Press Releases 2011/2012
Hutchins closes in on sprintcar series lead
19th February, 2012
Written by martin Agatyn
Former Tasmanian speedway champion Tim Hutchins has closed the gap to the lead in the prestigious Farmers Union Iced Coffee Sprintcar series after an impressive win in the penultimate round at the Mountain Dew Ice Raceway near Hobart, last night.
Hutchins, from Sassafras, the defending series champion, won the 30-lap final from series leader Jamie Bricknell and former State champion Kurt Luttrell, both from Launceston, in a thrilling race which saw a number of positional changes behind Hutchins, who was never seriously threatened and led from green light to chequered flag.
Hutchins was superb in lapped traffic and never allowed his chasers to get close enough to challenge, while, back in the pack Luttrell, Bricknell and Forest driver Mark House entertained the crowd with a great battle for the minor placing's.
House charged from fourth to second about mid-race distance, but crashed heavily shortly afterwards, ending his night prematurely.
Luttrell and Bricknell continued their battle until Bricknell gained the ascendancy six laps from the finish and managed to open up a slight break, and in doing so minimising the damage as far as the series lead is concerned, now holding a slender six-point advantage over Hutchins heading into the final round at Latrobe next month.
On the same programme Burnie veteran Kerry Short added the 2012 Kenworth Tasmanian Lightning Sprint Championship to the State title he won in 2007, winning the championship final from Sassafras drivers Luke Redpath and Brock Webster.
Short retired not long after winning his 2007 State title, but returned to racing last year, with the move paying dividends last night.
Redpath qualified on outside pole position for the final and started better than his more experienced rival to lead Short for the first 10-laps of the 20-lap final.
However, Short was able to take advantage of dry and slick track conditions to regain the lead and once back in front, set about establishing a title-winning lead.
Webster started from grid three, but lost ground early to Longford's Bruce Pitt, before taking advantage of his cooling tyres during a stoppage seven laps from the finish caused by an incident back in the pack.
At the re-start former State junior sedan champion Webster jumped back into third place and managed to pull away from Pitt in the closing stages for a great third place in his first year in lightning sprints racing.
Last night's programme also included the CJD Equipment Tasmanian Bombers Championship, which lived up to pre-race hype as a bruising encounter in the final and a race of survival, with only four cars from the starting grid of 10 finishing the tough affair.
The title started sensationally when defending champion Josh Knight and former four-times champion David Hart were involved in a first-lap incident, which claimed four cars, including their own, which both rolled on the back straight.
Sean Devine, who had qualified on pole position for the final, started strongly and was clear of the carnage on the second row, establishing a big lead in the early stages after the re-start necessitated by the opening lap incident.
Devine seemingly had the championship in his keeping until a late charge by Kylie Jetson almost saw her stealing the lead with three laps to go.
Jetson continued to pressure Devine all the way to the line for a popular second, with Justin Cooley a distant third.
Earlier in the night Spreyton driver Corey Bauld closed the gap to the series lead in the eighth round of the 10-round G and W Landscaping and Timber Supplies Street Stock Sedan Series with a hard-fought win in the 20-lap final.
Series leader Matthew Templar, of Penguin, finished second after a great battle with defending series champion and former State champion Todd Auton, of Ulverstone, snatching second on the last lap to minimise the impact on his series lead of Bauld winning the round.
RESULTS -
Farmers Union Iced Coffee Sprintcar Series (round seven) - Heat one: J Bricknell, 1; G Hoekstra, 2; T Hutchins, 3. Heat two: T Hutchins, 1; J O'Neill, 2; K Luttrell, 3. Heat three: M House, 1; K Luttrell, 2; T Austin, 3. Final (30 laps): T Hutchins, 1; J Bricknell, 2; K Luttrell, 3.
Kenworth Tasmanian Lightning Championship - Heat one: B Webster, 1; B Pitt, 2; L Redpath, 3. Heat two: K Short, 1; L Redpath, 2; M Freeman, 3. Final (20 laps): K Short, 1; L Redpath, 2; B Webster, 3.
CJD Equipment Tasmanian Bombers Championship - Heat one: D Hart, 1; J Knight, 2; J Cooley, 3. Heat two: S Devine, 1; N McIlwain, 2; D Hart, 3. Final (20 laps): S Devine, 1; K Jetson, 2; J Cooley, 3.
G and W Landscape and Timber Supplies Street Stock Sedan Series (round eight) - Heat one: M Templar, 1; A Cooper, 2; C Bauld, 3. Heat two: T Russell, 1; R Riley, 2; A Garwood, 3. Heat three: J Young, 1; C Bauld, 2; A Cooper, 3. Heat four: T Auton, 1; J Riley, 2; A Garwood, 3. Final (20 laps): C Bauld, 1; M Templar, 2; T Auton, 3.
Formula 500s - Heat one: E Dobson, 1; D Peck, 2; M Kelly, 3. Heat two: M Kelly, 1; K Cruse, 2; D Peck, 3. Final (15 laps): M Kelly, 1; D Peck, 2; K Cruse, 3.
Wingless sprintcars - Heat one: B Herbert, 1; T Watson, 2; C Gallagher, 3. Heat two: C Breen, 1; C Gallagher, 2; C Johns, 3. Final (15 laps): C Gallagher, 1; T Watson, 2; C Johns, 3.
Speedway karts - Heat one: L Davidson, 1; Tim Auton, 2; C Abel, 3. Heat two: Ben Boun, 1; Ty Auton, 2; B Tyler, 3. Heat three: H McBain, 1; L Davidson, 2; C Harper, 3. Heat four: C Abel, 1; L Davidson, 2; G Lawrence, 3. Heat five: Ty Auton, 1; B Tyler, 2; Ben Boun, 3. Heat six: H McBain, 1; C Harper, 2; L Davidson, 3. Heat seven: C Abel, 1; G Lawrence, 2; L Davidson, 3. Heat eight: Ty Auton, 1; B Menzie, 2; Ben Boun, 3. Heat nine: C Harper, 1; G Lawrence, 2. Junior final (10 laps): B Tyler, 1; Ben Boun, 2; P Breitkopf, 3. Modified clubman final (10 laps): C Abel, 1; Tim Auton, 2; G Lawrence, 3. 125cc final (10 laps): C Harper, 1; H McBain, 2; G Lawrence, 3.
Sprintcar series goes down to the wire
15th February, 2012
Written by martin Agatyn
The prestigious Farmers Union Iced Coffee Sprintcar Series will go right down to the wire at the Mountain Dew Ice Raceway, near Hobart, this Saturday night with a thrilling final round.
