Rob Dekert’s Unique Body Smash Repairs team celebrated an emotional victory at Nitro Champs, outduelling hot favourite Tyronne Tremayne in a standout performance that produced one of the best races seen for several seasons.
Friday qualifying saw the Unique Body Smash Repairs GXP lead the field with a 6.931 at 199mph on a green race track after several showers interrupted qualifying in the afternoon. For Saturday morning’s qualifier, the team decided to use the opportunity in the session to try some gear ratio ideas. Even with a slight improvement in performance it was Tyronne and Aaron Tremayne running a 6.86 and 6.90 respectively that had the team sitting in third place going into round one later in the afternoon.
A solo win in the first round after Bill Perdikaris couldn’t front gave the team a shot at the same setup, this produced a 6.90, and score enough points to finish out the day second in All Round Format points. The team gathered for a think-tank Saturday night, deciding on some more gearing changes plus suspension changes. This put the car back into the 6.8s with a 6.89 in round two on Sunday against Shane Tucker, and cemented a spot in the A-Final to face the inform Tyronne Tremayne.
Ahead of the final, the Unique Body Smash Repairs team went to turning the car around, making some further changes to continue to chip away at the ET on every run. The success continued, at the A-Final was one to remember, Dekert cut a small start line advantage and held on it to win on a holeshot, 6.88 to a 6.87 (.033 to .069 light).
The win was emotional for Dekert and the entire team as they reflected on popular crew member Hayley Turns who is at every race meeting, but couldn’t be at the Nitro Champs due to some very serious health issues. Dekert dedicated the win to Hayley while the team celebrated on the start line.
“Hayley does everything for us on this team, and she is part of the family, we miss her badly and hope she is back soon,” said Dekert as he collected his Gold Christmas Tree winner’s trophy after the win.
“The Unique Body Smash Repairs GXP just got better and better. We are down a little power at the moment as the motor is well due for a freshen up. We will keep it in the frame rails for the Winters and it will get a birthday and some updates before the Spring Nationals at The Bend.
“We cannot do this without my family – my wife Deanne, daughter Aleesha, and my son Braydon – and crew of Paul, Hayley, Merv, Simon, Braydon and Matt. Plus all the amazing support of our partners Plucka’s RaceCraft, Outlaw Images, ETS Race Fuels, Ridgeway Motorsports, JATS Automotive Repairs, Outlaw Slot Cars, Visual Apparel, Power Up Electrical Solutions and Custom Engines.
The team will carry a 105 point advantage over John Barbagallo in the PDRC Pro Stock Championship heading to the penultimate round of the series at Willowbank Raceway’s Winternationals June 5-8.
