FROSTY FEELING THE TITLE HEAT
FULL GOLD COAST 600 COVERAGE
GOLD Coast stunt driver Matt Mingay capped a stunning debut appearance by the crowd-pleasing Stadium Super Trucks at the Gold Coast 600 with victory in the last of four spectacular races yesterday.
Stuntman Mingay dived past 2014 Bathurst 1000 champion Paul Morris on the last lap to steal the final race victory in front of his home fans.
Mingay has previously wowed the Gold Coast crowds with his motorcycle stunts, but the Stadium Trucks racing clearly captured the imagination of the crowd with their high speed and high flying racing.
“I’m stoked, I can’t believe it - it’s so cool to think that I’m the first ever Aussie to win a Stadium Super Trucks race and to do it here in front of my home crowd and family is awesome,” Mingay said.
“My apartment is on the cir- cuit and when I went past in the lead the whole building just went off!
“Coming on to the back straight I was side by side with Paul and knew it had to be a game of chicken.
“I backed myself as I have done these jumps so many times now as part of my Hot Wheels extreme sports demonstrations that I just planted my foot flat to the floor and hung on. We got away with it.
“It’s so very pleasing, these things are just wild.”
Morris, a V8 veteran, led for much of the race but had to settle for second, with Keegan Kincaid the highest placed American in third.
That marked Morris’ second podium of the weekend in his debut in the category.
“It was pretty good fun,” he said. “Everyone has hit me – I’m normally the bad guy.”
Morris, who will drive in the series next weekend in Sydney, said he had enjoyed the experience and was even keen to make a career of it.
“Normally in motor racing there is a lot of pressure ... this is a series where you just let your driving do the talking,” the 47-year-old said.
Burt Jenner was classified fourth after winning the opening race last Friday.
Australian Brett Thomas provided a breathtaking moment when his truck flipped on to its side at the first chicane.
The race was neutralised behind the safety car for a handful of laps before – in true Stadium Super Trucks fashion – Thomas’ truck was lifted back on to its wheels and circled the track once more.
Matt Brabham was another to have a hectic day failing to finish either Sunday race.
The 21-year-old had a collision and then puncture in the afternoon race, after suffering a heavy impact with the wall at Turn 11 in the morning.