The Farmers Union series finale will be the feature event on a big programme of speedway racing for the CJD Equipment Kenworth Sizzler, which will also include two State titles and round eight of the G W Landscape and Timber Supplies Street Stock Sedan Championship, plus a variety of support class racing.
State championships will be decided for the lightning sprints and bombers categories, with support action from wingless sprintcars, sidecars and speedway karts.
Gates will open at 3.00 p.m., with racing for speedway karts and sidecars from 4.30 p.m. and the main programme getting underway from 6.00 p.m.
Launceston sprintcar driver Jamie Bricknell currently leads the Farmers Union series, but his lead is only tentative, with a 28-point break over defending series champion and former State champion Tim Hutchins, of Sassafras, and up to 300 points up for grabs this weekend.
Bricknell and Hutchins have swapped the lead in the series throughout the season and either would prove a fitting winner, with Bricknell chasing his first series title after being close several times in recent seasons, winning three rounds of the series to date this summer.
Reigning State champion Jason Dawkins, of Launceston, has also won two rounds and is currently in third place, but with a big performance in Hobart this weekend, could upset Bricknell and Hutchins and snatch the series.
Devonport rookie and Forest driver Mark House have posted some solid results this season, including six top 10 series results and are still an outside chance to finish in the top three and also play a role in what happens with the series results this weekend.
The Tasmanian Lightning Sprint Championship could see a continuation of a Tasmanian speedway dynasty with Sassafras driver Luke Redpath chasing his first title.
Redpath has been in solid recent form and will start favourite, aiming to take out the 36th State title won by a member of his family since 1966, including the sixth to win a lightning sprint title, with his father and four-times winner Bobby Redpath, the last winner, in 2004.
His biggest dangers could be George Town's Nathan Hale, former State champion Kerry Short, of Burnie, Longford charger Bruce Pitt, Sassafras youngster Brock Webster, and visiting South Australian driver Kate Wiese, who proved competitive in her Tasmanian debut at Carrick last weekend.
The Tasmanian Bombers Championship looks to be a fairly open affair with reigning State champion Josh Knight, former State champions and brothers Mick and David Hart and the consistent Sean Devine among the main contenders in a title which is sure to have as much emphasis on survival and luck in what will surely be a brutal final.
Onley survives Grand National carnage to win
29th January, 2012
Written by Martin Agatyn
Images by Angryman Photography
New South Wales speedway driver Lachlan Onley joined a prestigious list of winners of Tasmania's longest-running speedway feature event when he won the time-honoured Mountain Dew Ice Tasmanian Grand National on Saturday night at the Mountain Dew Ice Raceway, near 
Hobart.
Onley crossed the line first in an incident-packed 50-lap final to become the first driver from NSW to win the event since Fred Seery collected the trophy way back in 1976.
Queensland's Wayne Randall, driving a car owned by Launceston's Steve Jessup, was second in the final with local Hobart hard charger and former State champion Steve Latham a close third after starting from grid 13 in the final with an impressive drive.
Eventual winner Onley started from grid five in the final, but was able to take advantage of the misfortune of drivers in front of him in a calculated drive.
Former Australian champion Darren Kane, from Queensland, qualified on pole position for the final and the ex-Hobart driver looked the one to beat early in the race.
Kane led reigning Australian champion Steve Jordan, also from Queensland, with Onley in third after the second row of the grid was taken out in an opening-lap incident.
Six-times event winner and former six-times Tasmanian champion David Nichols, of Launceston, and former State champion Brad Smith, of Devonport, had qualified third and fourth respectively, with Smith earning his spot after advancing from ninth in the pre-final pole shuffle event.
However, his joy was short-lived with the first lap incident taking both him and Nichols out of the race.
Kane and Jordan opened up a gap on Onley in the early stages of the race, with Jordan making some aggressive moves to try and take the lead.
His aggression boiled over on lap 26 when a big inside move came unstuck, resulting in heavy contact with Kane and forcing him to spin.
Officials ruled Jordan the cause and sent him to the rear of the grid for the re-start.
Kane led the re-start, but only lasted half a lap with a puncture, undoubtedly caused by the contact with Jordan, sending him in-field.
This brought Onley to the front, where he stayed for the remaining 24 laps, despite plenty of close attention from Randall and Latham.
"I knew I wasn't going to get away from them, so I just had to hang in there as long as I could - thankfully I was able to do it right until the end," Onley said.
Earlier in the night Hellyer Beach driver Cameron Abel scored a flag to flag victory in the final of the Doherty's Hotel Campbell Town Tasmanian Mini-Grand National for speedway karts in the modified clubman final.
Abel qualified on pole position for the 10-lap final and led from green light to chequered flag to score a convincing win ahead of Burnie's Ben Jackson and Devonport veteran Geoff Lawrence.
The 125cc final was won by reigning State champion Leigh Revell, of Penguin, beating home Richmond's Laura Davidson, with Devonport's Hayden McBain third, while the junior final wad dominated by the visiting Aylett brothers from Western Australia, with Karl Aylett, beating his younger brother Leigh, reversing last year's result, with Devonport driver Ben Boun a distant third.
On the same programme, former State champion Todd Auton, of Ulverstone, scored an all-the-way win in the final of round six of the G W Landscaping and Timber Supplies Street Stock Sedan Series.
Auton was never seriously challenged during the 20-lap final, but there was plenty of action, incidents drivers swapping placed behind him.
Eventually, Burnie's Jamie Young found his way to the front of the chasing pack and closes in on Auton in the dying stages to claim a close second, with series leader Corey Bauld, of Spreyton, taking third and scoring enough points to maintain his series lead.
Meanwhile, Hobart junior sedan driver Josh Smith extended his lead in the Central Steel Junior Sedan Championship Series with an empathic win, lapping all but the top four cars in the final.
Launceston's Brodie Piper was a distant second, with Hobart youngster Nathan Russell also a long way back in third.
RESULTS -
Mountain Dew Ice Tasmanian Grand National (V8 super sedans) - Heat one: J McPherson (Tas.), 1; D Nichols (Tas.), 2; J Harper (Tas.), 3. Heat two: K Purton (Tas.), 1; L Onley (NSW), 2; D Kane (Qld), 3. Heat three: S Jordan (Qld), 1; D Nichols (Tas.), 2; S Hughes (Tas.), 3. Heat four: D Kane (Qld), 1; W Randall (Qld), 2; L Onley (NSW), 3. Heat five: L Roberts (Vic.), 1; B Smith (Tas.), 2; D Korn (Qld), 3. Heat six: D Kane (Qld), 1; L Onley (NSW), 2; D Gartner (SA), 3. Heat seven: D Gartner (SA), 1; L Roberts (Vic.), 2; B Smith (Tas.), 3. Heat eight: S Jordan (Qld), 1; W Randall (Qld), 2; A Beechey (Tas.), 3. Heat nine: D Nichols (Tas.), 1; L Onley (NSW), 2; D Kane (Qld), 3. Final (50 laps): L Onley (NSW), 1; W Randall (Qld), 2; S Latham (Tas.), 3.
