Hednesford played host to its third and final 1600 fixture of the season with a Cash or Card session on Sunday 28th September raising just shy of 60 cars.
The Cash or Card race was up first, with the grid draw placing 351 Adrian Martins and 343 Owen Powell off the front row. It was carnage from the start, with 190 Daniel Rice getting spun on turn 1, with 725 Josh Evans giving the same treatment to 325 Adam Wickson. Evans himself was then turned fence-wards by 654 James Chapman, with 305 Billy Wood also suffering the same feat by the pushing pack. As cars avoided all of that, a push from the pack created one of the biggest crashes of the year. 29 Jamie Locker hit the banking at the end of the straight taking flight, as 44 Sam Flood had a wild ride – firstly jacking 252 Kieran Wietrzyk before getting catapulted into the banking also seeing him end up on his roof. 53 Cole Tropper rolling over too, whilst 385 Craig Thurlow was among nearly a dozen more casualties. The red flags understandably coming out on the track. 351 Martins still headed the pack with fellow front-row sitter Powell tucked in behind followed by 717 Harvey Devall Jnr and 415 Scott Cornish. Powell lost out at the drop of the green, dropping down the order considerably. A push into turn 3 saw 474 Michael Kent and 301 Jack Botfield connect with the wall. 652 Harvey Eyles tagged the back of 94 Jack Anscombe sending the latter around. 325 Wiggles had issues along the home straight which left his sat in the uncomfortable position of driver’s door on, luckily getting to safety before the pack came back round. 60 Tim Crew spun and was collected by 73 Cray Ingram, pushing the latter into the path of 20 Adam Priest who launched into the air completing multiple rolls bringing another halt to things. 351 Martins remained in the lead with 670 Max Eaton and 623 Ricky Hutton tucked in behind. The Buxton regulars had a moment, with 32 Tyler Cope attacking 725 Konk, whilst 919 Liam Cooley spun 609 Levi Murkin. 670 Eaton had worked his way into the lead and opened a bit of breathing space for himself, whilst Martins and 623 Tricky were joined by 717 Harv and 59 Tom Greenstreet in the battle for second. 725 Konk began getting in the way of Eaton and others, in a hope to aid his TMT running mates. This nearly caught out 306 Mitch Hawkins who went up on to two wheels. 165 Charlie Barwell and British Champion 194 Steve Anscombe were making serious movements through the pack from the back of the grid – both up among the top 10 at this point. More fell foul behind, with 194 Cecil tangling with Konk as 333 Brad Wickson spun 438 Jason Greener – 447 Nyall Hardingham getting caught too. 670 Max Eaton shrugged off any intentions from the lurking 725 Konk to take the win, opting to go for the wildcard joining the grid in the World Final come November. 5 Jeffrey Woolford followed in 59 Dob, who was running in second place, to conclude the action. 623 Tricky and 415 Corndog rounding off the top three.
670, 623, 415, 717, 608, 452, 165, 73, 94, 651
Heat 2 saw 267 Danny Grady and 304 Harry Botfield off the front with Botfield getting the early jump into the lead. World of Shale Champion 531 Brent Tropper ran 71 Connor Heath in, with 406 Brooklyn Parker collecting the latter and getting done in turn by 190 Rodney. 351 Martins and 252 Fatboy Slim tangled seeing them spin to the infield. 531 Snappy had a pop at 958 Mark Hurst, but ended up going fence-wards himself as 448 Luke Farrington took avoiding action with the winners ramp. 363 Billy Jarvis chopped 53 Tropper left, joining his brother against the fence. 725 Konk tangled with 598 Bradley Salter as the leading 304 Botfield passed to take the win.
304, 448, 267, 2, 717, 438, 363, 608, 415, ?
817 Toby Hodgkinson and 60 Crew were the front row starters for the Final. 474 Michael Kent was an early spinner. 73 Ingram tangled with 564 Jack Priest along the back straight which saw him go fence-wards and ultimately bounced along the straight by the ensuing pack. This resulted in 23 Barry Staples and 652 Eyles also going left whilst 415 Corndog went into 363 Billy Jarvis seeing the latter lose a wheel. 448 Helmet and 2 Harrison Staples tangled and retired to the infield, with 227 Maddison Lewis also a casualty before the red flags came out to retrieve the errand wheel. 817 Hodgkinson lead on the restart from 717 Devall and 609 Levi Murkin. 447 Nail earned himself a black cross for a jump start, being a little keen to get going. A push into turn 1 sent 165 Chaz sideways, with 406 Parker and 306 Hawkins tangling behind. 598 Salter spun Northern visitor 227 Gavin Taylor. 194 Cecil removed 190 Rodney along the back straight, as 608 Lenny Boy had worked his way into the lead with 157 Reece Brown moving past Toby to take second. 60 Crew had a nibble at 267 Danny Grady, and came under fire himself from 306 Hawkins. Lenny Boy avoiding the chaos to count down the last couple of laps, taking the chequers from 157 Gru and 817 Toby.
608, 157, 817, 20, 305, 165, 609, 447, 73, 579
That leaves two meetings remaining for the drivers to contest points to book their spot on the World Final grid come November – Mildenhall is the next destination for the Gold Rush finale, before the conclusion of a Cash or Card fixture at Yarmouth at the end of October.
