Ryal Harris has claimed a record third East Coast Bullbars Australian V8 Utes title after teammate and series contender George Miedecke failed to finish Race 2 at Sydney Olympic Park.
Miedecke had given himself the best possible chance of overhauling his Matt Stone Racing stablemate by winning the opener earlier in the day.
However, the Port Macquarie native fell out of the running when his iSeek Falcon ground to a halt on Lap 3 with a throttle issue.
Nathan Pretty got the jump from the outside of the front row after the Top 9 grid inversion and led all the way.
Craig Dontas shadowed car #56 for the duration but a five second time penalty for a jumpstart saw him place behind ultimate runner-up Gerard McLeod.
McLeod had to withstand late pressure from Kris Walton, who cut through from sixth to fourth by the chequered flag.
Harris cruised to tenth, enough to put the title beyond anyone else.
“I’ll be able to sleep now,” said Harris.
“I haven’t slept too well the past two nights but I’ll have a proper celebration tomorrow as it hasn’t really kicked in yet.”
Earlier, Miedecke had seen off Ryan Hansford to win Race 1 and Harris similarly held out Walton for third.
Result V8 Utes Racing Series Race 1
| 1 | iSeek Racing / Miedecke Motorgroup | George Miedecke (NSW) | Ford FG | 8 | 17:15.4377 |
| 2 | Multispares Racing | Ryan Hansford (QLD) | Ford FG | 8 | 17:16.2586 |
| 3 | Ticketandtours.com.au | Ryal Harris (QLD) | Ford FG | 8 | 17:18.8154 |
| 4 | Rentco Racing | Kris Walton (QLD) | Ford FG | 8 | 17:19.1266 |
| 5 | Mango Credit | David Sieders (NSW) | Holden VE | 8 | 17:20.8515 |
| 6 | Just Car Insurance | Craig Dontas (SA) | Holden VE | 8 | 17:21.7727 |
| 7 | Stratco Racing | Rhys McNally (WA) | Holden VE | 8 | 17:22.4246 |
| 8 | Burbank Racing | Nathan Pretty (VIC) | Holden VE | 8 | 17:22.9172 |
| 9 | RYCO 24-7 / RAM LOCKSMITHS | Gerard McLeod (VIC) | Holden VE | 8 | 17:25.5253 |
| 10 | Jesus Racing | Andrew Fisher (NSW) | Ford FG | 8 | 17:26.5559 |
| 11 | Auto One / Erebus Motorsport | Adam Marjoram (WA) | Holden VE | 8 | 17:27.3722 |
| 12 | Bob Jane T-Marts / Altenzo | Kim Jane (VIC) | Holden VE | 8 | 17:27.8269 |
| 13 | JMG Racing | Jeremy Gray (NSW) | Ford FG | 8 | 17:28.1924 |
| 14 | Slideways / Go Karting Australia | Cam Wilson (QLD) | Ford FG | 8 | 17:39.4089 |
| 15 | Cetnaj Electrical Supplies | Peter Burnitt (QLD) | Ford FG | 8 | 17:41.4847 |
| 16 | Hi-Tec Oils | Steve Hodges (NSW) | Holden VE | 8 | 17:42.5188 |
| 17 | Nandi Kiss Racing | Nandi Kiss (NSW) | Holden VE | 8 | 17:42.9393 |
| 18 | Matt Stone Racing | Tyler Greenbury (QLD) | Ford FG | 8 | 17:43.1954 |
| 19 | Australian Conveyor Racing | Noel Edge (SA) | Ford FG | 8 | 17:50.2613 |
| 20 | OAKLANDS BUILT | Bruce Oaklands (NSW) | Ford FG | 8 | 17:50.6737 |
| 21 | Gulf Western Oil / Aussie Stop | Richard Mork (NSW) | Ford FG | 8 | 18:15.4717 |
| DNF | Copyworld Racing | Michael Almond (SA) | Holden VE | 4 | 10:20.6787 |
| DNF | Australian Auto Wreckers | George Karadimas (VIC) | Holden VE | 4 | 12:38.6301 |
| DNF | Shamick Racing | Leigh Nicolaou (VIC) | Holden VE | 1 | 1:56.7847 |
| DNF | Western General Body Works | Danny Buzadzic (VIC) | Ford FG | 1 | 2:26.3950 |
| DNF | Team Kleen Racing / Kleen Group | Adam Beechey (TAS) | Holden VE |
Result V8 Utes Racing Series Race 2
| 1 | Burbank Racing | Nathan Pretty (VIC) | Holden VE | 9 | 15:58.2048 |
| 2 | RYCO 24-7 / RAM LOCKSMITHS | Gerard McLeod (VIC) | Holden VE | 9 | 16:05.0222 |
| 3 | Just Car Insurance | Craig Dontas (SA) | Holden VE | 9 | 16:05.1493 |
| 4 | Rentco Racing | Kris Walton (QLD) | Ford FG | 9 | 16:06.1760 |
| 5 | Mango Credit | David Sieders (NSW) | Holden VE | 9 | 16:08.0407 |
| 6 | Stratco Racing | Rhys McNally (WA) | Holden VE | 9 | 16:08.6819 |
| 7 | Multispares Racing | Ryan Hansford (QLD) | Ford FG | 9 | 16:09.0315 |
| 8 | Jesus Racing | Andrew Fisher (NSW) | Ford FG | 9 | 16:15.0189 |
| 9 | Bob Jane T-Marts / Altenzo | Kim Jane (VIC) | Holden VE | 9 | 16:15.7423 |
| 10 | Ticketandtours.com.au | Ryal Harris (QLD) | Ford FG | 9 | 16:16.4078 |
| 11 | Auto One / Erebus Motorsport | Adam Marjoram (WA) | Holden VE | 9 | 16:16.8884 |
| 12 | JMG Racing | Jeremy Gray (NSW) | Ford FG | 9 | 16:17.1475 |
| 13 | Slideways / Go Karting Australia | Cam Wilson (QLD) | Ford FG | 9 | 16:18.2319 |
| 14 | Copyworld Racing | Michael Almond (SA) | Holden VE | 9 | 16:19.6354 |
| 15 | Cetnaj Electrical Supplies | Peter Burnitt (QLD) | Ford FG | 9 | 16:26.9631 |
| 16 | Matt Stone Racing | Tyler Greenbury (QLD) | Ford FG | 9 | 16:32.1076 |
| 17 | Team Kleen Racing / Kleen Grou | Adam Beechey (TAS) | Holden VE | 9 | 16:33.9097 |
| 18 | Hi-Tec Oils | Steve Hodges (NSW) | Holden VE | 9 | 16:36.0330 |
| 19 | Nandi Kiss Racing | Nandi Kiss (NSW) | Holden VE | 9 | 16:38.7690 |
| 20 | Shamick Racing | Leigh Nicolaou (VIC) | Holden VE | 9 | 16:53.6430 |
| 21 | Australian Conveyor Racing | Noel Edge (SA) | Ford FG | 9 | 16:56.4331 |
| 22 | iSeek Racing / Miedecke Motorgroup | George Miedecke (NSW) | Ford FG | 9 | 16:58.3457 |
| 23 | OAKLANDS BUILT | Bruce Oaklands (NSW) | Ford FG | 9 | 17:01.0083 |
| 24 | Australian Auto Wreckers | George Karadimas (VIC) | Holden VE | 9 | 17:20.1649 |
| DNF | Gulf Western Oil / Aussie Stop | Richard Mork (NSW) | Ford FG | 6 | 11:45.1685 |
| DNF | Western General Body Works | Danny Buzadzic (VIC) | Ford FG | 2 | 3:59.4397 |
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