Doherty's Hotel Campbell Town Speedway Karts Mini-Grand National - Heat one: L Davidson, 1; G Lawrence, 2; B Jackson, 3. Heat two: K Aylett, 1; Ben Boun, 2; K Tyler, 3. Heat three: L Davidson, 1; G Lawrence, 2; H McBain, 3. Heat four: C Abel, 1; G Lawrence, 2; L Davidson, 3. Heat five: Ben Boun, 1; B Tyler, 2; K Aylett, 3. Heat six: L Davidson, 1; McBain, 2; D Robertson, 3.Heat seven: G Lawrence, 1; B Jackson, 2; C Abel, 3. Heat eight: L Aylett, 1; K Aylett, 2; B Tyler, 3. Heat nine: L Revell, 1; H McBain, 2; L Davidson, 3. Heat 10: C Abel, 1; B Jackson, 2; Joe Breitkopf, 3. Heat 11: L Aylett, 1; B Boun, 2; K Aylett, 3. Heat 12: L Davidson, 1; G Lawrence, 2; L Revell, 3. Junior final (10 laps): K Aylett, 1; L Aylett, 2; B Boun, 3. Modified clubman final (10 laps): C Abel, 1; B Jackson, 2; G Lawrence, 3. 125cc final (10 laps): L Revell, 1; L Davidson, 2; H MCBain, 3.
Friday night only -
Wingless sprintcars - Heat one: V Rockliff, 1; D Gallagher, 2; B Herbert, 3. Heat two: S Bissett, 1; V Rockliff, 2; D Gallagher, 3. Final (12 laps): V Rockliff, 1; D Gallagher, 2; B Herbert, 3.
Tassie sixes - Heat one: M Cleary, 1; D Sonners, 2; R Shaw, 3. Heat two: L Gunn, 1; M Cleary, 2; D Sonners, 3. Final (12 laps): L Gunn, 1; M Cleary, 2; D Sonners, 3.
Junior sedans - Heat one: J Smith, 1; N Russell, 2; J Nolan, 3. Heat two: J Smith, 1; N Russell, 2; J Curtain, 3. Final (12 laps): J Smith, 1; N Russell, 2; J Nolan, 3.
Bombers - Heat one: S Devine, 1; D Greaves, 2; J Knight, 3. Heat two: D Hart, 1; S Devine, 2; J Knight, 3. Final (12 laps): D Hart, 1; N McIllwain, 2; J Cooley, 3.
Saturday night only -
G W Landscape and Timber Supplies Street Stock Sedan Series (round six) - Heat one: B McKendrick, 1; C Bauld, 2; J Riley, 3. Heat two: T Auton, 1; B Morrice, 2; R Riley, 3. Heat three: D Croft, 1; A Garwood, 2; J Young, 3. Heat four: A Cooper, 1; B Morrice, 2; R Riley, 3. Final (20 laps): T Auton, 1; J Young, 2; C Bauld, 3.
Central Steel Junior Sedan Championship series (round seven) - Heat one: B Piper, 1; J Smith, 2; S Bond, 3. Heat two: J Smith, 1; J Stephens, 2; N Russell, 3. Final (15 laps): J Smith, 1; B Piper, 2; N Russell, 3.
Wingless sprintcars - Heat one: V Rockliff, 1; D Gallagher, 2; T Watson, 3. Heat two: B Herbert, 1; J Padman, 2; D Gallagher, 3 . Final (15 laps): D Gallagher, 1; B Herbert, 2; J Padman, 3.
Sidecars - Heat one: N Broomhall and D Bakes, 1; R Waters and C Clarke, 2. Heat two: N Broomhall and D Bakes, 1; R Barker and R Ellings, 2; R Waters and C Clarke, 3. Final (4 laps): N Broomhall and D Bakes, 1.
Bombers - Heat one: S Devine, 1; D Hart, 2; J Knight, 3. Heat two: J Knight, 1; D Greaves, 2; D Hart, 3. Heat three: J Knight, 1; D Greaves, 2; S Devine, 3. Final (10 laps): D Greaves, 1; K Jetson, 2; N McIllwain, 3.
Bricknell claims US scalp and regains sprintcar series lead
15th January, 2012
Written by Martin Agatyn
Images by Angryman Photography
Launceston sprintcar driver Jamie Bricknell has regained the lead in the prestigious Farmers Union Iced Coffee Sprintcar Series with a stunning victory in round six, the Bendigo Bank Sprintcar Bonanza, at the Mountain Dew Ice Raceway near Hobart last night.
The field included world number five ranked driver Craig Dollansky, from the US, who finished second behind Bricknell in a fast-paced 30-lap final.
Dollansky, from Princeton, Minnesota, qualified on pole position for the final with two consistent second placings in his heats, with Bricknell starting alongside on the front row after a first and a fourth from his two heats.
Former Tasmanian champion Tim Hutchins, of Sassafras, also started well from grid three and slotted into third, with Mark House, of Forest, blasting forward from grid six to jump into fourth in the early stages of he race before a broken drive shaft ended what was shaping up as a promising final for the Coastal driver.
As Bricknell continued to dictate the pace in front, Dollansky closed the gap in lapped traffic, while back in the pack Hobart's Shaun Dobson was also driving a superb race after starting from grid 16 after failing to finish both his heats and charging through the field to be in fifth place late in the race.
Dollansky continued to attack Bricknell in the closing laps, but the Launceston driver was able to withstand the pressure and held on for a well deserved victory, with Hutchins third.
The victory also saw Bricknell re-take the lead in the Farmers Union Series from Hutchins, with two rounds remaining and ensuring the series will go right down to the wire.
On the same program Ulverstone's Brett Waddington claimed his fourth State title when he scored an emotional victory in the Bendigo Bank Tasmanian Street Stock Sedan Championship.
After what could only be described as a tough final in testing slick and dry track conditions Waddington dedicated his victory to his late mother Ena Waddington, who passed away last week.
Waddington equal top-qualified with former Australian champion Anthony Beare, from South Australia, after they each won two of their three heats and finished second in the other in a near-perfect lead-up.
The Ulverstone won the toss of a coin to decide who started on pole position for the 30-lap final, but it was Beare who started the better of the two Holden Commodore drivers to take an early lead.
