A large line-up of Lismore locals will attempt to defend their turf in Saturday night’s New South Wales Wingless Sprint Title at Lismore Speedway, while a number of rivals from throughout New South Wales and Queensland will look to hinder their chances.
With 40 competitors nominated for the NSW Title event, the local Lismore contingent will be strongly represented, with current Queensland Champion Trent Martin leading the charge, along with fast-paced Robert Mazzer, who will fill the driver’s seat in the Tony Powell-owned NSW # 2 machine and will be hoping to utilise his experience of the track to achieve top honours.
The in-form Harley Smee is expected to perform well off the back of scoring his maiden feature-race win earlier this season, when he claimed an impressive victory in the 50 Lapper at Brisbane’s Archerfield Speedway, while locals Mick Santin and David Eggins will no doubt be front-running contenders, as will Daniel Flood, who finishing fourth in last season’s NSW Title at Sydney’s Valvoline Raceway and will be the highest-placed finisher nominated, with the last season’s top-three finishers not entered.
Michael Gray will have added confidence, coming off the back of a recent win at Grafton Speedway and will hope to continue his winning form, along with hard-chargers Kevin Willis, Luke Sayre and Mason Cattell, who will all be hoping to come away with a podium result. Accomplished V8 Dirt Modified racer Ray Eggins is also amongst the line-up, making cameo appearances in Wingless Sprints this season, as well as Adam Bailey, who performed well in last season’s Lismore Speedway Track Championship.
Other local competitors include Mitchell Haynes, experienced racer Graham Flood, newcomers Bradley Claridge, Chad Larkings (Daniel Flood’s brother in law) and Harley Thistleton, who will pilot the Paull Farrall-owned WA # 50 car, along with Natasha Herne, Jake Connolly, Max Risbridger, Daniel Morison, Matthew Walker, Steven McInnes, Mark Connolly, Michael Butcher, Matthew Wright and Warren King.
Also hoping to keep the NSW Title crown in his home state will be Goulburn-based racer Peter Granger, who is enjoying good form heading into the event, having recently driven to victory at Nowra Speedway, while teenager Kyle Mock will be one to watch, having completed a lot of laps at the Lismore venue in preparation for his NSW Title campaign and shown plenty of promise.
Darryl Marshall and Sean Mayo will be looking for a top-five result, having both shown good speed previously, and they will be joined by fellow Sydneysiders Jeff Neve and Zac Pacchiarotta, as well as Newcastle-based drivers Brock Gardiner and Jacqui Salmon.
Flying the flag for Queensland will be impressive youngster Cody O’Connell, who is certainly not just making up the numbers, with Bugden brothers, Jaymee and Michael, Brody Thomsen and Kristopher Jennings also hoping to do their state proud and come away with a solid result.
The NSW Title format will see drivers contest two rounds of heat races and a B main, culminating with the NSW Title-deciding feature race.
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Nominations:
N2 Robert Mazzer
N7 Jeff Neve
N12 Brock Gardiner
Q18 Brody Thomsen
N35 Sean Mayo
N38 Mick Santin
N42 Zac Pacchiarotta
N44 Natasha Herne
Q49 Cody O’Connell
N49 Bradley Claridge
W50 Harley Thistleton
N50 Graham Flood
N56 Michael Gray
N57 Harley Smee
N58 Luke Sayre
N60 Daniel Flood
N61 Peter Granger
N63 Mitchell Haynes
Q70 Kristopher Jennings
N73 Jake Connolly
N80 Trent Martin
N83 Darryl Marshall
N89 Jacqui Salmon
Q90 Jaymee Budgen
Q92 Michael Budgen
N97 Kyle Mock
N105 Max Risbridger
N108 Daniel Morison
N110 Matthew Walker
N111 Kevin Willis
N114 Adam Bailey
N123 Ray Eggins
N133 Steven McInnes
N134 Mark Connolly
N136 Michael Butcher
N156 Mason Cattell
N160 Chad Larkings
N171 David Eggins
N183 Matthew Wright
N198 Warren King
