The Frank Cross Sprint Car Spectacular - round one of the “Thunder thru the Plains” Sprint Car series - has been run and won by Sydney-based racer Marty Perovich in his #17 Network Painting /J&J 410 sprint car.
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A healthy crowd braved the cool conditions at the Morris Park Speedway to witness Perovich clench victory by only half a car length from Sydney’s Troy Little in the #20 Aussie Stop Leak /Eagle. Adrian Maher was third.
At the half way mark of the 20-lap feature, Little took the lead but a yellow flag saw that lap incomplete and Perovich reverted to P1 for the restart.
“Luckily Troy showed me the line and the yellow saved me,” Perovich said.
The duel between these two had the crowd on their feet with Little throwing everything at Perovich to no prevail; the last two laps were worth the gate admission on its own.
“I knew exactly where I wanted to be on the track but I just couldn’t get the job done in time,” Little said.
“Congratulations to Marty on a great drive. I love this track; can I come back next week?”
A fast-finishing Adrian Maher from Sydney sealed the podium in third place driving the #10 Louden Motorsport /Hog’s Breath Café sprint car; a spectacular drive having started out of 10th position.
“It was a great race track that widened to provide many lines which allowed us to come from tenth to third. A few more laps would have been good but we’re really happy with the result,” Maher said.
Perovich set the night on fire taking the first heat convincingly, the wheel-standing Troy Little came away with two heat wins and other heat winners were Grant Tunks of Sydney, Dubbo local Mark Blyton and the Northern Territories Ben Atkinson.
Dash-A winner Marty Perovich added another trophy to the bag and Dubbo local Jeremy Cross in his brand new #39 Frank Cross Tyres/Maxim took the chequered in the B-Dash.
A strong support program saw the ZooFm Production Car Feature won by Craig Orchard ahead of Micheal Pope and Neil Taylor, all driving Falcons.
The 2DU Fender Benders kept the kids hanging from the fence with “Tigger” taking victory over “Dorothy the Dinosaur” and “Lightning McQueen”.
Junior Sedan drivers Kyle Swadling of Orange and Sydney’s Monique O’Hehir raced side by side all night and took the opportunity to speak with track commentator Rusty Bell, sharing their passion and level headed approach with the hundreds of potential drivers gathered on the hill.
“It’s a great track” was the general consensus from the top sprint car competitors, many of whom have raced right around the country and overseas. They praised the efforts made by track promoters Darren Anning and his wife Leanne.
“We’ve developed the track extensively during the past three years, the lighting is now up to television standard, the catch fence is AAA rated so the safety elements are taken care of,” Darren Anning said.
“Now come the spectator comforts with extra canteen facilities, amenities and seating planned for the near future.”
The next event at Morris Park Speedway is set for October 31 and will feature a round of the New South Wales Super Sedan Series, Lightning Sprints, Wingless Sprints, Production Cars, Fender Benders and Junior Sedans.
