Joker aims to lead way

DAVE Reynolds tells jokes to ease stress around him – so his rivals can expect a lot of bad gags at the Phillip Island 500 this weekend as he chases a shock lead in the V8 Supercars championship.

This year Reynolds has put himself inside a top-of-thetable furnace by delivering underdog Erebus Motorsport a shot at the championship after his stellar start to the season.

“I do it to take the pressure of myself and also everyone else. I find it helps,” Reynolds said.

“I have probably been joking around a little more than usual because that is what I do when I am stressed.

“The more I stress, the more I joke.”

The Holden driver will be aiming to steal the championship lead from seven-time title winner Jamie Whincup at Phillip Island this weekend.

“My jokes are going to get really bad if that happens,’’ Reynolds said. “There will be a lot more of them and they won’t be well planned.”

Reynolds might get laughed at a bit, but he is no joke on the racetrack this year, with the former Ford driver sitting just 11 points behind V8 immortal Whincup on 647 points.

“It is bloody great to be where I am,’’ Reynolds said. “But I am also partially nervous. I haven’t been here before and I want to stay at the top of the grid.”

Reynolds, 32, is serious about leading the champion- ship. “It is our aim 100 per cent,’’ Reynolds said.

“We want to race as fast as we can and be as high up as we can. And to do that, we need to do all the little things right.

“We can’t make mistakes. We have to get our pit stops right. We have to make the right strategy calls.

“A lot goes into it and we will give ourselves a chance if we get it right.’’

Reynolds credited his team for giving him his race-winning car.

“This is the best year I have ever had racing,’’ Reynolds said.

“It is bloody fantastic. It would be the best feeling for everyone in this team, given the history of this outfit.

“They have come from the bottom and it is involved so much.

“It would be a huge thing for the team and they should already be feeling so proud for the job they have done.’’

The driver famous for throwing flower pots off podiums and drinking from his boot said he was a chance of drinking champagne this weekend, with practice for the Phillip Island 500 beginning today.

“Phillip Island is potentially a track that should suit us very well,’’ Reynolds said.

“Our style of our car doesn’t really like short-sharp, streetstyle tracks and Phillip Island is open and free flowing. That should work in our favour.

“Still, we need to practise well and get the car tuned to its maximum. We have to be as fast as we can because the completion will be.”