Irwin takes his first final win of the season

The Ballymoney battler was made to fight every inch of the way by Garvagh’s Aaron McGraw, but just managed to squeeze home by a car’s length to take the trophy.

There was success too for Rasharkin teenager Niall McFerran who steered his Vauxhall Corsa to a heat win in the Stock Rod section.

Ballymoney’s Ryan Murphy enjoyed a second place finish in another of the Stock Rod heat races, with former Irish Champion Alastair Bolton from Aghadowey fourth in the final.

In the other classes Jason Darragh from Rasharkin finished third in the GP2 final, while Shane Murray avoided all the rough stuff in the National Hot Rods to notch up a perfect hat-trick of wins in Round 10 of the P.C. Paints & Components World Series NI.

This weekend

The action continues at Ballymena Raceway on Friday evening (May 6) with five formulas in action at the Showground’s oval.

Top of the bill is the finale of the Snap-On Tools Series for the F2 Stock Cars. The class has been in terrific form so far in 2016 and produces some cracking action.

Gavin Fegan currently tops the standings heading into the finale with Sean McFerran also well positioned after his recent final wins. Irish Champion Christopher Kincaid and Stadium Champion Craig McConnell are two other serious contenders for honours, along with Irish Open Champion Ryan McCrory.

The Rodney Fleck Specialised Cars sponsored meeting also includes races for the Stock Rods, Junior Rods, Group Two Lightning Rods and Super Saloons.

It will be a last outing for the Stock Rod men before a number of them head over to Cowdenbeath in Scotland for the British Championship next weekend.

The first re-grading of the season also comes into effect on Friday evening which will shake up the grid. Jason Clyde and Jack Kennedy sit first and second in the points chart after their impressive starts to 2016. Both will now have to start from the back of the grid however which will provide an opportunity for others to shine, with the likes of Jonny Downs, Adam Sloan, Niall McFerran and Kurtis Reid amongst the likely contenders.

The first race gets underway in the Ballymena Showground’s at 7:15pm.