Sharks devour Colorado

New York Islanders' Casey Cizikas's shot hits Detroit Red Wings' Petr Mrazek in the chest. Source: Paul Sancya / AP

SAN Jose's Joe Pavelski scored with just under 20 seconds left in regulation to tie the game and the Sharks then prevailed in a shootout to beat Colorado 5-4 in an NHL thriller on Monday,

Elsewhere, Anaheim's hot streak continued as the Ducks rallied past Washington, Dallas scored on its first two shots to set up a win over Los Angeles, and Chicago defeated New Jersey.

San Jose's win over Colorado built to an epic climax, with Erik Johnson and Jamie McGinn scoring just 12 seconds apart in the final two minutes to put the Avalanche up 4-3.

But there was still time for Pavelski to tie it after taking a pass from Joe Thornton, who has an 11-game point streak against the Avalanche, then Logan Couture and Patrick Marleau scored in the shootout to secure two points for the Sharks.

Jason Demers, Brent Burns and Matthew Irwin also scored for San Jose while Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog tallied for Colorado.

Anaheim also won a close game, edging Washington 3-2 to open the Ducks' lead in the Pacific Division to five points over city rival Los Angeles.

Hampus Lindholm scored the winner at 14:24 of the third period while Andrew Cogliano had a goal and an assist and Saku Koivu also netted for the Ducks, who have won a franchise-best nine-straight games.

A potential tying goal for Washington on a shot by Alex Ovechkin that hit the crossbar and landed just outside the line with about three minutes left was reviewed and ruled no goal.

Mikhail Grabovski and Nicklas Backstrom scored for the Capitals.

Dallas Stars' Cody Eakin (20) scores against Los Angeles Kings goalie Martin Jones. Source: AP

Dallas' Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn scored on the Stars first shots, laying the foundation for a 5-2 win over Los Angeles.

It was a horror start for the previously unbeaten Kings rookie goaltender Martin Jones, who conceded further goals to Valeri Nichushkin in the second period and Cody Eakin with 4:48 remaining. Shawn Horcuff was credited with an empty-net goal after he was tripped from behind in the Kings zone.

Justin Williams and Jarret Stoll scored first-period goals for the Kings, who were without ill captain Dustin Brown.

There was another 5-2 scoreline in Chicago where Patrick Sharp scored twice and Patrick Kane, Bryan Bickell and Nick Leddy also connected as the Blackhawks beat New Jersey.

Stephen Gionta and Michael Ryder scored for the Devils, whose season-high four-game point streak ended.

Kane has points in 12 straight games, matching his career high - set earlier this season and just before this run.

Ottawa's Craig Anderson made 27 saves for his second shutout of the season, helping the Senators cruise to a 5-0 win over Pittsburgh.

The game was close after two periods but the Senators dominated the Penguins in the third outshooting them 15-9 while getting goals from Erik Karlsson, Kyle Turris and Cory Conacher. Zack Smith and Bobby Ryan scored earlier for the Senators.

Carl Soderberg of the Boston Bruins shoots while laying on the ice Source: AFP

Nashville's Carl Soderberg scored on a power play and had two assists to lead the Bruins to a 6-2 win over Nashville.

Jarome Iginla added a pair of goals while Brad Marchand, Matt Fraser and Reilly Smith also scored for Boston, which gave coach Claude Julien his 400th career win.

Craig Smith scored twice for Nashville.

Calgary's Joe Colborne scored the only goal of the shootout to give the Flames an improbable come-from-behind 4-3 win over St. Louis.

Colborne took the first attempt in the shootout and beat Jaroslav Halak on a deke, while goalie Reto Berra turned aside three Blues' shots to earn the win.

Mark Giordano forced overtime by scoring the tying goal with 5 seconds left, while Jiri Hudler and Mike Cammalleri also scored for Calgary, which had lost its previous three games.

Kevin Shattenkirk, Jaden Schwartz and Paajarvi scored for the Blues.

Wayne Simmonds tries a wrap-around shot against goalie Niklas Backstrom. Source: AFP

Philadelphia's Wayne Simmonds had two goals and an assist as the Flyers downed Minnesota 4-1 to extend their home winning streak to nine games.

Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis had a goal and two assists as the Lightning beat state rival Florida 6-1 to make it five-straight wins.

