Series Decided This Weekend
Series Decided This Weekend… 07/03/2007…NASR/ASCF Media Release
After a lengthy break to cater to the large number of blue ribbon events staged around the country, the National Super Sedan Series bursts back to life this weekend when the Speedway Racing News Triple Crown Series will be staged to decide the 2006/2007 championship. The final three rounds of competition will be staged over consecutive nights at three of Australia’s very best venues, with more than 30 cars nominated for each round.
Round six of the NSSS – the opening round of the Triple Crown – will get the weekend underway at Mount Gambier’s Borderline Speedway on Friday night (March 9), with Mildura’s Timmis Speedway to host round seven on Saturday evening (March 10). The series Grand Final will be contested at Murray Bridge Speedway on Sunday night (March 11) and all three circuits will be hosting NSSS events for the first time.
During the series hiatus, NSSS contracted stars have dominated every major event across Australia, accumulating an amazing record of success. The blitz started just a week after round five was decided at Moama’s Heartland Raceway when John Leslight annexed the New South Wales Super Sedan Championship at Gunnedah Speedway. Subsequent weekends in Queensland saw Darren Kane and Wayne Brims prove too strong for their rivals in taking out rounds eight and nine of the AS Concrete Pumping Championship Series in Gympie and Rockhampton respectively, while former national champ Michael Nicola trounced the field to win round two of the VSSA Southern Nationals Series at Horsham.
Of course, this unprecedented run of success culminated with Michael Gee’s barnstorming victories in Tasmania’s rich Apple Isle Grand Prix and the Australian Super Sedan Championship at Perth’s Kwinana Motorplex. In vastly different circumstances, Gee clinched Australia’s two most prestigious individual events and now has his sights set on the all-important NSSS crown. Leslight also found success in Western Australia, clocking a new track record on the way to victory at the Motorplex a week prior to the national title weekend and then backed up with victory in the Gold Nugget event at Esperance Speedway.
All series contracted drivers, with the exception of Rockhampton’s Jack Childs courtesy of a last-start engine failure, will be in action at all three rounds, along with a plethora of stars from across Australia. Current series leader and defending NSSS champion Wayne Randall headlines the entry list and, having finished a fine third at the national title in Perth, is in the prime position to secure another series win in what he has declared will be his final season of competition as an owner/driver. The NSSS championship win would be a fitting farewell for the veteran ace, enabling him to leave the sport as Australia’s leading Super Sedan exponent.
However, rival competitors will have little regard for sentiment when hostilities resume on Friday night and there is literally a plethora of possible feature race winners and series champions amongst the stellar line-up. Gee, Leslight, Brims, Kane and Nicola will be amongst the frontrunners, along with the likes of Steve Jordan, Dave Gartner, Peter Nicola, John McGeorge, Brad Smith, Lucas Roberts and Paddy Ward. Others amongst the contracted driver line-up include Victoria’s Wayne Belk and Ashley Bergmeier, South Australia’s Steve Vaughan and Bill Miller, the New South Wales-based trio of Tony Barklimore, Brett Hignett and Michael Hickey and a Queensland contingent comprising Michael Doblo, Michael Tomkins, Wayne Miles and Wesley Hose, who has recovered from injury and will take his place in the field.
In addition to the contracted stars, a strong field of challengers from near and far are amongst the nominations. Whilst recently deposed national champ Kevin Purton will only be contesting the Mount Gambier event, fellow Tasmanians Jarrod Harper and David Nichols have committed to the full Triple Crown schedule, along with Queenslander Geoff O’Keeffe and hard charging Keith Higgs, who will become the first West Australian to take part in NSSS competition. South Australia’s Daniel Miller, Kym Cotterell and Colin Neville have also have also nominated for all three shows and all of these drivers – along with those running selected Triple Crown events – will be looking to create history by becoming the first non-contracted driver to secure a NSSS feature race win.
With drivers from every state represented amongst the 30+ field of entries for every round of the Speedway Racing News Triple Crown, the 2006/2007 National Super Sedan Series will finish in style this weekend with a feast of tin top action. For more information, contact the venues or phone the NASR office on (08) 8139 0777.
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)
