Weekend winner- It’s a well-earnt breather for Ryan McKenna, after he won his fourth Melbourne Mini Sprintcar title at Rosedale last weekend. 62346

By Dean Thompson
PAKENHAM’S Ryan McKenna took a leisurely drive up the Princes Highway on the weekend – and returned home a state champion.
McKenna overcame spirited opposition to win his fourth Melbourne Mini Sprintcar title at the Rosedale Speedway.
McKenna, who has travelled between Victoria and South Australia seeking races, beat the likes of Steve Trewin, Matt Parsons and Craig Oliver.
“The field was short on numbers but long on quality,” McKenna said after winning.
“We had the fastest car and were the quickest to get used to the track.
“That’s title number four and I would really like to step into another category. A step-up into an established and stable national category would be preferable.
“Maybe, we could do sprintcars. Everybody loves to do sprintcars and maybe somebody has seen some potential in my driving.”
McKenna started the first of three race qualifying heats in fifth place behind Amy Phillips, Craig McCormack, Parsons and Oliver.
At the green flag, McKenna propelled himself into second place before he exited turn two for the first time as he passed Phillips, Parsons and Oliver and chased leader McCormack.
On the last lap, McKenna passed McCormack as they negotiated lapped traffic.
McKenna began heat two alongside polesitter Parsons with Owen Milton, Trewin, McCormack, Oliver, Phillips and Herford behind him. The track was perfect and McKenna took the lead on the first corner and led the race for the entire journey – beating the nearest competitor by half a lap.
After adding fuel for heat three, a focused McKenna rallied his crew of Thomas and John McKenna, Mark Glass and Andrew Lott for a team meeting. They opted to stay with the same set-up.
Starting in sixth spot behind McCormack, Milton, Parsons, Oliver and Trewin, McKenna was second as the field went through turn two. McCormack spun in turn three and Oliver had nowhere to go, slamming into him and putting them both out.
At the restart, McKenna was in fourth place and grabbed the lead down the back straight on the first lap.
In readiness for the final, McKenna decided the track was going away a little, so he orchestrated a tyre change and removed two inches of stagger before beginning in pole position. Trewin, Parsons, McCormack, Oliver, Milton, Wayne Herford and Phillips were the other starters.
McKenna took the lead right from the wave of the green flag and the race was continuous until lap 13 when Trewin spun, ending the possibility of McKenna lapping the field.
With about five laps to go, McKenna was concerned as his car made some noises, so he buttoned off on the speed for the final few laps and nursed his car home for the win.
The noise turned out to be the ring gear coming away from the fly wheel. Luckily, that was after McKenna set a new Mini Sprintcar track record at the venue for one lap.