NMCS

Fireworks expected from more than one quarter for the National Midget Car Series Round Two

NMCS PR, Auckland NZ, November 5, 2008 - “Play it again Sam!” may well be the catch cry of race fans returning for the second round of the National Midget Car Series at the hallowed oval of Western Springs Speedway (NZ) this Saturday night. The first night last Saturday saw threatening weather conditions with chilly misty rain, but the track surface, new for its first meeting proved more than equal to the damp and produced a memorable first nights racing.

The midget feature saw what many pundits describe as the best racing in recent memory as “young gun” Brad Mosen and “Mr. excitement” Shayne Alach went at it in a wheel-to-wheel battle that saw the two cars lap almost all of the field, cheered on by a thrilled crowd. We can expect nothing less from these two this Saturday night.

Michael Pickens will bring unfinished business to the second night after finishing the first night on the infield after an early brush with the wall cost him the chance to do battle with the leaders. Scott Buckley will be looking to go one place further with a top display in a brand new car and engine package, and Carl Worboys will also front up in a now sorted out Mopar Beast.

That 100th career feature win is proving elusive for veteran Graham Standring after a gracefully symmetrical early heat crash with a returning former NZ #2 Mark Oudney left Standrings crew with a frantic thrash to get the car set for the feature and an injured Mark Oudney to sit out the remainder of his first meeting back. Standring’s subsequent feature charge from 16th to 5th in the feature serves notice he has lost none of spectacular pace.

Oudney’s loss was team mate Lance Beale’s gain as Beale had a stunning run from 21st to 4th in Oudney’s car, Beales having been sidelined with a minor engine problem earlier in the night. Also clearly on the pace already is Bill Clarkson who recorded 6th place.

Current NZ#1 Shaun Insley can only improve this Saturday after a quiet start to his season, and Michael Kendall suffered from the first night blues with a driveline failure.

All newcomers to the midget ranks had a well-performed first night. Chris McCuthcheon showed he is early getting to grips with midget car racing and Angus McLeod went well in his first outing in the Aggressor Synergy V8. A nasty crash in his 2nd heat must have had Alvin Cobb briefly wondering if he had made the right decision re midget car racing, but pre crash he showed impressive pace. Another first night gremlin plagued night was had by Michael Brunt, still sorting a promising new car and engine package.

Minor places were rounded out by Tony Fabish, Wayne Green Dave Gick, Jason Bunney, Nick James, Mark Mullins, Dave Harding and Gavin Elbers, all running well in the season’s first meeting.

By all drivers accounts, the new track surface is a winner and sure to provide close and exciting racing. If the first night is any indicator, Round 2 this Saturday will surely prove a proverbial cracker for race fans.