The curtain came down on the Whyalla Speedway season on Saturday night with the venue hosting two South Australian Championships with Bailey Heinrich and Michael Miller writing their names into the record books as Champions. Both drivers would lead all way in their respective Title finals with Heinrich winning the Street Stocks in a dramatic finish while Miller would dominate the Modlite Championship finale.

A total of 24 drivers from across the State and the Northern Territory fronted for the 2022 Fulton Hogan / Unearth Whyalla South Australian Street Stock Championship but by the time the nine heats had been completed the field had been reduced to 19 for the 30 lap finale.

Due to his two heat wins Heinrich qualified on pole with Jayden Edwards, Jack Yates (NT), Justin Brumfield (NT), Anthony Buchanan, Mark Jennings, Jason Duell and Grant Harris completing the first four rows for the decider.

Although the positions up front wouldn’t change throughout the race, as Heinrich led home Jayden Edwards, there was never more than a few car lengths between them in what was a real hard fought battle for the lead. Mount Gambier’s Jason Duell would finish third after making up three spots in the final four laps.

Following his win Heinrich executed a series of donuts at either end of the racetrack and a burnout on the front straight before performing a jubilant roof dance that had the crowd on hand cheering for more. It was a big night for Heinrich as he was also presented with the trophy for the “Best Presented Car” for the title, an award that was voted on by the fans.

After starting from position 16 Nigel Reichstein would finish fourth with Craig Buchanan, current South Australian Formula 500 Champion Angelo Karoussis, Steve Gartner, Adrian Jones, Keith Moore and Drew Flatman completing the top 10. Justin Brumfield and Aaron Tyler were the only other classified finishers.

For two-time Champion Steve Gartner the result could have been so much better as he charged from position 15 to third with a lap to go only to have a mechanical drama forcing him to drop back to seventh.

The heat winners included Bailey Heinrich (2), Jason Gantz, Darren Brumfield, Jack Yates, Anthony Buchanan, Craig Buchanan, Justin Brumfield and Grant Harris.

The Chadwick Fabrication Modlite South Australian Championship attracted 12 drivers, including Queenslander Klinton Hancey, but by the time the feature race came around the field was reduced to 10 with Hancey and Brett Stephens failing to start.

For Hancey it was a night to forget as his car was plagued with electrical issues failing to finish two of his three heats although he went on to win the one heat he finished. For Stephens his night ended in heat four after rolling in turn one after colliding into the spinning car of Brian Chadwick.

Throughout the heat races Miller was unbeaten therefore he started from the pole for the 20-lap final with Scott Webb, Anthony Grillett, Justin Chadwick, Jacob Carlier, Dylan Richter, Brian Chadwick, Ryan Alexander, Brook Alexander and rookie Denzel Hurley rounding out the starters.

As soon as the green flag dropped the race was dominated by Miller and at no stage was he ever challenged for the lead. The only time the opposition ever came close to back of the red #3 was under the multiple cautions with his lead opening up to over five seconds at one point. In the end he went on to win by 3.833 seconds over Anthony Grillett and Jacob Carlier. Fourth place went to Ryan Alexander who by his own admission simply didn’t have the speed required to win all night. Fifth went to Scott Webb ahead of Dylan Richter, Brian Chadwick, Justin Chadwick, Brook Alexander and Denzel Hurley.

The Whyalla Scrap Metal Brian Skelton Memorial for Super Sedans was also on the program with a small field of only four cars on hand to contest three heats and the 12-lap final. After qualifying on the front row Kym Jury led the entire journey to claim his second win in the memorial race to join Ryan Alexander as the only two-time winners of the event. Second went to Riverland racer Neville Nitschke with Sarah Pope rounding out the finishers. After winning the opening two heats of the night Mitchell Rigney looked to be a contender for the main event win but he unfortunately failed to finish.