The 2010 Australian Speedcar Championship is well underway with some excellent heat race action on night 1 at Geelong's Avalon Raceway. A further round of heat races will be decided tonight with the Championship deciding 40 lap final the highlight of the evening.

As usual there were some dramatic moments that impacted on several of the key players with Mark Brown, Nathan Smee, Harley Bishop and Neville Lance all dropping at least one heat race on night 1. Spectacular heat race drives from Kiwi Brad Mosen and American Davey Ray were matched by some incredible lowlights including Nathan Smee who dropped two heat races.

West Aussie Dene McAllan sits atop the point standings after night 1 from Mosen while WA veteran Keith Giles finds himself third ahead of Ray and Queensland surprise packet John Davidson in fifth.

Heat 1
The first heat of the evening was taken out by Queensland's John Davidson after starting from position 10! Ben Dillon and Peter Ghent Jnr rounded out the top 3 in a heat race that saw plenty of action within the first handful of laps with contenders Harley Bishop, Nathan Smee and Neville Lance all suffering costly DNF's. Bishop cut a left rear tire while Lance damaged a front end. Anthony Chaffey brought on the red lights after rolling while Smee dropped out while leading due to a failing rear end.

Heat 2
American ace Davey Ray showed he meant business in heat race two when he won driving the Mark DeRosa owned Synergy powered Aggressor. Ray defeated Kiwi talent Brad Mosen with Troy Jordon and Sid Whittaker all trailing.

Heat 3
Aussie sentimental favourite Mark Brown in the KC Tools entry took out heat three from Queensland's Brendan Palmer and West Aussie speedster Dayne Kingshot. It was a solid start to the weekend for the hottest driver in Australian Speedcar racing currently following his 18th to first performance a week earlier at Warrnambool.

Heat 4
Heat four was taken out by West Aussie young gun Dene McAllan ahead of a hard charging Brock Dean with Sydney's Ant Brien in third. Defending champ Kevin Swindell mustered a fourth place finish.

Heat 5
Heat five was won by WA icon Neville Lance ahead of a fired up Harley Bishop who was on a mission to make up the vital points he lost in round one. Dene McAllen finished third from the rear ahead of Swindell and Mick Harders in fifth.

Heat 6
The ‘Jive Man’, Keith Giles returned to victory lane after a strong season as he took the win in heat six from John Davidson who recorded another strong result. Peter Ghent Jnr raced into third ahead of Victorian Robbie Gordon who looked impressive.

Heat 7
Heat seven started minus Travis Mills and saw Scott Glazebrook lead early before Davey Ray and the Polar Ice Spike of Brad Mosen shot through to take first and second respectively. Mark Brown, Dayne Kingshot, Troy Jenkins, Brendan Palmer and Robert Mackay rounded out one of the most entertaining heats of the night.

Heat 8
Ant Brien was the big mover coming from position 10 to second with the win going to John 'Quick Time' Mckay and his immaculate Mack Trucks #5 who lead from the start. Third place went to local David Crabtree fromSouth Australian Tim Crouch, the 'Enforcer' Adam Wallis, Brett Foreman and Grant Draney in sixth. Matt Coombe rolled in turn two mid race and Craig Smith did not start, pulling in prior to the greens with mechanical problems.

Heat 9
The final round of heats kicked off with Neville Lance upending the Lance Auto Electrics #14 into the turn 2 wall. Mark Brown broke a rod end on the right rear torsion arm and did not finish leaving the major points to the American Tires & Racing Services entry of Nathan Smee who won ahead of Whittaker, Ghent, Jenkins, Ray, Palmer and Gordon rounding out the field.

Heat 10
Giles and the Wayne Cover team impressively took another heat win in heat ten from Dillon, Crabtree, Crouch, Davidson, Pearce, Troy Jordan, Hume and Rinkin. Craig Smith’s evening of bad luck continued with a DNF, pulling in late in the race.

Heat 11
Unfortunately Brock Hallet pulled infield prior to the green flag with motor troubles leaving Draney and Wallace to take the front row. Controversially Ant Brien was sent to the rear before a lap was completed for jumping the start before Draney and Brock Dean were tangled together in turn 2 bringing the red lights on.
Mick Harders was also caught up in the trouble and unable to complete the race. Dene McAllan took the win ahead of Wallis, Kingshot and Brien with the fire going out for Power on the last lap who was unable to finish.

Heat 12
The final heat of the evening was lead away by Harley Bishop but while leading the race he was put rear of field for rolling through a red light scene when contact between Swindell and Roser saw the reds brought on for an inverted Roser. Impressive 2010 Chili Bowl Rookie of the Year Brad Mosen took the stunning win from Bishop with a bold outside move late in the race. Bishop who ran under protest finished second while third was Glazebrook. John McKay, Swindell and Brad Sloan rounded out the field. Robert Mackay listed a DNF.

Top points from night 1

W21 Dene Mcallan 66
Q29 Brad Mosen 65
W76 Keith Giles 61
S71 Davey Ray 61
Q24 John Davidson 56
S9 Ben Dillon 50
S5 John Mckay 50
N9 Scott Glazebrook 49
N6 Ant Brien 49
V3 Peter Ghent jnr 48

W24 Dayne Kingshott 43
Q5 Adam Wallis 42
Q41 Brendan Palmer 39
V97 David Crabtree 38
N69 Mark Brown 38
A1 Kevin Swindell 36
N76 Troy Jordan 36
S7 Tim Crouch 34
Q58 Syd Whittaker 33
N11 Harley Bishop 33

N78 Troy Jenkins 33
Q55 Brad Sloan 31
W54 Jason Roser 30
V17 Robbie Gordon 30
Q99 Brock Dean 30
N70 Mike Rinkin 26
N7 Nathan Smee 25
V21 Craig Hume 25
W14 Neville Lance 25
V13 Andy Pearce 21

Q14 Mick Harders 21
Q67 Grant Draney 19
Q13 Brett Foreman 17
Q91 Brock Hallett 16
Q75 Robert Mackay 15
V10 Travis Mills 8
S2 Matt Coombe 5
V5 Darren Power 0
V99 Craig Smith 0
V8 Anthony Chaffey 0

Super Sedans supported the Speedcar action for the evening with Lucas Roberts taking the lead straight away from the front of the field in the 20 lap A-main. Brett Simpson, Craig Lockwood, Mick Nicola and Tasmanian Brad Smith rounded out the top 5 finishers. Roberts not only took the win, but clocked a new 20 lap record of 5.09.23seconds.

Heat race wins went to Ash Bergmeir, Craig Lappin, Roberts and Simpson.

Following a heat race victory Ray explains how his quest for a third Australian Speedcar Title is going to plan. Pic Stephen Pickering.

American import Davey Ray powers the Synergy powered Aggressor around Avalon Raceway last night. Pic Stephen Pickering