by Dean Thompson
Nyora Raceway's annual Christmas race meeting once again thrilled hundreds of families who made the trek into South Gippsland for some last-minute festive season sporting action.

The main event results included: Caleb Mills taking home the state title prelude for compact speedcars, James Peacock and Luke Morrison's win in the junior sedan series feature events, and Lee Beach's win in the sports sedan Christmas cup.
Other winners include Nathan Miles in junior standard saloons and Bree Walker in women's standard saloons, the night's support classes.
With the Victorian title for compact speedcars at Nyora Raceway this season, 14 cars lined up in the pit enclosure to go racing. Each driver would compete in three of the four heat races that were held to determine the feature race line-up.
Jesse Nicholas from north east Victoria claimed a runaway victory in the first heat race, leading from the front row for 10 laps straight to win.
Mordialloc-based racer Michael Conway then won a green to chequered second heat race, leading all the way.
Matt Papa then held off Conway by just 0.219 of a second in claiming victory in heat three. Conway came through the field to snare the lead in the final heat on the second last lap before holding out Papa for the win.
After electrical gremlins caused drama for Conway prior to the field hitting the track for the final - seeing him unable to start - Caleb Mills led the feature race away with Papa and then David Hutchinson behind.
Justin Paull, the New South Wales champion, made a push towards the front and moved into third place four laps into the race.
With Mills out front, Paull reached second by lap 16, however, Mills maintained his distance and led to the finish with Paull, Papa, Bowen Donkers and Tania Hallett rounding out the top five.
Koo Wee Rup racer Chris Aarts claimed a win in the first heat race in the sports sedan Christmas cup with visiting Benalla racer Ken Mankey claiming a win in the second.
Lee Beach, who is no stranger to winning at Nyora, then won heat number three by a massive 16 seconds, almost lapping the complete field before Robert Garlick won a shortened fourth and final qualifier.
Beach then led every lap in the final to take victory ahead of Jordan Haley, Garlick, Michael Knight and Hannah Smith.
The national junior sedan stars in their four-cylinder cars also competed in their latest series round event.
James Peacock, the winner the week prior at Redline Raceway, started the night with a win in heat race one before Blake Beach and then Peacock again rounded out the qualifying wins.
Steane Cosson began fast and out front before a left front flat tyre gifted the lead to Peacock. Peacock was able to control the race over the rest of the 15 laps and maintained a steady lead to win ahead of Cruz Carlin, Tyler Smith from Tasmania, Brad Marshall and Tyson Heaphy.
Luke Morrison continued his domination of the new stars juniors and his good run of results at Nyora.
Morrison won all three heat races with the closest margin five seconds and the other two heats more than 10 seconds between himself and second. Morrison then went on to win the feature race by three quarters of lap ahead of Darcy Dannatt, Noah Basten, Jackson Heaphy and Jai Hallett.
Catani racer Nathan Miles won two of the three junior standard saloon heat races with Ella Sheedy winning the other. Miles then won the final from Sheedy, and John Hooten.
Trafalgar driver Bree Walker then won two of the three heat races in women's standard saloons with Caroline Allen winning the other.
A terrific final between Walker and Allen saw Walker lead the first lap before Allen led all the way until lap 10 where Walker hit the front once again.
Walker then shot away to win by three seconds ahead of Allen, Stacey Sheedy, and Maddy Capon.
Nyora Raceway will return on Saturday, January 18 with the Monster Truck Madness show.
Last season the event entertained a packed crowd, with monster trucks and other novelty cars performing.
Sports sedans, formula 500s and unlimited sedans will be the racing action at this show and there will once again be a fireworks display.