Ultimate Sprintcars and Speedcars race for the memory of a legend
Legendary rock group KISS front man Paul Stanley once famously said “if you love us, God love you. If you hate us, God love you. If you’re in the middle…get out!”
And so it was with Australian Speedway great George Tatnell.
Fans loved him, fans booed him but nobody was without an opinion.
“GT” was a polarising individual.
Cheeky, flamboyant, passionate, hard charging, out-spoken and never shy the former National Speedcar and Sprintcar champion and standout never left you guessing.
This Saturday night the two classes he was most passionate about – Speedcars and Sprintcars – will go to their respective wars in the annual “GT Challenge” and drivers are coming from everywhere to compete.
The Ultimate Sprintcar Championship and the Speedcar Super Series will converge on Sydney’s Valvoline Raceway – a fitting venue where George claimed many successes and his son Brooke went on to become a superstar like his father.
Currently there are 29 cars entered for the second round of the Diamond Air-Conditioning Speedcar Super Series and drivers represent NSW, QLD, Victoria and New Zealand.
Series organiser Ken Jenkins has arranged, yet again this year, some unique trophies that feature three models of George Tatnell’s classic Speedcars thanks to Diamond Air-conditioning, Hoosier Tire Australia/Max Dumesny Motorsport and American Tire & Racing Services.
The event marks the first return to VR this season for multiple Australian Speedcar Champion Adam Clarke and also sees livewire Victorian second generation throttle stomper Travis “Squizzy” Mills amongst others.
The Ultimate Sprintcar Championship will again boast a field in excess of 50 cars with teams entered from the Northern Territory, Queensland, West Australia, the ACT and New South Wales.
Defending Ultimate Sprintcar Champion Robbie Farr returns back across the Hay Plains where he ran third in the USC SA Championship last weekend at Murray Machining & Sheds Speedway Murray Bridge.
Farr won the last main event held at Valvoline Raceway a fortnight ago but third generation racer Matt Dumesny may be more determined than anyone to avenge his disappointment of leading almost the entirety then finishing second in the same event.
Feature race winners so far this season include Sam Walsh, Robbie Farr, James Thompson and Grant Anderson – all of which would love to repeat their early season victories.
Kellyville’s James Thompson leads the Ultimate Sprintcar Championship points currently from Matt Dumesny who, despite not winning a main event as yet, is very much in contention in second place along with fellow young gun Daniel Sayre in third.
Current points in the USC NSW Sprintcars Championship are as follows:
James Thompson 574 Matt Dumesny 562 Daniel Sayre 550 Max Dumesny 532 Robbie Farr 518 Grant Tunks 510 Ben Atkinson 506 Sam Walsh 506 Jordyn Brazier 498 Michael Saller 488 Blake Skipper 482 Troy Little 478 Callum Williamson 462 Warren Ferguson 458 Jessie Attard 432 Alex Orr 426 Marcus Dumesny 402 Danny Reidy 390 Brendan Scorgie 386 Kim Becker 380 Jackson Delamont 360 Daniel Cassidy 352 Matthew Thomas 348 Max Johnston 346 Kaitlyn Anthony 342 Peter O’Neill 316 Braydan Willmington 304 Grant Anderson 292 Jess Cassidy 286 Steve Rowell 276 Shane Sheedy 254 Garry Brazier 254 Courtney O’Hehir 252 Chris McInerney 252 Luke Stirton 248 Shaun Dobson 242 Bruce White 236 Mick Matchett 232 Nathan Dicker 222 Matt Geering 218 Andrew Wright 216 Cameron Ware 216 Chris Street 212 James Duckworth 202 Dean Thomas 200 Dylan Menz 196 Mitchell Dumesny 194 Thomas Jeffrey 190 Robert Seton 186 Damien Hart 182 Jason Bates 180 Matt Jackson 168 Dean Brindle 166 Guy Stanshall 162 Stacey Galliford 160 Graham Lagerlow 150 Steve Caunt 148 Jamie Veal 136 Mitchell Gee 134 Darren Salmon 132 Paul Freeman 130 Aaron Wright 126 Glen Sutherland 112 Jayden Peacock 74 Jeff Lawler 64 Nikki Briton 62 Jason Davis 56 Wayne McKenna 44 Adam Hourigan 42
Nomination list for the Speedcar Super Series so far:
03N Darren Jenkins 05N Andy Hassan 06N Michael Jordan 06Q Darren Vine 06S Harley Bishop 10V Travis Mills 13N Adam Clarke 17Q Troy Ware 21N Robert Mackay 22Q Scott Farmer 25Q Anthony Chaffey 26N Jamie Hall 27N Reagan Angel 28N Dean Meadows 34N Jeffrey Burns 36N Stephen Birkett 41N Jordan Mackay 51N Michael Stewart 54N Alan Day 61Q Scott Doyle 62N Dan Biner 63N Mitch Brien 75V Mike Griffiths 76N Bob Jackson 76Q Reid Mackay 78N Troy Jenkins 89Q Adam Wallis 97N Matt Jackson 98Q Jimi-Ray Quin
Fender Benders are also on the program this Saturday night, December 9.
Valvoline Raceway is located at 21 Wentworth Street Clyde. Check out www.valvolineraceway.com.au or like Valvoline Raceway on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
