Season cranks up
Sprintcars open new Toowoomba year
SPEEDWAY: Reigning “Scott Darley Challenge” champion Shaun Dobson will be looking for a lightning start when he launches his 2017-18 season at Toowoomba’s Hi-Tec Oils Speedway tomorrow night.
The Tasmanian will be one of the star drivers on show when a new racing season kicks off at the Charlton circuit with the Carnival Of Power Ultimate Sprintcars Championship round one.
The meeting is the first of 11 for the year with sprintcars featuring at seven showcase events.
Hi-Tec Oils Speedway events manager Ben Bishop said patrons will experience more streamlined race night’s this season.
“We are looking to focus on short and sharp racing with the main event to finish around 9.30 to 10 o’clock,” Bishop said. “Other changes include running the demolition derbies on the infield before the sprint cars rather than as the last event with the night stretching out so late.
“Sprintcar racing again highlights the season but with 14 local drivers we’re also working hard at lifting the profile of our modified sedan racing.”
Dobson claimed the $19,000 Darley payout at Sydney’s Valvoline Raceway in January and is returning to Toowoomba looking for redemption.
“I can’t wait to get back to Toowoomba,” Dobson said. He hopes to make amends for the issues that prevented him from showing his best during his last visit in April.
“We were really good in the heats, but just chased an electrical problem for the rest of the night, which was really disappointing. It’s a wide enough track, that if you’re good enough, you can pass cars wherever you are.
“Our whole team and my crew chief Shane Finch are really keen to get back there to make things right.”
Racing starts at 6pm. Tickets are available at speedwaytickets.com.au