The inaugural ASA Transcontinental Series Free State 500 was won in dramatic style at Phakisa Freeway near Welkom on Sunday afternoon by Briton John Mickel in an RS Capp Chev Monte Carlo.

Mickel, who started the 207-lap 500-km race from fourth on the 24-car grid, took the lead three-quarters of the way around the final lap to win by less than half a second from American Toni McCray (Lucas Oil Chev Monte Carlo) and 2.6 seconds ahead of American Marc Davis (WHUR 96.3/The Word Network/Marc Davis Motorsports Chev Lumina).

In his first-ever race on a 2.5-kilometre oval, Cape Town?s Johann Spies finished a remarkable fifth overall in a Speedspot Motorsport Cape Town Dodge Charger. Five other South Africans made their super oval debut in the 600 bhp 358 cu in V8 American stock cars.

Welkom's Danie Correia Jnr (Liqui Moly Chev Monte Carlo) finished three laps down in 10th place to make it a memorable two South Africans in the top 10.

Gugu Zulu of Johannesburg was 11th and five laps in arrears in a Phakisa Freeway Chev Monte Carlo, Johan Cronje of Welkom (Phezulu Plant/JCB Ford Fusion) was classified 15th after completing 155 laps before retiring with engine problems, Welkom?s Johan Coetzer (Phezulu Plant/JCB/Speed Pro Engineering/Signs4U) was classified 18th after retiring on lap 89 with engine problems, and Klerksdorp?s Jaco Correia was classified 21st after crashing his Liqui Moly Chev Monte Carlo into the concrete wall on lap 29.

Unluckiest driver in the race was the most experienced, 60-year-old American Geoff Bodine, who dominated the weekend.

The 1986 Daytona 500 winner and NASCAR legend started the race from pole position and led the most laps (86), including the 49 between lap 156 and 205.

He was forced into the pits for a 'splash and dash' with two laps remaining after running out of fuel and was eventually classified ninth.

The historic first NASCAR-type American stock car race ever held in South Africa on the continent?s only super oval track was watched by an appreciative crowd of just under 11 000 spectators on a hot and humid Free State summer?s afternoon.

The United States ambassador to South Africa, the Donald Gips, issued the traditional instruction "Ladies and gentleman, please start your engines" before the race got underway at 13h17 on Sunday afternoon.