Watkin Glen

Dan Searle would clearly be the man to beat as he turned the fastest laps in practice by over a second averaging 100.873 mph. That time would be beat in the closing minutes when Mullin finally got his brake issue corrected clocking a 101.295 mph fast time. In qualifying however it was all Searle in his Budweiser Monte Carlo landing the pole with a 100.674mph rocket. Searle would be flanked by Geoff Bonner in the Red Baron #90 Thunderbird who pulled off a 100.574 mph sizzler. The race would get a clean start as the field got through turn 1 and the esse's.

As Ralph Colford and Geoff Bonner battled for the 2nd spot, race leader Dan Searle would stretch out his lead. Colford would make the pass on Bonner exiting turn 13 only to miss turn 1 a lap later landing his Hardees Oldsmobile in the beach. Bonner and Mullin would pass Colford and begin chasing down Searle. Scott Scrimgeour would out brake Don Burchill heading into turn 1 but unfortunately would not be able to slow down enough and would just slightly get off the course allowing Burchill to retake the spot.

It would take 6 more laps to catch Searle. Unfortunately for Dan Searle, the closure would be a little too rapid when Bonner would slide into Searle in turn 12 pushing the Budweiser machine into the beach. Searle would get going again and climb back to 3rd before pit stops on lap 13. The contact would allow Scott Mullin to take over the point and get a sizable lead almost 5 seconds before the pit stops.

A battle would be waging for the 4th spot as Dave Blaxland would be hotly pursued by Vince MacDonald and Scott Scrimgeour. A little too close as the this trio headed into the inner loop and around goes Blaxland after light contact from MacDonald.

Just a few turns later and Scott Scrimgeour would find himself in trouble heading to the wall in a hurry. Although the #33 Skoal machine would continue on, the night would be over for Scrimgeour two laps later on lap 11.

Blaxland would overtake Scrimgeour and once again give chase to MacDonald. On lap 10 Blaxland would pass MacDonald and take the 4th spot only to lose that position in turn 12 when Blaxland slid into the sand. Pit road would start to get busy on lap 12 as teams began to take on tires and fuel. The leaders would make their stop on lap 13. All teams with the exception of Colford would get on and off pit road without incident or pit road violations.

One of the greatest battles during the race would be Pete Seymour and Vince MacDonald. Starting shotgun on the field Seymour would drive like Ron Fellows moving up through the field. Setting his sights on MacDonald after Searle retired his ride on lap 16, an intense battle would be waged until lap 18 when Seymour would have the line heading into the inner loop but the two cars would touch. Although both drivers would maintain control of their machines, Seymour would get the edge he needed to secure the 3rd spot.

Meanwhile Geoff Bonner would be closing in fast on Mullin. With just two laps to go Mullin would make his first mistake of the night and slide off into the beach in turn 12 where many cars had already ventured earlier in the event. Bonner would easily cruise by and take the lead heading to the white flag.

Harry MacLean would be having a great night until lap 22 when he missed the inner loop and crashed. It would be the end of the night for the crowd favorite #43 STP Pontiac.

Although Mullin would close in the gap to one and half seconds, the race would seem to be over....or would it? Heading to the checkers Geoff Bonner would mirror the mistake of Mullin sliding off in the exact same corner allowing Mullin to retake the lead.

Coming to the final turn it would be a drag race between the #83 of Mullin and #90 of Bonner. Mullin would get through the corner first and take the checkers to make it back to back wins. Bonner would take second spot while Peter Seymour would round at the podium in the third spot.