Defending 11-times Tasmanian champion Todd Auton, started from grid three and quickly joined in the battle for the lead.
Waddington was unable to get past Beare, despite several challenges, before the South Australian withdrew 15 laps into the race with a gearbox drama.
Once Waddington inherited the lead, he was able to defend, although Auton closed in lapped traffic and pressured his fellow Coaster all the way to the chequered flag.
Penguin's Matt Templar stormed home in the later part of the race after starting on grid seven for the final to claim the final podium spot and a complete a Coastal trifecta in the process.
Last night's support program also saw Latrobe V8 AMCA driver Kallam Muir continue his winning run with a strong drive in the final, while Marcus Kelly, of Devonport, was never headed on his way to a victory in the Formula 500 final.
Fellow Devonport racer Josh Padman claimed his second consecutive victory with a confident drive in the final of the wingless sprintcars, while reigning State champion Laura Davidson, of Richmond, was too strong in the modified clubman speedway karts final.
The junior kart final was won by Devonport's Ben Boun, while fellow Devonport driver Hayden McBain took out the 125cc kart final.
RESULTS -
Bendigo Bank Sprintcar Bonanza (Farmers Union Iced Coffee Sprintcar Series, round six) - Heat one: T Hutchins, 1; C Dollansky, 2; J O'Neill, 3. Heat two: G Hoekstra, 1; M House, 2; J Dawkins, 3. Heat three: J Bricknell, 1; C Dollansky, 2; T Austin, 3. Final (30 laps): J Bricknell, 1; C Dollansky, 2; T Hutchins, 3.
Bendigo Bank Tasmanian Street Stock Sedan Championship - Heat one: J Young, 1; D Croft, 2; M Farrell, 3. Heat two: A Beare, 1; T Auton, 2; C Bauld, 3. Heat three: B Waddington, 1; M Riley, 2; T Russell, 3. Heat four: R Riley, 1; M Farrell, 2; J Young, 3. Heat five: T Auton, 1; A Beare, 2; D Irving, 3. Heat six: T Russell, 1; B Waddington, 2; M Templar, 3. Heat seven: M Farrell, 1; J Young, 2; R Riley, 3. Heat eight: A Beare, 1; T Auton, 2; C Bauld, 3. Heat nine: B Waddington, 1; M Templar, 2; B Morrice, 3. Final (30 laps): B Waddington, 1; T Auton, 2; M Templar, 3.
V8 AMCAs - Heat one: R Hill, 1; K Muir, 2; D. O'Connor, 3. Heat two: M Graham, 1; L Davidson, 2; C Bagorski, 3. Heat three: E Stuart, 1; C Bagorski, 2; G Stevens, 3. Final (15 laps): K Muir, 1; C Bagorski, 2; G Stevens, 3.
Formula 500s - Heat one: E Dobson, 1; M Kelly, 2; B Whitchurch, 3. Heat two: M Kelly, 1; K Cruse, 2; D Peck, 3. Final (15 laps): M Kelly, 1; D Peck, 2; K Cruse, 3.
Wingless sprintcars - Heat one: G Hoekstra, 1; J Padman, 2; T Watson, 3. Heat two: J Padman, 1; D Gallagher, 2; J Rockliff, 3. Final (15 laps): J Padman, 1; T Watson, 2; V Rockliff, 3.
Tassie sixes - Heat one: L Gunn, 1; M Cleary, 2; M Abel, 3. Heat two: L Gunn, 1; M Cleary, 2; C Smith, 3. Final (15 laps): .
Speedway karts - Heat one: T Auton, 1; L Davidson, 2; D Brooks, 3. Heat two: Ben Boun, 1; P Breitkopf, 2; B Tyler, 3. Heat three: H McBain, 1; T Chatwin, 2; G Lawrence, 3. Heat four: H McBain, 1; G Lawrence, 2; D Robertson, 3. Heat five: Joe Breitkopf, 1; L Davidson, 2; C Abel, 3. Heat six: Ben Boun, 1; B Tyler, 2; K Tyler, 3. Junior final (10 laps): Ben Boun, 1; B Tyler, 2. Modified clubman final (10 laps): L Davidson, 1; G Lawrence, 2; Joe Breitkopf, 3. 125cc final: H McBain, 1; T Chatwin, 2; D Robertson, 3.
World class US sprintcar star to race in Hobart
11th January, 2012
Written by Martin Agatyn
Images by Angryman Photography
One of the world's top speedway stars from the US will race in round six of the Farmers Union Iced Coffee Sprintcar Series at the Mountain Dew Ice Raceway, near Hobart, on Saturday night in the main event on the Bendigo Bank Bonanza meeting.
World number five ranked American speedway sprintcar star Craig Dollansky will fly direct from the US to race at Latrobe on Friday night and then head to Hobart to compete the following night as well.
Dollansky, from Princeton, Minnesota, finished fifth in the World of Outlaws Series and fifth in the Knoxville Nationals in the US in 2011 - both considered the premier series and most sought after sprintcar crown in the world.
Dubbed "The Crowd Pleaser", Dollansky will arrive in Tasmania tomorrow (Thursday) to race a brand new car he has built in the US for Launceston car owner Darren Goodyer, which has been shipped out ahead of Dollansky and will remain in Tasmania after his five-meeting Australian tour, which also includes race meetings at Geelong (Vic.), Mt Gambier (SA) and Warrnambool (Vic.).
However, the locals will put up a big fight to make sure any victory claimed by the visitor will be hard earned.
One of his biggest threats will be local teenager Shaun Dobson, of Hobart, who has returned home for several weeks taking a spell from the World Series Sprintcars championship.
Dobson will also race at Latrobe and Hobart on Saturday before heading back to the mainland for several major race meetings.
Former Tasmanian champion Tim Hutchins, of Sassafras, has been in awesome form this season and will be fired up after blowing his lead in the final at Carrick last Saturday night after a simple mistake.
Launceston's Jamie Bricknell has also been in red hot form, but crashed on the opening lap at Carrick after qualifying on grid three for the final and will be keen to get back on the podium and prove his ability against a driver of Dollansky's calibre.
Fellow Launceston driver and former State champion Kurt Luttrell has also been in great form since losing his State title last month, with new State champion Jason Dawkins, also from Launceston, out to back up his State championship victory at the same venue with another strong performance.
Sprintcars will contest three heats and a 30-lap final.
Saturday night's program will also feature the Bendigo Bank Tasmanian Street Stock Sedan Championship, plus V8 AMCAs, wingless sprintcars, Formula 500s, Tassie sixes and speedway karts.
