Best sweeps Friday as crash ends Practice 2

Zak Best completed a Dunlop Series Friday practice sweep in Newcastle, with Practice 2 called early due to a crash.

Best, who topped the morning practice session, backed it up in the afternoon aboard his #17 Anderson Motorsport Mustang.

The Victorian headed Kai Allen in the red flag-shortened session, which ended early due to a pile-up.

It was a particularly impressive showing by Eggleston Motorsport rookie Allen, who is nursing a recently broken collarbone.

Matt Chahda glanced the Turn 10 wall, leaving Jett Johnson with nowhere to go as he arrived on the scene.

Aaron Love was next in and careened into the stationary Johnson, with Callum Walker avoiding contact.

The session was stopped and later declared, helping Best to a Friday sweep.

Love managed to return his damaged Petronas Ford to pit lane, with the Chahda and Johnson cars cleared away.

Earlier, Mason Kelly tagged the wall at the final corner and was forced into the lane.

Gomersall Motorsport managed to return Aaron Seton to the track after his Practice 1 crash at Turn 6.

Best led the early running with a 1:14.2603s, before Cooper Murray clocked a 1:13.8769s to jump to the top.

Best lowered the benchmark to 1:13.7503s with Murray second and Jack Perkins third.

Allen dropped in a 1:13.0611s, with former Super3 rival Brad Vaughan firing in a 1:13.1040s.

Vaughan’s Tickford Racing teammate Elly Morrow struck trouble at the final corner as she collided with Chris Smerdon.

Replays showed Smerdon turning in on Morrow, with both cars sent into a spin.

Best jumped to the very top just before the Turn 10 pile-up, which ended Friday’s Dunlop Series running early.

Allen, Vaughan, Jaylyn Robothom and Zach Bates rounded out the top five.

Matthew McCutcheon was the quickest Super3 runner with a 1:13.0436s.

The Dunlop Series field will return on Saturday with Race 1 ARMOR ALL Qualifying 10:25am local time.