By Wade Aunger
Nathan Smee chases an amazing 6 consecutive main event wins on the trot at Valvoline Raceway this Saturday night.
But this time there’s a twist.
Valvoline Raceway have offered the 41 year old Chipping Norton sheet metal worker – who won the Australian Speedcar title in 2010 – a unique challenge to start his American Tire & Racing Services SPIKE Esslinger one-lap down on the 20 lap feature race field – if he wins he’ll get a further $500 on top of his prizemoney.
“I’m not sure if I can get through,” muses the second generation throttle stomper (his Dad Gordon was a handy steerer as well) “unless the track is slick or there’s a few stoppages I might not be able to make this happen.”
Smee has already been in ominous form this season having won both main events at Valvoline Raceway and the Speedcar Super Series opening round at Gunnedah last weekend.
“We’ve got a great field of cars here this weekend so I think Nathan will have to work really hard to get the bounty,” says VR Managing Director Steven Green, “there’s no doubt he has the talent and the racecar but he needs a few things to fall his way.”
The challenge came by the way of an off-hand discussion between Speedcar President Dean Welfare and Mark Cooper with Green.
“It was something that started off as a casual suggestion and we took it seriously,” says Green, “I think there’ll be plenty of interest in the crowd and the pits to see if he can do it.”
Smee won all three of his main events at Valvoline Raceway last year including the prestigious 50 lapper.
He’ll have to start on pole position for this weekend’s 20 lap Gold Cup and un-lap himself completely and finish first to get the win. If there’s a caution in the first five laps he’ll have to restart half a lap down.
“Ideally I’d like a stoppage around lap ten,” he laughs, “and a really, really slick track. Can’t you put Sprintcars on?”
Including the crack line-up of Speedcars the Valvoline Raceway pits will boast 130 race teams across Late Models, Wingless Sprints, Formula 500’s and Street Stocks.
“It’s very encouraging for us to see that so many teams want to race with us,” says Green, “we’re working very hard on making Valvoline Raceway a place that everyone aspires to race at and wants to come and watch. Seeing 130 cars in our pits this Saturday night is very satisfying.
Gates open at 2pm this Saturday night with action on track from 5.30pm and the main program commencing at 7pm.
Valvoline Racway is located at 21 Wentworth Street in Granville – phone (02) 9637 0411 or visit www.valvolineraceway.com.au
Tickets are on sale at the front gate and are:
Adults: $30
Concession: $20
Juniors (13-15) $15
Family (2 adults – 2 juniors) $70
SPEEDWAY RUNS RINGS AROUND YOUR AVERAGE SATURDAY NIGHT!!