Gates will open at 2.00 p.m., with racing for karts at 4.00 p.m. and the main programme starting at 5.30 p.m.
The State street stock sedan title promises to be a fiercely contested affair with more than 30 entries racing over nine heats and a 30-lap final for the top 20 qualifiers, ensuring the battle for a spot in the final will make every heat a do or die affair.
Defending champion Todd Auton, of Ulverstone, will have his hands full with a number of serious challengers, including former champions Troy Russell, Brett Waddington and John Riley, plus Matt Templar and Corey Bauld - all from the North-West Coast, as well as hard-charging Launceston brothers Matt and Brad Farrell and a number of local Southern drivers capable of causing an upset.
Dawkins claims second State sprintcar crown
31st December, 2011
Written by Martin Agatyn
Images by Angryman Photography
Launceston speedway driver Jason Dawkins claimed his second Tasmanian sprintcar championship with a green light to chequered flag victory in New Norfolk Mowers and Chainsaws Tasmanian Sprintcar Championship at the Mountain Dew Ice Raceway, near Hobart on Friday night.
Dawkins, the 2008 State champion qualified on pole position for the 30-lap final after finishing third in heat one and winning the fourth heat.
Dawkins was continuing a recent run of strong form, which included a win in the final of the last meeting before the championship, held at Carrick on Boxing Day.
Former State champion, Tim Hutchins, of Sassafras, also drove consistently in the heats and joined Dawkins on the front row for the title decider after recovering from engine problems he had at Carrick, but was unable to get past the determined second generation Launceston speedster, who kept him at bay for the entire 30 laps.
Launceston's Tim Austin continued his great Boxing Day form to qualify on grid three for the final, with Devonport's Damien Robbins also qualifying on the second row.
However, Austin brushed the wall on the first lap and damaged his power steering, struggling to keep with the front runners after the re-start from the stoppage caused by his incident.
Damien Robbins took advantage of Austin's bad luck and capitalised for a solid third.
Defending champion Kurt Luttrell, of Launceston, struggled to find speed and grip all night and finished down the field in the final.
Victorian visitor Tony Moule made his presence felt in the heats, but found the competition a bit tough in the final and also finished down the field.
The championship was also the fourth round of the Farmers Union Iced Coffee Sprintcar Series and current series leader Jamie Bricknell, of Launceston, was expected to be a title contender.
Everything looked on target for Bricknell after he won the second heat, but then he crashed in the fourth heat and sustained considerable damage, preventing him from starting in the championship final.
Fellow Launceston driver Gerry Hoekstra was also forced to watch the final from the pit bank for the second time in five days after he crashed heavily in heat four, after also crashing before the final at Carrick on Boxing Day.
Meanwhile, Hobart teenager Josh Smith extended his lead in the Central Steel Junior Sedan Championship Series after winning the of round four from fellow Southern drivers Nathan Russell and Simon Bond, who scored his first podium of the season with an encouraging third.
It was Smith's fourth victory from four rounds, placing him in a strong position in the 10-round series, which also has its next round in Hobart, on January 27.
RESULTS -
New Norfolk Mowers and Chainsaws Tasmanian Sprintcar Championship (also round four of the Farmers Union Iced Coffee Sprintcar Series) - Heat one: D Robins, 1; N Anderson, 2; J O'Neill, 3. Heat two: J Bricknell, 1; M House, 2; J Dawkins, 3. Heat three: T Hutchins, 1; A Frost, 2; T Austin, 3. Heat four: J Dawkins, 1; A House, 2; T Moule, 3. Final (30 laps): J Dawkins, 1; T Hutchins, 2; D Robins, 3.
Central Steel Junior Sedan Championship Series (round four) - Heat one: J Smith, 1; N Russell, 2; S Bond, 3. Heat three: J Smith, 1; N Russell, 2; J Nolan, 3. Final (15 laps): J Smith, 1; N Russell, 2; S Bond, 3.
Lightning Sprints - Heat one: L Redpath, 1; N Hale, 2; S Pitt, 3. Heat two: L Redpath, 1; A Barrett, 2; K Boyd, 3. Final (15 laps): L Redpath, 1; N Hale, 2; A, Barrett, 3.
Street stock sedans - Heat one: C Bauld, 1; M Zietzen, 2; D Croft, 3. Heat two: B Farrell, 1; I McGuinness, 2; C Bauld, 3. I McGuinness, 1; C Bauld, 2; D Croft, 3.. Final (15 laps): C Bauld, 1; B Farrell, 2; M Hammond, 3.
Tassie sixes - Heat one: L Gunn, 1; M Cleary, 2; D Sonners 3. Heat two: L Gunn, 1; M Cleary, 2; D Sonners, 3; . Final (10 laps): L Gunn, 1; D Sonners, 2; M Cleary, 3.
Bombers - Heat one: J Knight, 1; K Jetson, 2; D Hart, 3. Heat two: D Hart, 1; M Hart, 2; S Divine, 3. Final (15 laps): M Hart, 1; S Devine, 2; N McIlwian.
Spectacular winged action for State title
27th December, 2011
Written by Martin Agatyn
Images by Angryman Photography
Tasmania's most sought after State speedway title will be up for grabs at the Mountain Dew Ice Raceway near Hobart this Friday night when the New Norfolk Mowers and Chainsaws Tasmanian Sprintcar Championship is contested.
The Friday night programme, which gets underway at 6.30 p.m., will also feature the fifth round of the Central Steel Junior Sedan Championship Series, plus support class racing from lightning sprints, street stock sedans, Tassie sixes and bombers.
Added pressure on sprintcar title hopefuls will also be the fact that the championship will also be round four of the prestigious Farmers Union Iced Coffee Sprintcar Series.
Current series leader Jamie Bricknell, will start among the favourites for the title as he chases his first championship, with the Launceston driver showing some strong early season form.
Fellow Launceston driver Jason Dawkins has also put in some impressive drives in recent weeks, including a victory at Carrick on the Monday night Boxing Day program in the final hit-out before the State title.
Bricknell finished third in that race, but may have been a little conservative ahead of the championship and has already proven several times this season he is capable of winning the title.
Reigning champion Kurt Luttrell will defend his title bizarrely in what will be his first race on home soil this season.
However, Luttrell will be far from rusty, having been racing in Victoria in the competitive SRA Series and fellow competitors can expect a fierce title defence from the hard charging Launceston driver.
Smithton's Mark House surprised a few with his strong second place at Carrick on Monday night and a repeat effort could see him on the podium for the second time in less than a week in the State title.
Former champion Tim Hutchins, of Sassafras, had a great start to the season and is currently second in the Farmers Union series, but his last two outings have been far from memorable with crashes and mechanical dramas.
