From Peterson Media
Over the past five nights, Shane Stewart and his Monte Motorsports team have been in action for four races, and though they don’t have the podium finishes they would like, the team has shown the strength of the Monster Energy/Milwaukee Tools/J&J No.7 as they have passed a ton of cars and currently sits 6th in series standings, as well as speedweek standings.
Action kicked off on Boxing day in Speedway City. With 33 cars on hand, Stewart got off to a rough start as he timed in 23rd fastest, and the team went right to work to get things corrected.
Heat race action saw Stewart score a second, before picking up a win aboard his Miracle Recreation Equipment/Lucas Oil Products/KRE powered machine putting him in the front row of the B main.
With things rolling in the right direction, Stewart and his Monte Motorsports team, put a strong car on the Adelaide Speedway, as he was able to carve his way though the field and score a fifth place finish in the feature event.
“We struggled a bit qualifying, and that really dictated our night,” Stewart said. “Buzzy and the guys went to work and we were able to come from the back and end up with a top five.”
Thursday night saw the series continue on to the Murray Bridge Speedway, and Stewart came into the night hoping to start the night off better, and he did as he timed in third fastest out of the 37 cars entered.
Starting in the back of both of his heat races, Stewart scored ninth and eight place finishes, but still had enough points to earn his way directly into the feature event.
Stewart was snake bit early in the feature as he was involved in an early tangle that forced him to the back. Stewart again wowed the crowd as he raced his way from the back for the second consecutive night and captured a seventh place finish.
“Thursday night started off much better than Wednesday, but our car still didn’t feel right,” he said. “We actually made the decision after Thursday to pull down another car and see if that would help.”
Following a night off, the Monte Motorsports team were back in action in Mt. Gambier, and again Stewart started the night off hot as he timed in third fastest.
The fresh J&J machine seemed to race better as well, as Shane was able to march from the back and score third, and sixth place heat finishes putting him in the dash, to set the front of the field, and he would up starting the feature in the seventh spot.
Stewart continued to work his way closer to a podium finish, as he scored his first top 5 of the week, but still felt there was more they could get out of their Brown and Miller Racing Solutions/Kaeding Performance/Factory Kahne backed entry after the feature event.
“My guys keep working hard, and we are making huge improvements, but we are better than our finishes show, and need to be racing for wins.”
Sunday night they headed to the Avalon raceway, and unfortunately a late qualifying draw was a huge set back, as Stewart timed in the Ogio/Etneis/GoPro machine in with a dismal 28th quick effort on a very deteriorating track.
“Qualifying was brutal,” he explained. “We went out late, and just did not get a good lap.”
In his first heat, Stewart was involved in an incident and did not finish, and came back to score a win during his second heat, but was still forced to go through the B with his Alpine Stars/Wrap My Ride entry.
A fifth place finish in the B was good enough for the transfer, and for the third time in four races, Stewart would be forced to show what he could do from the back.
In true Stewart fashion, he was able to salvage what was arguably his toughest night of the busy week and ended up with an eighth place finish.
“Now that we have some time to reflect on the first four races, we have had some pretty good runs, and I think we will be able to take some things we learned and get this Monster Energy/Milwaukee Tools machine in victory lane soon.”
Shane and his Monte Motorsports team thank Monster Energy, Milwaukee, Miracle Recreation Equipment, Lucas Oil Products, J&J Racing, KRE Engines, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Kaeding Performance, Factory Kahne Shocks, Ogio, Etnies, GoPro, Alpine Stars, and Wrap My Ride.
ON TAP: Shane will ring in the New Year at the Premier Speedway in Warrnambool on January 1st!
Shane Stewart’s Down Under Tour Schedule-
January
1st WSS #5 Premier Speedway, Warrnambool
4th WSS #6 Archerfield Speedway, Brisbane
5th WSS #7 Archerfield Speedway, Brisbane
12th TBA Sydney Speedway, Parramatta
18th WSS #8 Sydney Speedway, Parramatta
19th WSS#9 Sydney Speedway, Parramatta
23rd Presidents Cup Avalon Raceway, Greelong
26th Grand Classic Premier Speedway, Warnambool
27th Grand Classic Premier Speedway, Warnambool
February
2nd WSS #10 Speedway City, Adelaide
8th WSS #11 Manjimup Speedway, Manjimup, WA
9th WSS #12 Attwell Park Speedway, Albany WA
15th WSS #13 Bunbury Speedway, Bunbury WA
16th WSS #14 Bunbury Speedway, Bunbury WA
22nd WSS #15 Perth Motorplex, Kwinana WA
23rd WSS #16 Perth Motorplex, Kwinana WA
March
2nd Krikke Boys Bunbury Speedway, Bunbury WA
3rd Krikke Boys Bunbury Speedway, Bunbruy WA
9th General 25 Perth Motorplex, Kwinana WA
15th Darley Challenge Sydney Speedway, Parramatta
16th Darley Challenge Sydney Speedway, Parramatta
23rd TBA
29th Easter Trail Maryborough Speedway, QLD
30th Easter Trail Archerfield Speedway, Brisbane
31st Easter Trail Charlton Raceway, Toowoomba
STAY CONNECTED: For all of the latest news on Shane Stewart visit his website at www.shanestewart.com,become a fan of his on facebook at www.facebook.com/