Seeing Double: Avalon's Sprintcar Jackpot & Wingless Invitational

There are two common ways that tracks go about creating an itinerary for a race night.  Either a number of smaller categories supporting a larger form of speedway racing, or two big categories.  Additionally, quite a few country speedways will have their own classes that compete every night throughout the tracks season.  ​

If a track gets Winged Sprintcars on their agenda, a larger than average crowd is guaranteed, and the same could be said when holding an Australian or even state title of any class.

Regardless, the organiser's aim is to have a high enough nomination count that will guarantee a large enough spectator turnout to make enough money to cover the expenses needed to hold a race.  Whether that be with six small categories, or simply two headliners

Additionally, the larger the field of winged Sprintcars, the smaller the support category needs to be.  However, the pair of categories would be pretty even for Avalon's opening night of the season: 29 Winged and 20 Wingless.

In Australia, 410 Winged Sprintcars are the most popular dirt racing category without a doubt, whilst the Wingless, despite being two cylinders short have grown quickly in the past few years thanks to them being a cheaper form of full-size open wheel dirt racing.

Of course, it wasn't always like that.  Before the addition of wings to racing cars, there was no major difference that split this style of racecar in two.  Wings began to be added to Sprintcars in the 1970's, which lead what we have now, not only in Sprintcars, but midgets, F500's and Speedcars alike.  A chance to pick your poison: Winged or Wingless?

With the added wings comes more grip in the form of downforce and thus, more adjustments that can be made to suit the track as it evolves.  Without the wings, it's really just the driver, the horsepower and the track, a more raw and traditional form of Sprintcar.   Unfortunately, in Australia our Wingless Sprintcars barely compete with the 410-Winged Sprintcars due to being powered by the Ecotec V6, rather than a screaming V8.  Which is a bit of a shame, because the Wingless category produces some great racing, and were more exciting than their winged brethren on Avalon's opening night.

Instead of an invite only format, this year's Jackpot would revert to standard time trials, which would set the grids for each of the single heat races.  The heat races would determine the top 18 that would go through to the A-Main, as the rest would fight for two spots in the B-Main.

Grant Anderson looked to be the force to be reconned with after setting quicktime and grabbing his heat race win.  Jamie Veal would do the same as Sprintcar Classic winner Cory McCullagh would also win his heat race, in his return to the Sprintcar saddle.

Only 20 Wingless drivers would be accepted for Avalon's first Wingless round of the year, including some of the country's best.  Christopher Temby would win the first heat race as the new ​surface was ripped apart.  Travis Millar would lead the field to the green for Heat 2 and wouldn't look back.

Northern Territory Wingless Title champion Blake Walsh would show what he was capable of, running away from the field in Heat 3.  Ebony Hobson would survive a slide job late in Heat 4 from Angus Hollis to take victory, as the top four became congested through the final corner of the race, with Thomas McDonald holding of Christopher Temby at the line.

To make up the top six for the A-Main, the top two from each heat would compete in a pole shuffle.  This is where the Jackpot comes into play, as each driver would pick out of hat their starting position in the shuffle.  Luck would serve Grant Anderson a bad hand, placing him sixth and the task of fighting his way through the duels.  He would beat Daniel Pestka and Glen Sutherland in their two lap duels to make up two places, starting fourth as Jamie Veal and Lachie McHugh lined up on the front row.

Bobby Daly and Josh Buckingham would make the transfer from B to A-main, being the final pieces to the Sprintcar Jackpot feature grid.

Jamie Veal and Lockie McHugh would lead the field to the green flag, but Brett Milburn would spin at Turn 2, causing a restart.  On said restart, the mid pack bunched together through Turn 1 & 2, meaning Peter Doukas ran into Dane Court, causing Jock Goodyer to run into Doukas, giving the Tasmanian race ending damage.

Brett Milburn would also be involved in the third incident of the night, but this time, he'd end up on his lid, after rear-tyre contact with Dennis Jones on the backstraight, sending the V68 into a somersault. 

Lockie McHugh would spin but keep his foot in it whilst hunting down Jamie Veal.  The reigning Aussie champion would fall to fifth but would make quick work of Daniel Pestka, then Glen Sutherland and two laps later would fly past Corey McCullagh.  No one, however, was catching Jamie Veal, claiming victory and the $10,000 prize as McHugh and Glen Sutherland rounded out the podium, a long way behind.

Now it was time for the Wingless to show what they were capable of with their 30-lap feature.  Luke Weel would take the lead at the wave of the green, as Christopher Temby and Travis Millar fought over second place.  Behind, Blake Walsh was making moves through the field, improving from his eighth row starting slot, as his team owner Ray Wallis stopped at Turn 2, bringing out the first yellow.

Christopher Temby took the lead, but Blake Walsh had moved up to second and was closing in.  Unfortunately, with six laps to go, Walsh hit a hole on the cushion of the track, puncturing his tyre and his unbelievable run through the field, as Matthew Symmons suffered the same fate at the same moment.  

The race would restart, and Luke Weel would hound Temby, overtaking him with three laps to go.  As the overtake was complete, the yellow would come out for Matt Tuckett who had spun, meaning the positions would revert back to the previous lap.  Temby would use this lifeline to hold on to victory, as Travis Millar nabbed second off of Luke Weel at the line for a photo finish.

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