Victorian Chris Bellman is the new Formula 500 “King of the Bridge” after defeating Australian Champion Liam Williams and Western Australian Steven Ellement in an entertaining 25 lap finale at the Murray Machining and Sheds Speedway on Saturday night. After winning the top 6 dash Bellman elected to start on the outside of the front row and after fending off an early challenge from pole sitter Element Bellman finally claimed the title of “The King” after recording several podium results in the past.

“I don’t think that starting on the outside really worked for me but once we got going we got the front pretty quickly and I felt really comfortable out front. When Liam (Williams) got by me all I could think about was Dad on the hill saying what are you doing so I went back to what was working for me and we were able to hang on. To win such a prestigious race means a real lot. I have been trying to win this race for a while now so it feels really good” added Chris as he wore his winners crown on the podium.

Williams was pleased with his runner-up result but you could tell he had his eyes on the bigger picture as he mentioned it was a great test session for the upcoming Australian Championship at Easter.

Fourth place went to an elated Grant Stansfield with veteran Stephen Bell grabbing fifth on the final lap. B-main winner Dale Sinclair charged his way to sixth with Queenslander Lexi Underwood, Victorian Steve Horton, local Brad Stell and defending Champion Thomas Davies, who was a late nomination, completing the top 10. Hayden Kendrick, Jordan Mansell, Jack Disbury, Terry Rankin and Ryan McNamara were next across the line.

Pre-event favourite Jack Bell was forced to retire after an engine fire while running fourth.

Earlier six heat races, a dash and a 15 lap B-Main were run to set the 22 car field with Stansfield, James Aranyosi, Jack Bell, Graham Williams, Ellement and Steve Horton winning a heat each while Bellman won the dash and Dale Sinclair, Jordan Mansell, Steph Munn, Leigh Van Ginneken, Hayden Kendrick and Patrick Merritt made the final via the B-Main.

The night also saw a whole host of racing classes on the program with Super Sedans, Junior Sedans, Street Stocks, Modlites, AMCA Nationals and V6 Sprints.

The Modlites proved to best of the support categories on the night with former Speedcar racer Todd Bennett winning the reverse grid final ahead of Danny Prade and Andy Maxwell Jr.

Graham Knuckey, who had been running strongly during the final, had his chances of a podium taken away after second placed Sam Martin spun in front of the #5 leaving him with nowhere to go. The incident in turn four also involved Scott Webb.

The remaining feature winners on the night were Paul Blenkiron in Super Sedans, Heath Thorne in the Juniors, Track Champion Nigel Reichstein in the Street Stocks, Jason Robinson in the AMCA Nationals and Brock Lane in the V6 Sprints.

The next event at the Murray Machining and Sheds Speedway will be on December 27 with night 2 of the annual World Series Sprintcars Speedweek.