Brighton teenager Samantha Holland raced to one of the best wins of her career at Arlington Stadium on Monday.

The 18-year-old student thrilled a Bank Holiday crowd of around 6,000 by beating the best stock car drivers in the business in an incident-packed final.

The former ministox star is still known as 'Baby Basher,' but she has grown up a lot since she made her track debut.

Even former world champions Steven Jackson and Colin Goodswen, not to mention current title-holder Mark Smith, had no answer to a brilliant drive which shot her to a memorable victory.

When the race was red-flagged for the second time because of a pile-up on the Hailsham bend, Sam was in the lead, but when the action started again the star men were breathing down her neck.

She had to hold off the chasing pack for another seven laps, but when she flashed across the line in her new car she had extended her lead.

East Anglian aces Goodswen and Jackson, who is currently top of the points chart, were second and third, while Smith, the driver of the year, failed to finish.

It was a fitting reward for the Sussex youngster, who had earlier collected her award as the most improved driver of 2000.

Eastbourne driver Ross Anstiss sustained injuries in the crash when he slammed into two stationery cars.

Another local driver, Neil Jessop, won both heats but had his hat-trick hopes in the final ended when he was spun while in the lead and then rammed by several pursuing cars.

There was another lengthy hold-up when superstox driver Pete Blomfield was hurt, the final there going to Deane Wood, while John Smith took the stock rods, and Mark Welland won the rookie bangers.