Australia II; No it’s not the America’s Cup and it has nothing to do with water. It’s the Australian Sprintcar Tile and it’s on dirt! Tasmanian young gun Shaun Dobson has sailed into second placing at the Fuch’s Australian Sprintcar Championship at Adelaide’s Speedway City last weekend.
Against 68 fellow competiors Shaun and the team ventured to Adelaide quietly confident of a strong showing and with a bit of luck a creditable finish in the main event. But to actually lead it and set the spinnaker and sail towards a win in the greatest race on the grandest stage was beyond anybody’s expectations.
The title event became a rate of attrition as the event took three nights of competition to run, with extreme weather conditions from 40 plus degree heat to a stormy wet and wild rain out on the Saturday night it became the law of the jungle and only the strong were left standing in the end.
After a solid run through the heat races Dobson qualified the T77 KRE powered Cool machine on the second row in P3. At the drop of the green flag Shaun followed the lead pair as they jumped away from the field. Dobson quickly worked his way forward to second and started to reign Lines back in as the front runners made there way through the traffic until a spin brought out the cautions.
At the restart Lines jumped but Dobson said ‘not this time mate’ and pounced around the outside to hit the lead and with clear track he set sail for home. The race behind was a thrilling affair as Lines fell into the clutches of Brooke Tatnell and David Murcott who were running hard, before clipping the fence with his right rear and a few laps later the w7 axel cried enough and snapped in two, ending Lines' quest.
At the restart Tatnell set his sights on to the back of the T77 and worked the bottom side of the track to give him self the opportunity to pass Dobson and from there his experience through traffic was the telling factor in the run to the finish.
Dobson held his ground for a fantastic finish and all concerned were most pleased with his efforts over the weekend and Shaun was to his team. ‘I would like to thank everyone on the race car that has helped over the weekend and also my great sponsors who without them we would not be here. Also thank you to Speedway City and Fuch’s Lubricants for the Australian Championship, and last but not least congratulation to Brooke on his fifth title and Dave on his third placing’ said Shaun.
While Shaun is very happy with second he is also a little disappointed to have come so close. ‘I’m happy too run 2nd to Brooke but when you know your good enough to win and be leading it then to lose it does hurt, but that will just make me more hungry for one now!’ said Dobbo with a look in his eye that is filled with promise.
Where to for the Dobson Racing Team… Watch this space!
Release and photos by: Paris Charles
www.parischarles.webs.com
