Ryal “The Kid” Harris pipped David Sieders by six tenths of a second to take the Armor All Pole Award at Round five of the Auto One V8 Ute Racing Series – protected by Armor All at Mount Panorama today, Friday, 7th October. 

Sieders took the lead off the Jesus Racing backed Ute of Andrew Fisher late in the session and pitted with less than five minutes of the session remaining, handing Harris in the V.I.P Petfoods Ford one last opportunity to take the Armor All pole award, which he did with only one minute remaining. 

“It’s my third Pole ever and my second this year so it feels great. Roylances and Supercheap are on the car this round and it’s great to put it on pole for them.  I manned up, put it on the line and committed to that section of the track (McPhillamy) and it paid off,” said Harris. 

Sieders managed to hold onto second spot and although he didn’t take the Pole Award home was happy with the result.

“That’s where we started from last year and we took out the round so if we can mirror what we did last year, I’ll be happy,” he said.

Bathurst veteran Charlie O’Brien put in his fastest lap in the last few minutes, earning third fastest for the session. Fisher who had also pitted in the last few minutes was content with fourth.

Grant “Grunta” Johnson was the first Holden over the line in fifth ahead of fellow red lion’s Nathan Pretty and Chris Pither who dropped from second fastest earlier in the session to claim seventh. Rookie Ryan Hansford did well to claim eighth in his Truckline Racing Ford ahead of Gary Baxter in his Sage Automation Holden. Kim “The Assassin” Jane rounded out the top ten and will start on the fifth row tomorrow. 

Jack Elsegood disappointingly missed out on the top ten claiming 11th spot. The Coopers Clear driver was third in Practice earlier in the day, behind Fisher in second and Pither who won the session. V8 Supercar drivers Cameron McConville and Nathan Pretty placed fourth and fifth in practice ahead of Yanis Derums in sixth and Ben Dunn in seventh.

CNW Electrical backed Peter Burnitt caused a Red Flag in the practice session due to an issue with his ECU, and the same issue came back to haunt him in Qualifying resulting with a DNF for the session and putting him to the back of the Grid for Race 1.

Harris will hit the track for his 150th Race start tomorrow at 11:30am, which will be televised LIVE on Network Seven. The Utes will be back on track at 3:05pm for the Race 2 reverse grid, with Race 3 also televised LIVE on Network Seven at 8:20am on Sunday, 9th October.