New York's Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan scored shootout goals to give the Rangers a 2-1 win over Toronto.

Columbus' Ryan Johansen and Jack Skille scored 1:28 apart late in the third period to rally the Blue Jackets to a 4-3 win over Carolina.

New York Islanders' Evgeni Nabokov checks the puck away from Detroit's Todd Bertuzzi. Source: AP

New York's Evgeni Nabokov made 23 saves for his 56th career shutout, helping the Islanders win 3-0 against Detroit.

Buffalo scored in bizarre circumstances to take a 2-1 win over Phoenix, as the puck became lodged in the back of the goalie's jersey and when he retreated to his crease, he unwittingly took it across the line to end the game.

Edmonton's Taylor Hall had a goal and two assists as the Oilers snapped a season-worst six-game skid with a 6-2 victory over Winnipeg.

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Best fights of 2013

Marcos Maidana's straight right catches Adrien Broner during their WBA welterweight title bout. Source: Eric Gay / AP

THE best fights of the year, according to boxing expert Grantlee Kieza.

DENNIS HOGAN BEATS NATHAN CARROLL ON POINTS AFTER 10 ROUNDS

November 7

IRISH-BORN strongman Dennis Hogan overpowered fellow Brisbane rival Nathan Carroll to take the Australian middleweight title with a ferocious 10-round decision at Brisbane's Eatons Hill Hotel.

It was a thrilling encounter for the sold-out crowd and fans watching around the country on Fox Sports.

The unbeaten Hogan proved too rugged and persistent with his savage counterpunches, and his pressure tactics stopped Carroll using his skills at long range.

Nathan Carroll lost a classic bout to Dennis Hogan on point after 10 rounds. Source: News Limited

Last year at the Mansfield Tavern, Hogan stopped Carroll in seven rounds but Carroll - who had won the national title in the interim - came into the rematch with an improved defence and a steely resolve.

It wasn't enough though as Hogan, a former Irish international as an amateur, banged away with his brutal hooks and uppercuts to dominate the fight.

CARL FROCH BEATS GEORGE GROVES BY TKO IN ROUND 9

November 23

A CONFIDENT George Groves needled super-middleweight iron man Carl Froch relentlessly for months and seemed to have him rattled in the days leading up to one of England's most anticipated fights of the year in Manchester.

Groves said Froch was old, that he was slowing up, that he was in serious decline.

In the first round he looked to be right.

All smiles at the BBC SPOTY awards night but was less happy when losing to Carl Froch. Source: Getty Images

Groves caught the IBF and WBA champ flush on the chin with a left-right in the opening round and dropped him.

Froch staggered back into the fight but Groves hit him from all angles throughout round two.

But Froch kept wading forward catching everything on his granite chin and eventually firing back. As both men fought to a virtual standstill Froch began to hurt Groves and, after a barrage of Froch punches in round nine, referee Howard Foster stopped the fight and Froch was still the champ.

TIMOTHY BRADLEY BEATS RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV IN ROUND 12

March 16

IN his first fight since out-hustling Filipino great Manny Pacquiao, American muscleman Timothy Bradley retained his world welterweight title at the Home Depot Centre in Carson, California with an all-time classic battle against Russia's Ruslan Provodnikov.

Timothy Bradley has proved to be a dogged fighter who has taken on the best and largely succeeded. Source: AP

Bradley remained unbeaten in 31 fights with a close decision after dominating the middle rounds. But he was on the canvas in the 12th and final round after one last desperate barrage from Provodnikov, a Kostya Tszyu look-alike known as "The Siberian Rocky.''

Provodnikov appeared to have Bradley out on his feet in rounds one and two as the bell sounded.

The fight ended with Bradley taking a knee in the last round under withering pressure from Provodnikov, but having won enough rounds to earn a unanimous decision.

MARCOS MAIDANA BEATS ADRIEN BRONER IN ROUND 12

December 14

THE spoilt brat got a kick in the backside.

In a thriller Argentine bull Marcos Maidana dropped cocky welterweight champion Adrien "The Problem" Broner twice and took away his WBA belt with a 12-round unanimous decision at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Marcos Maidana lands a right flush on Adrien Broner's jaw. Source: AFP

Maidana cracked Broner with a right hand in the first round and had Broner holding on. Maidana continued the aggression in round two and dropped the champ.

