Shaun Dobson won Saturday's Scott Darley Challenge at Valvoline Raceway (Valvoline Raceway PR)
Mother nature tried to intervene but nothing could stop Shaun Dobson from becoming the first Tasmanian to win a major event at Valvoline Raceway as he steamed to victory in a rain delayed 30-lap affair.
Dobson started on the front row alongside American Dominic Scelzi but took off and was never headed in the Essendon Ford / Quantum Quartz #21.
It was nothing short of miraculous that the race even managed to get run as the heavens opened and almost cancelled the feature before a green light had even come on.
Track staff and the drivers rallied to scratch the surface and pack it back in.
The delight on Dobson's father Andrew's face said it all as he hugged his son in victory lane.
"This is such an honour to win this race," beamed Dobson, "this race means so much to so many people. I'll never forget this moment."
Kerry Madsen finished a gallant second with American Kyle Hirst filling the third spot on the rostrum.
For his trouble Dobson pocketed $20,000 (including $1000 put up by Blackshaws Smash Repairs for leading lap #19).
Final placings in the A-Main were:
1. Shaun Dobson
2. Kerry Madsen
3. Kyle Hirst
4. James McFadden
5. Ian Madsen
6. Robbie Farr
7. Logan Schuchart
8. Steven Lines
9. David Murcott
10. Jamie Veal
11. Brooke Tatnell
12. Carson Macedo
13. Troy Little
14. Brad Sweet
15. Lucas Wolfe
16. Matt Dumesny
17. Daniel Harding
18. Warren Ferguson
19. Sammy Walsh
20. Marty Perovich
21. James Thompson
22. Dominic Scelzi
23. Ben Ellement
24. Ian Loudoun
The 30-lap event ran non-stop from green flag to chequers.
Brad Sweet took the D19 Challenge after winning Night One and thereby began tonight's A-Main from position #19 but with the shortened distance and juiced up track from the rain it was always going to be an impossible proposition to make back the 18 or so positions.
He moved from 19th to 14th as best he could.
"Hey it happens," he mused, "you can't do much about the weather. I'm sure if we hadn't had the rain make the track so fast we could have had a shot. It wasn't to be."
The race of the night was undoubtedly the B-Main where Ian Loudoun pulled off a spectacular three-wide pass to snaffle the final transfer position to the A-Feature.
The crowd erupted when Loudoun sped the Essendon Ford #3 around the outside three wide to guarantee himself a spot in the big dance.
Californian Dominic Scelzi was impressive to say the least in the Wormall Civil #1 setting quick time in Network Industry qualifying and scoring the massive $1,900 from Marty Perovich for doing so.
"This is the most I've ever won in a qualifying deal and I can't thank Marty enough for this fantastic reward. The trophy is incredible too and although I'd like to take it home to California really it belongs in the Darley house with the family."
For Perovich himself the satisfaction and the relief of finally making the A-Main field straight from his heat in his Intext #17 was obvious to all.
Brad Sweet's idea to 'let the fans decide' whether he should take the D19 challenge was met with wild cheers from the fans and cemented him even further as one of the most popular Americans to race at Valvoline Raceway.
Movers in the field included Jamie Veal (who came from the win in the B-Main) from 18th to 10th, James McFadden from 8th to 4th, Ian Madsen from 10th to 5th, Carson Macedo a massive pedal from 22nd (through the B-Main) to 12th, and Daniel Harding from 24th to 17th.
More information on the complete Sprintcar program and the Street Stocks results will follow later today.