V8 Stars to Invade Mildura

V8 Stars to Invade Mildura

NSSS Media Release

This Friday night (January 31), Mildura’s Timmis Speedway will play host to the very best Super Sedan drivers from across Australia when round six of the 2013/2014 National Super Sedan Series, presented by Hills Jayco Mildura, rumbles into town.  With five rounds already staged across four states, the Mildura event will be the only Victorian round of the championship this season and could prove very significant in the bid by three-time national champion Michael Nicola to become the first Victorian to win the national series.

Having won two rounds of the 2013/2014 championship thus far, Nicola sits second overall in the point standings and a home state victory at Mildura would go a long way to ensuring the Traralgon-based veteran secures the one title that has thus far eluded him in an illustrious career. If Nicola can lift the title, he will join an elite group comprising Tasmania’s Brad Smith and the Queensland quartet of Wayne Randall, Michael Doblo, Darren Kane and Matt Pascoe as a NSSS champion.   

Of the previous champions, Pascoe, Doblo and Kane will be competing on Friday night along with a multitude of state championship winners. Pascoe, who is also the current Australian Super Sedan Champion, currently leads the championship following his runner-up finish in round found five in Hobart last weekend and if he can keep Nicola and his other rivals at bay over the final two rounds, he will join Randall and Kane in having secured multiple NSSS titles.

Having endured a series of setbacks in previous rounds, Kane got his championship defence back on track with an all-the-way victory in round five. As the only three-time champion, Kane’s bid for a fourth crown looked to have disappeared following a series of engine problems in previous rounds. His Hobart victory now has him back in the hunt for a fourth crown. Kane now sits third overall behind Nicola and needs another victory on Friday night if he wants to narrow the gap to his rivals.

Also making the pilgrimage to Mildura for Friday’s showdown is South Australia’s Dave Gartner, who won round four at Mount Gambier’s Borderline Speedway three weeks ago.  Meanwhile, Tasmania’s Steve Latham was sensational in Hobart last weekend, storming from position 18 to finish fourth and he will be hoping that, with a better qualifying performance, he will be able to improve upon his best result thus far, which was a third place finish behind Gartner.  Other drivers who have finished on the podium so far this season without breaking through for a win include NSW’s Tony Barklimore, Victoria’s Peter Nicola and the Queensland pair of Doblo and Mark Pagel, all of whom will be in action on Friday night.

Another contender in the star-studded field is Lachlan Onley, who took out Australia’s richest race – the Apple Isle Grand Prix - just two weeks ago.  The current Victorian title holder who hails from Orange in New South Wales, Onley was charging hard in fourth place last weekend until forced to the infield. Queensland’s Jack Childs and popular South Australian Bill Miller, who has done plenty of laps on the Timmis clay, will also be amongst the starters, all of whom will be looking to score maximum points and climb the championship standings.

A bonus for Mildura fans is confirmation that six-time Victorian champion Lucas Roberts is an addition to the field, fresh from a third-place finish last weekend. As the  first non-contracted driver to finish on the podium so far this season, the Bendigo-based Roberts is determined to upstage the series regulars again on home soil and will be a genuine contender. With nominations remaining open until 4:00pm on race day, it is expected that there will be a good contingent of drivers from Victoria and South Australia on hand to join Roberts in taking on the NSSS stars. 

A big support program comprising Street Stocks, Wingless Sprints and the Easymix 1467am Modified Sedans will ensure a huge night of action. Hot laps will kick things off at 6:30pm, with the first event scheduled for 7:00pm. With Australia’s best Super Sedan drivers coming to town for a feast of V8 action, Timmis Speedway is the only place to be in Mildura this Friday night.

2013/2014 National Super Sedan Series progressive pointscore: Matt Pascoe 2153, Michael Nicola 2028, Darren Kane 1945, Michael Doblo 1875, Peter Nicola 1756, Mark Pagel 1736, Dave Gartner 1686, Steve Latham 1551, Lachlan Onley 1497, Bill Miller 1360, Tony Barklimore1355, Jason Campbell 1190, Jack Childs 967

And don’t forget to get down to the car display on the lawns of the Gateway Hotel on 15^th St Mildura on Friday morning and meet some of the drivers.

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