Broner fought back hard in the middle rounds but in round eight Maidana dropped him again.

Maidana gave Broner a light headbutt under the chin as the fighters wrestled, and Broner, acting badly, flopped on the canvas looking for a disqualification.

A desperate Broner fought hard in the 12th but Maidana took the title.

WAYLON LAW BEATS BRENT ELLIOTT IN ROUND 8

August 29

BRENT Elliott retained his Queensland junior-lightweight title with a split decision over Waylon Law in a slugfest at Brisbane's Eatons Hill Hotel.

Brent Elliott and Waylon Law in the lead-up to their classic fight. Source: News Limited

The lanky Law went down from a right hand on the bell at the end of the first round but fell in such a way that it looked like he was joking. Referee Tony Kettlewell did not apply a count.

He was down again in the fourth.

The shorter Elliott was an aggressive bull-ant throughout.

In a rematch three months later Law gained his revenge with a second-round stoppage.

QAMIL BALLA BEATS JACK BRUBAKER IN ROUND 10

September 12

FORMER amateur star Qamil Balla won the vacant Australian light-welterweight title against Jack Brubaker in a battle of unbeaten prospects at the Melbourne Pavilion, Flemington.

The fight was the main event on the Fox Sports program.

Qamil Balla won the vacant Australian light-welterweight title against Jack Brubaker. Source: News Limited

The Altona North sensation was given a thrilling contest against the Sydney fighter but proved too sharp as the fight wore on and took the decision.

Balla is of Albanian heritage and competed at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

SHAGGY KING BEATS DAVID GALVIN BY TKO IN ROUND 9

February 28

LIGHT-MIDDLEWEIGHT Shannon King came from behind to stop David Galvin in nine rounds for the vacant Australian title in a dramatic turnaround at the Greek Club, South Brisbane.

Alice Springs fighter David Galvin had more luck in this bout than against Shaggy King. Source: Supplied

Galvin had out worked King consistently and the heavily favoured former kickboxer looked in desperate trouble complaining to his corner about a burst eardrum.

But in round nine, knowing that he needed a knockout to win, King threw everything he had.

A big right dropped Galvin and shortly after was out in his feet when referee Phil Austin saved him from further punishment at 49 seconds of the round.

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MCG ton to cap big year for Warner

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IT HAS fallen - surprise, surprise - to Davey Warner to provide a clue or two to what the Australian team really thinks about the shock mid-series retirement of one of England's most senior cricketers, Graeme Swann.

"It's different ... it's like a little bit of a knockout blow," the outspoken opening batsman said at the MCG on Christmas Eve.

"It's weird with Trotty going home and now Swanny retiring. We look at that and don't know what to think in a way - but credit to us, we're playing good cricket."

That's as close as anyone in the Oz camp has come to expressing a sense of triumph at having battered a key opponent into submission long before the fight is finished, which is hard for the English camp to deny with their matchwinning off-spinner reduced to seven wickets at 80 apiece.

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Swann's unexpected exit, which follows the earlier withdrawal of senior batsman Jonathon Trott with psychological problems after the first Test, has attracted plenty of acidic criticism from Australian fans despite his explanation that his body is simply no longer up to the task of delivering 70 or 80 overs across a gruelling five-day match.

Swann's explosive barb about some players - whom he declined to identify, even by nationality - being up themselves didn't help.

"Who cares what he thinks? He has left his mates for dead and run away. Weak as!" was one tweet that thudded into my in-box, encapsulating a widespread sentiment.

Despite the willing sledging that has been a much-debated feature of this series - or at least the early part of it, before it became obvious that the scoreboard was going to speak more loudly than anyone - the Australians have been mostly careful not to bad-mouth a player they do respect now that they have put him down for the count.

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To a man, they have been generous in their applause for a fine career, which Swann certainly did deliver with 255 wickets in 60 Tests making him England's sixth most successful bowler, fast or slow, in history.

But there is no doubt they were surprised to see him walk away as if there was nothing left to play for.

"I couldn't believe it," skipper Michael Clarke said in his column this week.

"(He is) the one player I am most surprised won't be stepping out to play against us."

Warner provided Swann with his last two wickets, but only after giving him plenty of stick on the way to making 60 and 112 in Perth.