The Coastal driver will be hoping all his bad luck for the season is now behind him as he chases his second State title on the Hobart track, which has traditionally given him some of his biggest victories in the past.
Meanwhile, the junior sedan championship series round should see an exciting battle between series leader Josh Smith, of Hobart, and the much improved trio of Brodie Piper (Launceston), Nathan Russell (Hobart) and Josh Stephens (Mole Creek).
Townsend wins V8 battle, Harper takes series lead
11th December, 2011
Written by Martin Agatyn
Images by Angryman Photography
Reigning Tasmanian V8 speedway super sedan champion Jarrod Harper has taken over the lead in the National Piers Super Sedan Series with a fighting third in round three at the Mountain Dew Ice Raceway, near Hobart last night.
After a poor qualifying effort in the heats, Harper, of Hellyer Beach, was forced to come from behind in the 30-lap final on a dry, slick track which did little to aid passing scoring enough points to take over the series lead.
However, the round and the final was won by former Tasmanian champion Phillip Townsend, of Ulverstone, who made a perfect start to his season after missing the first two rounds of the series.
Townsend started the final on outside pole position after winning the first heat, with second heat victor and third generation V8 racer Callum Harper, claiming the coveted pole position for the final.
Despite his relative inexperience in only his fourth V8 race meeting, the younger Harper, 19, was able to open up an initial gap on the more experienced Townsend.
Townsend had his own hands full early in the race defending second place from another former State champion in Brad Smith, of Devonport, who started brilliantly from fifth to advance to third in the opening few laps.
Meanwhile, further back in the pack, the elder Harper was challenging Ulverstone's Jason McPherson for fourth place after starting from grid eight.
McPherson eventually relented around half race distance and Harper started to bridge the gap to the leading trio.
With 10 laps to go Townsend started to find some extra drive and he closed the gap to Callum Harper, taking Smith and Harper senior with him to make it a four-way battle for the lead.
In a hectic final few laps, Townsend was able to muscle his way through to the lead, while Jarrod Harper also squeezed past Smith to snatch third, but was unable to advance any further to trail his son across the line with Townsend claiming a thrilling victory.
Harper senior now has a narrow points lead in the eight-round series, with round four scheduled for Latrobe on January 1.
The super sedan round was the main event on the Mercury Newspaper Christmas Fireworks Spectacular race meeting, which also featured round four of the Powranna Plant Hire Formula 500 Series and round four of the G W Landscape and Timber Supplies Street Stock Sedan Series.
In the F500 series, Sassafras driver Matthew Redpath continued his domination, winning the round after taking out both heats and the final, as he has done in the previous three rounds.
Team-mate Marcus Kelly, of Devonport, finished a strong second with Dale Peck third after splitting the two team-mates in the first heat in an encouraging drive.
Meanwhile in the street stock sedan series Spreyton's Corey Bauld also extended his lead after a hard-fought win in an eventful 20-lap final.
Bauld had to come from behind after four tough qualifying heats, with former State champion Troy Russell, of Turners Beach, setting the early pace in the final.
Russell started on pole position, but dropped to second as Burnie's Jamie Young stole the march.
However, tricky track conditions brought both Young and Russell un-stuck early in the race.
Former State champion John Riley, of Ulverstone, kept his head and inherited the lead, with Bauld paying him plenty of close attention.
A re-start two laps from the finish due to an incident back in the pack saw Bauld get the better of his rival to steal the lead in a timely move.
Troy Russell stormed back through the field to narrowly miss out on a podium finish, with an impressive charge to finish fourth behind birthday boy Andrew Cooper, of Deloraine.
In support class racing Hobart's Andrew Ryder scored an impressive win in the V8 ANCA final, while Sean Devine was first to the chequered flag in an eventful bombers final.
Racing in three divisions for speedway karts saw reigning champions in all three categories living up to their reputations, with solid victories to Hobart's Billy Menzie (junior), Richmond's Laura Davidson (clubman) and Penguin's Leigh Revell (125cc).
RESULTS -
National Pies Super Sedan Series (round three) - Heat one: P Townsend, 1; G Hopkins, 2; J Harper, 3. Heat two: C Harper, 1; A Beechey, 2; J McPherson, 3. Final (30 laps): P Townsend, 1; C Harper, 2; J Harper, 3.
G W Landscape and Timber Supplies Street Stock Sedan Series - Heat one: B McKendrick, 1; T Russell, 2; C Bauld, 3. Heat two: J Young, 1; M Templar, 2; I McGuiness, 3. Heat three: T Russell, 1; J Riley, 2; B Morrice, 3. Heat four: A Garwood, 1; M Templar, 2; J Young, 3. Final (20 laps): C Bauld, 1; J Riley, 2; A Cooper, 3.
Powranna Plant Hire Formula 500 Series (round four) - Heat one: M Redpath, 1; D Peck, 2; M Kelly, 3. Heat two: M Redpath, 1; M Kelly, 2; D Peck, 3. Final (15 laps): M Redpath, 1; M Kelly, 2; D Peck, 3.
V8 AMCAs - Heat one: A Ryder, 1; R Bassett, D Brooks, 3. Heat two: K Muir, 1; J Smith, 2; R Hill, 3. Heat three: A Ryder, 1; E Stuart, 2; R Bassett, 3. Heat four: J Smith, 1; M Graham, 2; D O'Connor, 3. Final (20 laps): A Ryder, 1; J Smith, 2; E Stuart, 3.
Wingless sprintcars - Heat one: G Hoekstra, 1; C Johns, 2; S Bissett, 3. Heat two: G Hoekstra, 1; S Bissett, 2; C Johns, 3. Final (15 laps): G Hoekstra, 1; C Johns, 2; T Watson, 3.
Bombers - Heat one: J Knight, 1; D Hart, 2; S Devine, 3. Heat two: D Hart, 1; S Devine, 2; J Knight, 3. Final (15 laps): S Devine, 1; N McIllwain, 2; J Knight, 3.
Speedway karts - Heat one: L Revell, 1; G Lawrence, 2; H McBain, 3. Heat two: B Menzie, 1; Ben Boun, 2; B Tyler, 3. Heat three: G Lawrence, 1; L Davidson, 2; D Brooks, 3. Heat four: L Davidson, 1; G Lawrence, 2; T Chatwin, 3. Heat five: B Tyler, 1; Ty Auton, 2; K Tyler, 3. Heat six: L Davidson, 1; C Abel, 2; Bianca Boun, 3. Junior final (8 laps): B Menzie, 1; B Tyler, 2; Ben Boun, 3. Clubman final (10 laps): L Davidson, 1; C Abel, 2; D Brooks, 3. 125cc final (10 laps): L Revell, 1; L Davidson, 2; G Lawrence, 3.
