Impressive run at Attwell Park helps late model driver Brent Vosbergen win Wild West Showdown title

Brent Vosbergen has won the Wild West Showdown for the second straight season, after an impressive weekend at Albany’s Attwell Park Speedway. The four-round series culminated at the Albany venue which played host to the final two events and ultimately decided the overall champion. Vosbergen finished on top of the points standings, narrowly edging out Warren Oldfield. There were just 24 points separating the pair, who each won a round in Albany. On Friday night Vosbergen was fastest in qualifying and won his opening heat race before a second place in his final preliminary set-up pole position in the 30-lap feature race. He powered to victory in the final, crossing the line 1.456sec. ahead of his nearest rival. During the final Vosbergen had to stave off challenges from Paul Stubber and Kye Blight to take out round three. Joe Chalmers made a last-ditch pass to get by Stubber and grab second while Kodee Brown and Oldfield rounded out the top five. Big names who failed to finish Friday night’s final included Katanning star Blight and Tasmanian Brad Smith. The finale of the Wild West Showdown was run on Saturday night at Attwell Park and it was Oldfield that finished victorious after an exciting 30-lap feature race. Chalmers was quickest in qualifying and won the opening heat race while Vosbergen, Oldfield and Stubber all had wins in the remaining heat races. Vosbergen and Stubber would start the final on the front row and after a close battle in the first few laps, the pair came together as Stubber tried to pass underneath Vosbergen. Vosbergen spun at turn three, bringing on a yellow light and Stubber was deemed the cause of the stoppage by officials who relegated him to last before the restart. Up front Vosbergen and Oldfield cleared out while the battle for the minor positions changed and Stubber began to work his way back through the field. On lap 14 Stubber was back into the top five before another stoppage and on the restart he was able get by Smith and Blight to pinch third. Oldfield then made the winning move, diving down low and using his moment to pass Vosbergen who went up high on the track. Blight started to close in on the back of Stubber before smoke billowed from the back of his machine and he retired to the infield with four laps to run. Oldfield went on to win, beating Vosbergen by 1.272sec. on the line. Stubber did a remarkable job to finish third after being sent to the back of the field, while Smith and Brown rounded out the top five. Vosbergen finished champion of the Wild West Showdown, courtesy of his two feature race wins. He won round two of the series at the Perth Motorplex on January 2 while the opening round was taken out by Jamie Oldfield. Vosbergen (449 points) won a tight point score from Warren Oldfield (425), the consistent Chalmers (410), Stubber (392) and veteran Brad Blake (388). The top 10 was rounded out by Jay Cardy (386), Smith (374), Blight (358), Damian Hudson (332) and David Boyes (319). The late models will return to Albany on April 8 and 9 for the Easter Classic.