He said he heard the retirement news as he boarded a flight to Melbourne for the Test.

"At first it was a bit of a surprise," he said. "As he said, he came out here to try to win four (Ashes series) in a row.

"From our point of view it was a bit of a shock to the system, but he's had a fantastic career and its been a privilege to play against him.

"I wish him all the best in his retirement.

"As we have all said, we don't really care about what happens in the English setup - we have to keep playing our brand of cricket."

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Warner's turbulent year, which has involved a twitter row with senior journalists, a physical altercation with England batsman Joe Root in a bar and a rebuke for failing to keep an appointment to play club cricket, is ending in a good place, with 454 runs at 91.4 in the series so far.

This will be his third Boxing Day Test and he is yet to make a Test ton at the MCG, where he first made his name with an explosive 89 in a Twenty20 match against South Africa in January 2009.

There was a huge crowd that day and Boxing Day will probably bring an even bigger one.

"You've got to pinch yourself really because you don't get 90,000 people every day of your life," he said.

Time was when the adrenalin surge created by such an audience might have been enough to see him cut loose regardless of the situation or the quality of the bowling.

But maturity has kicked in on and off the field, it seems.

"I've started to learn my game a lot more and it is helping me out," he said.

"It has a lot to do with the way I've been playing. I'm still at the crease longer, watching the ball harder, feeling much more comfortable at the crease.

"You've got to treat every ball that comes at you as if it is the first one and then try to play the role you can for the team."

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With comparisons being made in the past few days about Australia's pace attack and South Africa's - bowling coach Craig McDermott claims his troops have the edge on Dale Steyn and Co - Warner was asked if he was already switched on by the next big challenge.

"Not at all," he said.

"I'm thinking a bout today's training session rather than Boxing Day. We live in the present, not in the past, and that's what I'm focused on.

"I probably did get too far ahead of myself and was playing each innings in my head 15 times. I've worked out the way to keep thinking about now rather than a few days time."

Few players would be more acutely aware than Warner of how quickly, and profoundly, things can change in cricket. Fortunately for him, the pendulum has been swinging in nothing but the right direction as his year of living dangerously comes to a more peaceful end.

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Miami turn up heat to win

LeBron James lays up in front of Rasual Butler as Miami beat the Hawks following late rally. Source: CHRIS TROTMAN / AFP

MIAMI'S Michael Beasley sank two free throws with 9.2 seconds left to give the Heat a 121-119 overtime victory over Atlanta on Monday, opening a 6-1/2 game lead over the Hawks atop the NBA Southeast Division.

Other key results on Monday included Dallas' victory over state rival Houston with Dirk Nowitzki leading the way, the other Texan team San Antonio defeating Toronto, and Indiana winning comfortably again by bouncing Brooklyn.

Miami's LeBron James scored 38 points as the Heat struggled to see off Atlanta despite taking an early 13-0 lead.

The hosts trailed by seven points with 90 seconds left in regulation before tying the scores when Ray Allen made three free throws with eight seconds left after being fouled by DeMarre Carroll.

Allen finished with 19 points for the Heat, who played without Dwyane Wade and still beat the Hawks for the ninth straight time.

Jeff Teague scored 26 points for Atlanta.

Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki with a fade-away jumper over the Rockets' Terrence Jones. Source: AP

Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki scored 31 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter to guide the Mavericks to a 111-104 win over Houston.

The Rockets cut the lead to six points with about 3 minutes left, but Nowitzki knocked down consecutive baskets to push the Mavericks lead out to 107-97.

Dwight Howard had 29 points and 15 rebounds for the Rockets, who were playing their second straight game without leading scorer James Harden, who was out with a sprained ankle.

Houston's loss allowed San Antonio to build its Southwest Division lead to 4-1/2 games by beating Toronto 112-99.

Spurs guard Tony Parker squeezes past the Raptors' Terrence Ross and Amir Johnson. Source: AP

Tony Parker had 26 points and eight assists while Manu Ginobili had 18 points for the Spurs.

Kyle Lowry and Terrence Ross had 23 points each for the Raptors, who got within three or less on numerous occasions in the second half, but no closer.

Lance Stephenson eludes Joe Johnson for the Pacers against the Nets. Source: AP

Indiana's Lance Stephenson scored a career-high 26 points back in his hometown as the Pacers won 103-86 at Brooklyn.

