coad who went on to take the win ahead of Jacob Pitcher and Grant Stansfield.
Gange took an all the ways win in heat four when he led home Corey Deglaitis and Gleeson.
Peter Duynhoven made heavy contact with the wall and rolled over in the fifth heat, with Gange claiming the win from Jamie May and Stan Marco Jnr.
It was an all the ways win for Clinten Scott in the final heat of the night with Shaun Walsh and Court rounding out the three.
The grid set for the running of the Victorian Super Rod Title, with Jacob Pitcher and Gange making up the front row, Scott and Gleeson starting from three and four respectively, followed by Walsh, May, Court, Stansfield, Stan Marco Jnr, Wilson, Jamie Ackland, Stan Marco Snr, George Woolstencroft, Bailey Pitcher, West Makin, Jason Poustie and Stacey Jacko.
Jason Kavanagh and Daniel Hookway were both out with engine issues, Peter Duynhoven and Tommy Marco with substantial damage.
After twenty-five laps it was Gange who had made the best of the starts, leading away from Jacob Pitcher and Gleeson, however a caution before a lap couple be completed saw the field reset.
The second restart was short lived when the car of Poustie became stricken on the track, with the third seeing Coad bring on the red after a hefty roll.
This time it was Jacob Pitcher who made his move to the front, leading away from Gange, Scott and Walsh.
The yellow arrived in the second lap when the car of Stan Marco Snr stopped on the track. The single file restart saw Jacob Pitcher set the pace with Gange and Scott locked in a tight battle.
With seven laps completed the race was again at a caution when the car of Court ran high and clipping the wall.
Jacob Pitcher set the pace thereafter, while the battle for the minors saw Gange, Scott and Walsh leading the charge. With Jacob Pitcher establishing a slight break the battle for second was on in earnest with Scott looking for his chance to pounce, while Walsh was also making his presence felt.
At the fall of the checker, it was Jacob Pitcher securing his maiden Victorian Super Rod title with Gange and Scott rounding out the podium, followed by Walsh, Stansfield, May, Gleeson, Deglaitis, Bailey Pitcher, Wilson, Makin and Jacko.
At the presentations Jacob Pitcher expressed how much it meant to him to be a third generation Victorian Champion, along with thanking his family, crew and sponsors.