NSSS Gets Underway on Thursday
NSSS Gets Underway on Thursday …27/12/06…NASR/ASCF Media Release
The wait is over! After months of planning and development, the 2006/2007 National Super Sedan Series gets underway on Thursday night (December 28) at Rockhampton Speedway in central Queensland. A superb field of 40 cars have nominated for competition for the opening round. The 2006/2007 series will definitely be bigger and better than the inaugural competition, with an expended schedule, increased sponsorship and more prizemoney and awards for competitors.
Defending champion Wayne Randall faces an enormous challenge to retain his title, with a stellar field of drivers looking to secure the crown. Randall combined speed and consistency to take out the inaugural series, collecting two feature race wins and emerging as the only driver to finish each of the six feature events. A runner-up finish in the final round at Speedway City in Adelaide ultimately secured the crown. Determined to defend his title, Randall has upgraded his equipment for the 2006/2007 series and will be piloting a brand new Pontiac Grand Prix into battle.
With the exception of Jamie McHugh and Ron Pyne – both of whom have stepped away from Super Sedan competition after illustrious careers – all of last years contracted drivers have re-signed for the 2006/2007 campaign. New South Wales veteran John Leslight, who led the series after four rounds, finished third overall behind Randall and McHugh and has secured a new sponsorship deal to assist in his quest for the championship.
Tasmania’s Brad Smith was a class act throughout the series, annexing fourth overall and picking up the Hard Charger Award in recognition of his efforts in passing more cars in series feature races than any other competitor. Likewise, Queensland champion Michael Gee was spectacular throughout the series and when he took out the final round in Adelaide he joined Randall as the only drivers to score multiple feature race wins. He ultimately finished fifth in the series standings, a result that could have been so much better if not for his failure to make the start in two of the series feature events.
Others who took part in the inaugural series last season included three-time Victorian champion Lucas Roberts, fellow Victorian Wayne Belk, Queenslander Des Korn, South Australia’s Dave Gartner, Steve Vaughan and Bill Miller and the New South Wales-based duo of Paddy Ward and Tony Barklimore. All of these drivers are returning in 2006/2007 and will be joined by several exciting new additions to the driver roster. More than 20 contracted drivers have been confirmed for the 2006/2007 series, including former national champions in Michael Nicola, John McGeorge and Darren Kane.
Former state champions Wayne Brims (NSW) and Michael Doblo (QLD) are also amongst the starters, along with talented youngsters such as Victoria’s Ashley Bergmeier and north Queensland’s Wesley Hose. Bergmeier and Hose contested several rounds last season and were very impressive, cementing their reputations as stars of the future and earning their place in the field. Also joining the fray this season as contracted drivers will be NSW’s Brett Hignett and veteran Queenslander Jack Childs.
In addition to the 21 contracted competitors, at least four more drivers have indicated that they will be attending all eight rounds. Victoria’s Peter Nicola, Rockhampton’s Michael Tomkins, Brisbane’s Steve Jordan and Cairns-based steerer Ryan Cats have all submitted their nominations for the full series with every round shaping as an awesome spectacle. With a driver line-up that includes 11 state or national championship winners, the depth of talent is unprecedented and nine contracted drivers have already scored feature race wins this season.
A bonus for fans is confirmation that American ace Bert Cheatham is making a whirlwind visit to Australia for the opening three events. Cheatham is one of the most accomplished American sedan drivers to visit Australia in recent years. Hailing from St. Clair, Missouri, Cheatham last competed in Rockhampton during the USA versus Australia series during the 2004/2005 season and he has a very strong record of success in this country. Meanwhile, David Nicholls will become only the second Tasmanian to take part in NSSS competition when he contests the last five rounds of the series.