Paul George also had 26 for the Pacers, who pulled away in the third period, when Brooklyn's Paul Pierce was ejected for a flagrant foul in only the second scoreless game of his career.

Indiana had won its previous two games by a combined 60 points and blew this one open after a competitive first half.

Joe Johnson scored 17 points for the Nets, who lost their third straight.

Gerald Green of the Suns with some hang time over the Lakers' Jordan Hill. Source: AFP

Phoenix's Gerald Green hit six 3-pointers and scored 22 points to lead the Suns to a 117-90 win over the undermanned Los Angeles Lakers.

Miles Plumlee grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds and added 17 points while having his way inside with an ailing Pao Gasol, who was still clearly struggling with a respiratory infection.

The Suns held a 62-39 edge on the boards in their eighth win in nine games.

Nick Young scored 19 points for the Lakers, who fell to 1-2 since Kobe Bryant was sidelined with a knee injury.

David Lee dunks in front of Timofey Mozgov, teammate Andrew Bogut and Wilson Chandler. Source: AP

Golden State's David Lee had 28 points and 10 rebounds for his ninth straight double-double, powering the Warriors to an 89-81 win over Denver.

Stephen Curry, battling foul trouble much of the night, added 14 points in the first meeting between the teams since the Warriors beat the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs last spring.

Klay Thompson scored eight of his 13 points in the fourth quarter, helping Golden State overcome a fourth-quarter deficit for the fourth time this season and sending the Nuggets to their season-high fourth consecutive loss.

Ty Lawson had 16 points to lead Denver, which was outscored 25-15 in the final period and sank to a fourth-straight loss.

Brandon Jennings is fouled by Anthony Bennett in the Pistons' win over Cleveland. Source: AP

Detroit's Josh Smith scored 25 points as the Pistons beat Cleveland 115-92 to make it seven wins from eight road games.

New Orleans' Tyreke Evans made a memorable return, scoring a season-high 25 points and adding 12 assists to help the Pelicans defeat Sacramento 113-87 and end a four-game losing skid.

Charlotte's Al Jefferson had a season-high 26 points, and Kemba Walker nearly had a triple double as the Bobcats edged Milwaukee 111-110 in overtime.

Memphis' Zach Randolph scored 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Grizzlies beat Utah 104-94.

New York's Carmelo Anthony had 19 points before leaving the game with a sprained ankle in the third quarter, and the Knicks hung on to beat Orlando 103-98.

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TD mark set to be fleeting

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PEYTON Manning says his season record of 51 touchdowns will be short-lived, suggesting Tom Brady will take it back soon enough.

Or, for that matter, any number of other quarterbacks could break it should NFL owners get their way and expand the season to 18 games.

Perhaps he's just being pragmatic.

Maybe he's just being modest.

"If it does go to 18 games, I think that is a practical assessment," said tight end Julius Thomas, who caught the record-breaker in Denver's 37-13 win at Houston on Sunday. "Those two extra games would give a quarterback two additional opportunities to go out there and put more touchdowns on the board.

"That will skew a lot of records. But you know he's also a modest person. That's who he is. It's pretty remarkable to throw 51 touchdowns. I believe records are meant to be broken and most are broken. But that's one that could stand for a while."

Peyton smiles after throwing his fourth touchdown and 51st of the season. Source: AP

It will stand for a long time, suggested Eric Decker, who retrieved the record-breaking memento when Thomas nonchalantly dropped it, unaware of the ball's emotional or even economic value.

"Of course he's being modest," Decker said. "Fifty-plus touchdowns in a season, you've got to do something very, very special. (Dan) Marino had it for such a long time and then it went back and forth for a while. But with the game how it is now, it's more of an offensive game and you have more opportunities to maybe do something like this."

Manning began the season by becoming the first quarterback since 1969 to throw for seven touchdowns in a game, one of eight games this season in which he's thrown for four or more touchdowns.

He's thrown a dozen touchdown passes to Julius Thomas and Demaryius Thomas and 10 each to Decker and Wes Welker.

After breaking Brady's single-season touchdown record of 50 on Sunday, Manning is 266 yards from surpassing Drew Brees' single-season mark for yards passing. The Broncos are 18 points shy of setting a single-season scoring record and 28 points from becoming the league's first 600-point team.