Southern Speedway action to go off with a bang
7th December, 2011
Written by Martin Agatyn
Images by Angryman Photography
Christmas will come early for speedway fans in the South of the State this Saturday night when the Mountain Dew Ice Raceway near Hobart stages the Mercury Newspaper Christmas Fireworks Spectacular race meeting.
In addition to a big night of family entertainment including a spectacular fireworks display after dark and an appearance by Santa Claus, the sparks will fly on the track as well with round three of the National Pies Super Sedan Series and round four of the G W Landscape and Timber Supplies Street Stock Sedan Series.
Support class action will include racing for V8 AMCAs, Formula 500s, wingless sprintcars, bombers and speedway karts.
Gates will open at 3.00 p.m., with racing for the karts at 4.30 p.m. and other divisions from 6.00 p.m.
Former Tasmanian V8 super sedan champion Steve Latham, of Hobart, currently leads the National Pies series, but has opted to miss his home round as he prepares for an assault on the Carline Mufflers National Super Series, which starts on the mainland later this month.
The series will include three rounds in Tasmania in January.
Latham's absence will open the gate - and the series - with reigning Tasmanian champion Jarrod Harper, of Hellyer Beach, the driver in the best position to take advantage and possibly the series lead.
Harper won the second round of the series, also in Hobart, last month and will be keen to back up with another victory this weekend.
Former State champion Brad Smith, of Devonport, has also started the season well and is currently fifth in the series and keen to chalk up his first victory of the season this Saturday night after a solid second in the last Hobart round.
Fellow Coastal drivers Jason McPherson, of Ulverstone, and Callum Harper (Jarrod's son) are also in the mix and a good result this weekend will see them also stake a claim on the eight-round series.
Launceston's Adam Beechey and Devonport driver Grant Hopkins will also be aiming to improve on their first two rounds with a better showing this weekend.
Former Tasmanian champion Phillip Townsend will also make his return for the season this Saturday night and will be out to make up for lost time after missing the opening two rounds, as will hard charging Launceston drivers Sam Hughes and former six-times Tasmanian champion David Nichols, will both be joining Latham in the national series, but have not raced locally yet this season and will use this Saturday night's event as a vital hit-out.
The street stock sedan series will provide an opportunity for Spreyton driver Corey Bauld to extend his lead after strong results in earlier rounds, with his main challenge likely to come from Penguin's Matt Templar, and former multiple Tasmanian champions Troy Russell, of Turners Beach and Todd Auton of Ulverstone.
Harper closes gap to Latham in V8 series
19th November, 2011
Written by Martin Agatyn
Images by Angryman Photography
Reigning Tasmanian V8 speedway super sedan champion Jarrod Harper has narrowed the gap National Piers Super Sedan Series leader Steve Latham after a hard fought win in round two of the prestigious series at the Mountain Dew Ice Raceway, near Hobart last night.
The super sedan round was the main event on the Wise Employment Stampede meeting, with defending series champion Latham finishing third last night to maintain his lead after also winning the first round at Latrobe last week.
Harper, of Hellyer Beach, failed to finish the Latrobe round after puncturing in the final, but made amends last night by qualifying on pole position for the 30-lap final and leading from green light to chequered flag.
However, his path to victory was far from an easy one, with former State champion Brad Smith, of Devonport, pushing the reigning champ all the way.
Smith also failed to finish last week's Latrobe final and was also on the hunt for maximum series points.
Although he mounted several attacks on the lead, Smith was unable to get past Harper in an entertaining battle.
Latham was never close enough to challenge the leading pair, but had his own hands full for most of the race in a duel with Ulverstone's Jason McPherson.
He was able to hold a determined McPherson at bay, with his third place consolidating his series lead.
McPherson, who finished third in round one at Latrobe, also collected some valuable points to move to second in the series.
On the same programme, Hobart teenager Josh Smith continued his domination of the Statewide Junior Sedan Championship Series with round three last night.
After winning the first round at Latrobe last month with a perfect night consisting of wins in both heats and the final, Smith lowered his colours in last night's second heat to spoil his undefeated run, but rebounded in the final to lead from start to finish after starting on the outside of the front row.
Pole sitter Brodie Piper battled hard to duplicate his second place from round one, with Nathan Russell finishing third to ensure the round two podium was a carbon copy of round one.
With seven rounds remaining in the 10-round series (round two was washed out), Smith's points lead, although handy, is far from invincible.
In other finals, Launceston's Gerry Hoekstra continued his winning run in the new division of wingless sprintcars after also claiming the first ever final for the category at Latrobe last week.
Hoekstra qualified on pole position for the 15-lap final with a win and a fourth in his heats, but led the final all the way to win the first final for the new division at the Southern venue.
Locals Marcus Cleary and Dwayne Sonners battled it out in a depleted field for the Tassie sixes final with Cleary gaining the upper hand early and holding Sonners out, while Luke Redpath, of Sassafras, was too strong in the lightning sprint final, winning by almost half a lap from Longford veteran Bruce Pitt.
Multiple State champion David Hart was similarly dominant in the bombers final, while reigning State champions won two of the three classes contested for speedway karts.
Clubman champion Laura Davidson, of Richmond, held off several challenges to win her divisional final, while 125cc champion Leigh Revell, from Penguin, made a clean sweep in his section winning all three heats and the final.
The junior final was won by Devonport youngster Ben Boun, from reigning State champion Billy Menzie, of Hobart.
RESULTS -
National Pies Super Sedan Series (round two) - Heat one: B Smith, 1; S Latham, 2; J Harper, 3. Heat two: J Harper, 1; J McPherson, 2; A Beechey, 3. Final (30 laps): J Harper, 1; B Smith, 2; S Latham, 3.
Central Steel Junior Sedan Championship Series - Heat one: B Piper, 1; J Stephens, 2; J Smith, 3. Heat two: J Smith, 1; B Piper, 2; N Russell, 3. Final (15 laps): J Smith, 1; B Piper, 2; N Russell, 3.
Lightning sprints - Heat one: L Redpath, 1; B Pitt, 2; B Webster, 3. Heat two: L Redpath, 1; B Pitt, 2; B Webster, 3. Final (15 laps): L Redpath, 1; B Pitt, 2; N Hale, 3.
Wingless sprintcars - Heat one: G Hoekstra, 1; J Padman, 2; C Johns, 3. Heat two: C Johns, 1; S Bissett, 2; J Padman, 3. Final (15 laps): G Hoekstra, 1; J Padman, 2; C Johns, 3.
