Drivers Converge for Australian Title
A truly national field of drivers are preparing for battle this Friday and Saturday night at Ballarat’s Redline Raceway in Victoria, where they will compete for top honours in the 2017-18 season Australian AMCA Nationals Title.
Despite a lack of track time this season, defending Australian Champion and current Western Australian Champion Tim Reidy will be one of the strong favourites heading into the event, having achieved a momentous victory in last season’s title at Kalgoorlie International Speedway in Western Australia after eight previous unsuccessful attempts.
Gutierrez Picks Up Season First
With the first half of his 2017-18 season campaign being hindered by recent mechanical woes, Spano Gutierrez last Saturday night at Sydney’s Valvoline Raceway managed to turn his fortunes around by claiming his first AMCA Nationals feature-race win of the season.
While he’s consistently been running within the top three in feature races at previous shows this season, leading the feature race in his opening meeting at Valvoline Raceway before retiring with mechanical issues and running second at Gilgandra Speedway before blowing his left-rear tyre, Gutierrez hadn’t yet been able to greet the chequered flag in first place this season, until Saturday night that is.
Cartwright’s Solid Season Start
Off the back of what was a somewhat challenging last season, AMCA Nationals racer Shane Cartwright has certainly gotten off to a pleasing start in 2017-18, having already collected four podium finishes in as many starts, including two feature-race victories.
Briggs Doing It for Dad
Just six months after the passing of his father Rick, who was his biggest supporter, Jake Briggs has achieved a major career milestone last Saturday night at Solo Hobart Speedway, winning his maiden AMCA Nationals feature race.
It was an emotion-charged victory for the 23-year-old racer, whose fifth season with the class is also his first without his dad by his side, after Rick lost his battle with brain cancer in April, three and a half years after being diagnosed with the disease.
Big Season Plans for AMCA Nationals
With AMCA Nationals continuing to display consistent competitor numbers throughout each state, the class is looking very forward to the upcoming 2017-18 season, which will feature five hotly-contested state titles and the coveted Australian Title.
Interstater Sweeps NT Title
After delivering a faultless performance, it was interstate invader and veteran racer Shane Newstead who claimed top honours in Saturday night’s Austec Irrigation Northern Territory AMCA Nationals Title at Darwin’s Northline Speedway, scoring his second state title crown in the process.
A dominant force from the outset, the Northern NSW-based driver could not be stopped throughout the duration of the event, winning each of the three heat races and going on to lead each of the 15 laps in the NT Title-deciding feature race to take what was a momentous victory, having achieved yet another a major career milestone.
AMCA Nationals in the Spotlight
Tim Reidy certainly brought the AMCA Nationals class to the fore on Saturday night, while also making a name for himself, when he achieved a new career highlight by being named Modified Competitor of the Year at the 2017 Australian Speedway Awards at Novotel Melbourne on Collins.
Moore Continues to Progress
Jeremy Moore certainly enjoyed an encouraging 2016-17 season, having gained a wealth of knowledge and experience since stepping into AMCA Nationals last season and coming away with some pleasing performances.
After a turbulent start to the season, which was interrupted by three months on the sidelines, the 47-year-old racer from Kybybolite in the south-east of South Australia, threw himself in the deep end for his first race back, travelling to Kalgoorlie International Speedway in Western Australia to contest the Australian Title against some of the country’s best.
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