LEA Wood narrowly missed out on a podium place as the pickup racers had the honour of being the final race on the Rockingham Oval Circuit.

With a wet track for qualifying it was more a case of caution as Wood was out of the running for the Rockingham Championship.

That meant for the start of the first race he was on row five, but made lightning start to hold sixth by the end of the opening lap.

"So long as you stayed with the lead group for the first 25 laps, the race really then began to start, but you can’t really afford to drop off the back and expect to get back,” said Wood.

By lap 19 only Michael Smith lay between Wood and the lead, but there were still seven cars in contention.

The exchanges continued right down to the last lap, with Wood having dropped back to fourth.

“I did have a go at Scott Bourne on the last corner, going down the inside, but was happy with fourth," Wood added.

"It was one of my best races at Rockingham, pushing at the front straightaway, and I saved the tyres. It handled well and I just missed the podium."

For race two it was another fifth row start, but strategies came into play too with two compulsory pit stops between laps 15 and 22.

From the start of the race Wood became detached from the lead group.

After all the stops had been taken the Hereford driver became embroiled in a duel with fellow title contender David O’Regan for sixth. He got by on lap 29 and hunted down reigning Champion Scott Bourne a couple of laps later before passing him and finishing fourth

“Being the last ever race on the oval I was really happy with fourth in each race," Wood added.

"I have always been wary of the concrete walls here, but today it was good, spot on and now it’s time to focus on the main championship and Pembrey on October 13 and 14.”