Tassie sixes - Heat one: M Cleary, 1; D Sonners, 2; R Shaw, 3. Heat two: M Cleary, 1; D Sonners, 2; C Smith, 3. Final (15 laps): M Cleary, 1; D Sonners, 2; R Shaw, 3.
Bombers - Heat one: D Hart, 1; D Greaves, 2; S Devine, 3. Heat two: D Hart, 1; D Greaves, 2; K Jetson, 3. Final (15 laps): D Hart, 1; K Jetson, 2; N McIlwain, 3.
Speedway karts - Heat one: L Revell, 1; L Davidson, 2; H McBain, 3. Heat two: Ben Boun, 1; B Tyler, 2; B Menzie, 3. Heat three: Jory Breitkopf, 1; L Davidson, 2; D Orme, 3. Heat four: L Revell, 1; L Davidson, 2; H McBain, 3. Heat five: Ben Boun, 1; B Tyler, 2; B Menzie, 3. Heat six: C Abel, 1; L Davidson, 2; T Auton, 3. Heat seven: L Revell, 1; L Davidson, 2; H McBain, 3. Heat eight: Ben Boun, 1; B Menzie, 2; B Tyler, 3. Heat nine: D Woolley, 1; L Davidson, 2; C Abel, 3. Junior final (10 laps): L Revell, 1; L Davidson, 2; H McBain, 3. Clubman final (10 laps): B Boun, 1; B Menzie, 2; K Tyler, 3. 125cc final (10 laps): L Davidson, 1; Jory Breitkopf, 2; D Woolley, 3.
Southern Speedway season blasts off again
16th November, 2011
Written by Martin Agatyn
Images by Angryman Photography
The delayed Southern Tasmanian speedway season for 2011-2012 will blast into action at the Mountain Dew Ice Raceway near Hobart this Saturday night with the Wise Employment Stampede meeting.
The race meeting will feature round two of the prestigious National Pies Super Sedan Series as well as round three of the Central Steel Junior Sedan Championship Series.
Southern speedway fans and some drivers who may not have raced elsewhere in the state yet this season, will be revved up for a big meeting after the scheduled season-opener in October was washed out.
Support class action will include racing for lightning sprints, wingless sprintcars, Tassie sixes and speedway karts.
Gates will open at 3.00 p.m., with racing on the 25-event programme starting at 4.30 p.m. for the karts and sidecars, followed by racing for other divisions from 6.00 p.m.
The National Pies Super Sedan Series round will see some of the best V8 drivers in the State battling for valuable early points in the eight-round series.
Former State champion and former series champion Steve Latham, of Hobart, scored a hard-fought victory in the opening round at Latrobe last weekend and will be fired up to increases his lead on his home track this weekend.
However, reigning State champion Jarrod Harper, of Hellyer Beach, and former State champion Brad Smith, of Devonport, will be just as keen to make amends for a disastrous final last week, in which they both led Latham before failing to finish as a result of punctures caused by accident damage.
Launceston's Adam Beechey finished further down then field than he had hoped and will also be another driver looking to improve this weekend.
Callum Harper, the 19-year-old son of Jarrod Harper, has only raced his new super sedan at two meetings this season, finishing fourth in the final of a non-series event and then claiming second a week later at Latrobe last week in the series opener.
The Coastal teenager will be out to show further improvement again this Saturday night, with his previous outings showing enough to suggest he will be a threat, despite having no local knowledge of the Hobart track.
Ulverstone's Jason McPherson, who finished third behind Harper last week at Latrobe, on the other hand knows the Hobart circuit well and will be confident of turning the tables on a track on which he has recorded some of his biggest career victories.
Other drivers to watch could include experienced pair Gil Aylett, of Latrobe, and Devonport's Grant Hopkins.
Hobart teenager Josh Smith dominated the first round of the junior sedan series at Latrobe last month, before the second round in Hobart was washed-out.
With the third round also on his home track, he will be hard to beat, with his biggest rivals likely to be Brodie Piper and Nathan Russell.
Southern Speedway season blasts off again
26th October, 2011
Written by Martin Agatyn
Images by Angryman Photography
The second race meeting of the 2011-2012 Tasmanian speedway season and the first meeting in the south of the State at the Mountain Dew Ice Raceway near Hobart will blast into action this Saturday night.
The season opener, the Southern Cross Television Track Attack will include round two of the Farmers Union Iced Coffee Sprintcar Series, round two of the GW Landscaping and Timber Supplies Street Stock Sedan Series and round two of the Central Steel Junior Sedan Championship Series.
Support class racing on the 30-event programme will include V8 AMCAs, Formula 500s and speedway karts, with gates opening at 3.00 p.m. and racing for speedway karts at 4.30 p.m., followed by the main programme from 6.00 p.m.
The three Statewide series being contested on Saturday night kicked off at Latrobe last weekend and early indications point towards some exciting and close racing this Saturday night as well.
The Farmers Union Iced Coffee Sprintcar Series will see the return of local ace and Hobart teenager Shaun Dobson, who missed last week's opener at Latrobe due to World Series Sprintcar championship commitments.
Dobson has been contracted for the world series, becoming only the second Tasmanian driver to race in the series full-time, meaning his appearances on home soil this season will be rare.
The Hobart driver will be keen to show his home-town fans why he was given a professional drive and won't want to lower his colours to any of his former rivals.
However, reigning series champion "Tornado" Tim Hutchins, of Sassafras, and last season's runner-up Jamie Bricknell, of Launceston will have their own agendas after a thrilling duel at Latrobe last week, won by Bricknell.
Hutchins broke the lap record at Latrobe and has traditionally been strong in Hobart in the past, while Bricknell will keen to keep his winning run going and establish an early break in the eight-round series with consecutive round victories.
Other drivers aiming to improve on their first-round results will include Launceston teenager Callum Zizek, who finished third and Ulverstone's Shaun Robins, who was fourth in the first round final.
Meanwhile, Robins' brother Damien, of Devonport, will also join the field this weekend, along with Launceston's Anthony Frost also hitting the track for the first time this season, while other drivers hoping to improve on last weekend's results will include Mark House (Smithton), Nick Anderson (Hasdpen), Terry Kirkpatrick (Burnie) and rookies Curt Smith (Devonport) and Shaun Dobson's older sister Emma Dobson, who have both stepped up from Formula 500 ranks.
Spreyton driver Corey Bauld has taken an early lead in the street stock sedan series and will be looking to increase his lead in Hobart this weekend, while Hobart youngster Josh Smith was also impressive at Latrobe last week in winning the junior sedan series opener and will be hard to beat on his home track this Saturday night.