Peyton waits near the bench before the game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium. Source: AFP

They're already the first team in NFL history with five players with at least 10 touchdowns; running back Knowshon Moreno has 10 touchdown runs and two touchdown catches. Nobody else has had four players with double-digit touchdowns.

It's reached the point where it's expected that the Broncos will put up gaudy numbers each week, and when they don't march right down the field, fans wonder what's wrong.

"Yeah, we talked about that a little bit earlier in the season. If we punt, man, we would get booed," Julius Thomas said. "But it just speaks to what we've done as an offense. We have no problem with people having high expectations of us because we have high expectations of ourselves."

Maybe that's why he didn't realize he had the record-holder in his hands when he caught No. 51 on Sunday and just let it go instead of holding onto it. Decker picked up the ball and tucked it in the side of his jersey, where it remained as he walked off the field.

Peyton is greeted by Andre Johnson after setting the record for TD passes in a season. Source: AFP

"It wouldn't have surprised me if Julius would have went and handed it to some babe up in the stands, trying to get her phone number in exchange for the ball," Manning joked. "That would be right up Julius' alley."

Julius Thomas said: "If it was the right girl, maybe I'd think about it."

Decker, who was pranked by Manning in the offseason, when the quarterback invited him for a weekend passing camp at Duke University and tricked him into thinking he had to pay thousands of dollars for doing so, saw an opportunity for payback.

"I was going to take (the ball) home. That's an item that is going to go for a lot," Decker said. "H got me at Duke (and) I figured this was maybe a time where I could hold the ball ransom and see what I could get out of it. But I had to give it to him, and that was such a cool thing to be a part of."

Peyton waves to fans after the game. Source: AP

Manning can make it even more difficult to break his touchdown record when the Broncos visit the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

Because the Broncos need to win to stay ahead of New England in the race for home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs and the Patriots kick off against Buffalo at the same time, Manning, and not his backup, Brock Osweiler, will be under center fine-tuning things before the playoffs.

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V8 Classics Boxing Day Enduro

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CRICKET isn't your thing? Yacht racing doesn't float your boat? Don't worry, SPEED's got you covered with our V8 Supercars Classics Boxing Day Enduro!

From midnight to midnight on December 26 we're playing V8 Classics episodes back-to-back, including one brand-new race that we haven't shown before.

Strap yourself in, fire up the flux capacitor and join us on a day-long trip back in time:

MIDNIGHT
April 11, 1999
Rd. 2 - Adelaide, SA
Sensational Adelaide 500, Leg 2
It's hard to believe there was ever a time that the race referred to by all as 'The Clipsal' was known as anything else. Four years after the F1 circus left for the final time, Adelaide turned out in force for the inaugural Sensational Adelaide 500, giving the burgeoning V8 Supercars category the superstar treatment like never before.

Leg 2 is best remembered for two things: drivers dropping like nine-pins due to heat exhaustion and carbon monoxide fumes, and Craig Lowndes's remarkable charge from the back of the field.

A massive crowd turned out for the inaugural Adelaide 500. Source: News Limited

1:30AM EDT
August 26, 2001
Rd. 9 - Queensland Raceway
VIP Petfoods Queensland 500
It's an unforgettable scene. Paul Radisich and Steven Johnson's race-winning Falcon buried in the sand, the rain pouring down as 'The Rat' clambers out and punches his fist to the sky in victory while soaked spectators rush across to join him.

It was a controversial win at the time. The race was red-flagged with just a handful of laps to go because of the heavy rain. Russell Ingall and Larry Perkins had just taken the lead as Radisich spun off in the gloom. But, just like Bathurst 1992, the official results were taken from the last full lap completed by every car in the field prior to the stoppage, handing the win to the Ford pair.

3:30AM EDT
October 7, 2001
Rd. 11 - Mount Panorama, NSW
V8 Supercar 1000
It was a race weekend of remarkable moments. Marcos Ambrose taking pole position as a rookie. The debut of the 'Green-eyed Monster' livery. The sun. The rain. The hail! The race leaders arriving at The Chase at over 250kmh to find a wet track. Larry Perkins crashing on the entry to pit lane while leading. Brad Jones's charge to the front in the OzEmail Falcon.