The 2006/2007 series features an expanded schedule encompassing eight rounds of competition. In an effort to reduce travel expenditure for series competitors, the schedule has been constructed to maximise the amount of racing in each of the regions within the shortest possible time. Round two will be run at Brisbane International Speedway on December 30, with Toowoomba’s Charlton Raceway hosting round three just 24 hours later on December 31.Round four will be the K-Rock Cup event at Geelong’s Avalon Raceway on January 6, followed by round five a week later at Moama’s Heartland Raceway on January 13. Following a break in competition to accommodate the annual blue ribbon events in Tasmania and the Australian Championship in Perth, the series will conclude with the Speedway Racing News Triple Crown. The Triple Crown will be staged over three consecutive nights at Mount Gambier’s Borderline Speedway (March 9), Mildura’s Timmis Speedway (March 10) and Murray Bridge Speedway (March 11), all of whom are joining the series for the first time. The scheduling of the Triple Crown after the Australian Championship will hopefully entice some Western Australia-based competitors to take part in these events.
Series organisers have a variety of activities organised throughout Rockhampton to coincide with opening round, including a display at Rockhampton Shopping Fair on Wednesday, December 27 that will include Michael Tomkins’ Chevrolet Camaro and a variety of giveaways for race fans. There will also be cars on display at Tropical Ford and Central Queensland Petroleum (Aquatic Place) throughout Wednesday and Thursday.
On Thursday afternoon between 12.00pm and 2.00pm, spectators are invited to join the drivers, crews, sponsors and race officials for a free sausage sizzle at Rockhampton Showground to launch the series and welcome the drivers and teams taking part. This is a great opportunity for fans to meet their favourite drivers, secure an autograph, grab a photo or some merchandise and check out the cars that will be doing battle later that evening.
The race format for each series round will see all drivers contest two qualifying heats, with the top ten qualifiers securing a spot in the two dash races. The finishing positions from the A and B Dash will determine the starting order for the first five rows of the grid in the 30-lap feature race, with the winner of the A Dash securing pole position for the main event. Positions 11 to 14 will start in accordance with points scored from the heats, while the first four placegetters in the B Main will fill the final two rows of the grid.
In addition to the prizemoney on offer at each round, a variety of contingencies and awards will also be up for grabs. The winner of the A Dash at each round will pick up $100 cash courtesy of Speedway Sedan Digest, while the driver who passes the most cars in the feature event will earn $100 as the Sport Engines Hard Charger. The driver finishing seventh in each feature will win the AFCO Shock Doctor Lucky Sevens. The Oval Express Best Presented Car and Crew will also be presented at each round, while awards on offer at the conclusion of the series include AFCO Best and Fairest, the Weatherall Prestige Autobody Crew Chief of the Year, the Race Hard Encouragement Award and the Bilstein B Main Award. Furthermore, every driver that participates in all eight rounds will also receive a $300 voucher for race parts and accessories from Performance Wholesale in addition to their share of the series prizemoney fund. The 2006/2007 series has also secured sponsorship from Aussie Trackwear, Art by Mickey and JD Couriers.
National television coverage of the opening three rounds has already been confirmed, with each of the events to feature on the Chequered Flag program broadcast on the Foxtel and Austar networks. Round one will be screened on February 6, round two is scheduled for broadcast on February 27 and round three will be screened on March 27. Coverage of additional rounds is expected and the broadcast schedule for these events will be released in the weeks ahead.
For further information about the 2006/2007 National Super Sedan Series, phone 0410 500571, email supersedans@iprimus.com.au or stay tuned to the series website at www.nationalsupersedanseries.com
2006/2007 National Super Sedan Series Schedule
December 28 – Rockhampton Speedway, Qld
December 30 – Brisbane International Speedway, Qld
December 31 – Charlton Raceway (Toowoomba), Qld
January 6 – Avalon Raceway (Geelong), Vic
January 13 – Heartland Raceway (Moama), NSW
March 9 – Borderline Speedway (Mt Gambier), SA
March 10 – Timmis Speedway (Mildura), Vic
March 11 – Murray Bridge Speedway, SA
The 2006/2007 NASR/SSA National Super Sedan Series is proudly supported by the following sponsors: Speedway Racing News, Sport Engines, Art by Mickey, AFCO Shock Doctor, Aussie Trackwear, Speedway Sedan Digest, Weatherall Prestige Autobody, Performance Wholesale, JD Couriers, Race Hard, Oval Express, Bilstein Shock Absorbers, McCall Communications, Ian Boettcher Race Parts, Speedway Sedans Australia (ASCF), National Association of Speedway Racing (NASR)
