Dave Sharp news
It was nearly a place in the World Final but not quite for Dave Sharp in stock car 63 at Northampton raceway last weekend.
After missing several qualifying rounds due to mechanical issues this season Dave qualified as first reserve but was not required in the World Final race.
He had success in the heats for the rest of the meeting again scoring points with top ten finishes in heats one and two on a very slippery shale track.
Heavy rain had fallen all the previous night and track staff worked hard on the shale laying brick dust to soak up the water right up to the first race.
In heat one Dave started at the back of the whites and fought hard, during an entertaining race and struggling to get grip on the corners he finished in the first 10.
A change of tyres and brake setting before the next heat and Dave was leading the pack for over half the race and assisting some of the higher ranked challengers to spin off! Yellow flags slowed the race and closed the grid up while recovery took place and on the restart the fight was on again. After much pushing and sliding Dave held on to again finish in the points and qualify on the front row of the final.
Another tyre change and it was all an out battle for results in the final with 36 cars competing for the Bob Radforth Memorial Trophy. A hectic race ensued with Dave holding his ground near the front until a collision in lap nine damaged the steering forcing a reduction in speed. A multiple pile up followed with Dave being caught in the middle. Further damage sustained forced an early retirement along with several other competitors.
The much-needed points have now put Dave in equal 10th place in the Whites and Yellows championship with all 10 places very close on points.
Work is now taking place to try to get the car repaired in time for the next race meeting at Stoke on Saturday evening