World FII Stock Car champion Daz Kitson trounced the opposition to lift the Irish Open Championship at Ballymena Raceway. Kitson opened his account in the first heat with a win over Gavin Fegan and Gordon Moodie. In the other heat Barry Goldin swept to victory ahead of Jeff Minish and Kitson who had made his way up to an excellent third from the back of the grid. Kitson was the pole sitter for the championship final beside Moodie with Fegan and Graham Kelly on row two. Kitson was off like a rocket at the start leaving Fegan behind. Kitson soon saw the red flag when defending champion Trevor Moore crashed out. A complete restart was required with Kitson once again going well clear from the start line this time followed by Moodie. As the action hotted up a big pile up on the home straight ended the hopes of some of the challengers. Jeff Minish came off worst when he went up onto the wall and ended upside down in the middle of the track. Cars careered all over the place and again the race was halted. Kitson made another good start heading Moodie, Fegan and Bryn Tootell. The battle was on for second as Moodie came under pressure from Goldin. Within a couple of laps Moodie eventually conceded the place as Goldin went through. Stuart Kelly was next up, demoting Moodie as he scrapped past to third. At the front Kitson opened up his lead to half a lap as he flew around the track. The world champ had a hairy moment when he clipped the wall and lifted off the track but he got away with his error. Kitson proceeded on his way and made short work of the back markers as he powered his way to a breathtaking Irish Open win on his first visit to the raceway. Goldin was next out off the pack as he pulled out all the stops to clinch the runner up spot. S. Kelly held onto third ahead of Tootell and Moodie. Teenager Craig McConnell did well to be the first local man home in sixth. Davy McCrory and Ian Thompson completed the top eight. Stuart Kelly lifted the Grand National ahead of Goldin, Graham Kelly, Thompson and Darren McKinstry. 

For National Hot Rods Results click here

For National Hot Rods Results click here

Alan Connolly retained his Yokohama Tyres Championship crown at the Easter meeting at Ballymena Raceway. Good performances in the heats at Ballymena and Portadown just gave him the edge over Chris Lattka who likewise did well in the heats to line up alongside Connolly on the outside of the front row. At the off it was Connolly who got the lead into the first corner with Lattka on his rear bumper. Next up were Alastair Bolton and Stuart Fox. The race settled down with no major incidents as Connolly held off a determined Lattka. Fox nipped up to third while Andy Best, Frankie Lynn and Stephen McNeice were showing up good as they sped up through the pack. At half distance Connolly started to open up a gap over Lattka, which he was able to increase, as he raced on to take the chequered flag winning by over a quarter of a lap. Lattka was runner up followed by Fox in a solid third who had his best result on Irish soil to date. McNeice was an excellent fourth holding off Best and Lynn while Paul Crawford and Leigh Nicholl completed the top eight.

   
click on logos to go to results pages

Guestbook