But holding the trophy at the end of the day was Mark Skaife - his first Bathurst win since 1992 - and Tony Longhurst in his first race win, full stop, since 1992.

6:30AM EDT
October 13, 2002
Rd. 10 - Mount Panorama, NSW
Bob Jane T-Marts Bathurst 1000
Two words sum up Bathurst 2002: Plastic bag. If you're a Ford fan, you're probably still cursing them more than your average environmentalist. If you're a Holden fan, we're sure you'll never get tired of reminding the opposition that 'The General's product made it home with bags clogging the radiator while the Blue Oval's went pop after two laps.

But the race itself was a cracker, with rain and hail setting up a blockbuster finish. It also marked the first return of King of the Mountain Peter Brock, and the Bathurst debut of Jamie Whincup.

Brad Jones led away from the start of Bathurst 2002. Source: News Limited

9:30AM EDT
June 30, 2002
Rd. 6 - Barbagallo, WA
VB 300
Tom Walkinshaw Racing's vice-like grip on V8 Supercars in 2002 was never more evident than at Barbgallo in 2002. Skaife and Bright swept the front row for Race 1, before their four lead cars finished 1-2-3-4 in the race - the second time they did it in successive rounds.

But after sweeping to five-straight round wins to start the season, Skaife came unstuck on the Sunday, failing to finish race 2. It was a mere blip on the radar, the HRT team leader eventually romping to his fifth V8 title.

11:00AM EDT
September 13, 2003
Rd. 9 - Sandown, VIC
Betta Electrical Sandown 500
Melbourne's weather was at its fickle finest on September 14, 2003. A torrential downpour set up wet race to the end, with leader Mark Skaife being chased down by Jason Richards. With Team Dynamik staring down the barrel at their best result of their maiden year, the Kiwi could have been forgiven for settling for the second place.

But that's not what 'JR' was like. He had a crack at Skaife at Dandenong Road corner with just a couple of laps to go. It ended disastrously; Richards became bogged in the sand and failed to finish, while the HRT car won the race.

But you had to love him for having a go.

Russell Ingall's race was memorable — for the wrong reasons. Source: Supplied

1:00PM EDT
May 4, 2003
Rd. 3 - Eastern Creek, NSW
This one is for all the Ford fans, the Blue Oval posting their first sweep of the podium in many a moon at Round 3 of the 2003 championship.

The new era of Project Blueprint had levelled the playing field between the Falcon and the Commodore, giving the Ford faithful something to cheer about after a couple of dry years.

Ford pulled off the trifecta at Eastern Creek in 2003. Source: News Limited

2:30PM EDT
August 15, 2004
Rd. 8 - Oran Park, NSW
It was the kind of race weekend we love to see. Ford's finest going head-to-head with Holden's top man. The Ambrose/Skaife rivalry was at its peak, the HRT man having his best weekend of what was otherwise a horror year.

The weekend also saw a couple of new names on the entry list that would figure quite a bit in years to come: Fabian Coulthard and Will Davison.

4:00PM EDT
December 5, 2004
Rd. 13 - Eastern Creek, NSW
Bigpond Grand Finale
The 2004 finale remains as the high watermark for Stone Brothers Racing in V8 Supercars. Ambrose clinched back-to-back titles with a win on the Saturday, before Ingall raced through to secure a team one-two in the championship on the Sunday.

6:00PM EDT
October 9, 2005
Rd. 10 - Mount Panorama, NSW
Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000
Most people only remember this race for three things: Lowndes copping a wheel to the windscreen, 'Balaclava-gate', and the Ambrose/Murphy carambolage at the Cutting.

But the 2005 race is deserving of its title as a V8 classic, with several cars all having a shot at winning across the day.

Murph clinched the 2005 round in the dark. Source: Supplied

10:00PM EDT
April 17, 2005
Rd. 2 - Pukekohe, NZ
PlaceMakers V8 International
Whenever the V8 fleet made the trip across the Tasman, they knew they faced a tough ask to beat the King of Pukekohe, Greg Murphy. The 2005 race would be Murph's final flourish on home soil, taking a clean sweep to continue his almost-perfect record at the track he made his own.

He received the winner's trophy in the dark, a notorious crash between Paul Dumbrell and Craig Baird delaying the schedule and forcing a very late finish to Race 3.

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