JOHN Lund, above, just missed out on a record seventh World Stock Car title after an action-packed final at Coventry's International Motor Speedway.

But the explosive 25-lap race will go down as one of the best in history as Lund, Rochdale's Andy Smith, and reigning champion Frankie Wainman Junior engaged in a titanic battle for the coveted Gold Top.

From the green flag, Smith took an immediate lead from Lund - but not for long. Going into turn three, Smith ran wide, allowing the Rimington farmer to move to the front.

On a drying track, Lund steadily extended his lead until a disastrous manoeuvre on lap nine, when the number 53 machine clipped back-marker Ian Higgins, spinning both of them into the fence.

This allowed Smith to retake the lead, with Lund rejoining the pack down in fifth behind Paul Harrison, Murray Harrison and Wainman Junior.

Going into the final six laps, Wainman Junior snatched the lead from Smith, with the hard-charging Lund now up to third place.

As the three drivers circulated together, Lund seized the chance to take the lead - by ramming the front two out of the race. Unfortunately, second-placed Smith had the same idea at exactly the same moment, and all three piled into the catch fencing.

In a fraction of a second, all three drivers saw their title hopes disappear as Murray Harrison passed them by to take the chequered flag. Lund managed to disentangle himself and finish third, Smith could only manage 12th in a badly damaged car, and Wainman Junior retired on the spot.

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