12/05/2022
MAY 14TH: MIDGET 50 LAPPER! 410 SPRINTCARS AND WINGLESS SPRINTS LIVE FROM Eastern Creek Speedway!
Words From Eastern Creek Speedway:
BIG ENTRY LISTS FOR MAY 14TH!
"Eastern Creek Speedway returns to action this Saturday night, May 14, highlighted with the running of the annual Midget 50 lapper, 410 Sprintcars and Wingless Sprints.
It's an impressive programme with strong entry lists in all categories featuring 45 Sprintcar nominations, 36 Midget and 47 Wingless Sprints plus a huge fireworks show to top it off.
There are certainly plenty of drivers in the Sprintcar field who possess the right combination of talent and determination to win this weekend.
So far there's been only one main event winner in former Australian Champion Jamie Veal and with his absence this weekend, the other competitors have one less obstacle in their way in their quest for an inaugural Eastern Creek Speedway feature race success.
Queensland young guns Aaron Kelly, Taylor Prosser and Ryan Newton return along with South Australian Brock Hallett, third generation NSW drivers Jordyn Brazier and Matt Dumesny plus locals Sam Walsh, Jackson Delamont just to name a few.
The annual running of the Midget 50 lapper has attracted not only a fast local line-up but interstate entries as well as New Zealand representation. Sydney's Nathan Smee will attempt to win his sixth Sydney 50 lapper following victories in 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014 and 2015. His consistent winning Sydney record is matched with a similar success rate at the 50 lapper at Brisbane's Archerfield Speedway which will be held on May 28 this year.
Smee is looking forward to the challenge that awaits this weekend at the new Eastern Creek Speedway and he says the race will be run on neutral territory for everyone. “Nobody has got a home track advantage,” he acknowledged. “We only have had one race meeting there so everyone really is going into the 50 lapper on equal terms.” Smee will again be driving the blue #14 Midget for Barry and Steve Graham out of the Graham Racing Development workshop. He will be hoping to make amends for the previous Sydney 50 lapper run during the final season at Parramatta City Raceway. He looked to have victory in sight after he got to the lead but in the latter stages he uncharacteristically dropped the right rear tyre over the cushion in turns one and two and victory was lost.
“That was definitely one that got away and it was very disappointing as I ended up finishing out of a placing in fourth.”
WA's Kaiden Manders has made the long trek across the country and will drive the Esslinger BB7/Bullet/Spike for Graham Jones Racing. Manders comes off a very successful season running for former National Champion Jones with state title honours and victory in the annual New Year Speedcar Derby at Perth Motorplex prominent on his impressive list of victories.
Australian Champion Matt Smith will be one of the drivers to beat.
Smith was in devastating form in the recent NSW Midget Championship at Eastern Creek Speedway and figured in a thrilling battle at the head of the field against ultimate state title winner Michael Stewart. The last time the Sydney 50 lap Midget race was held – at Parramatta City Raceway in 2019 – Matt finished an impressive runner-up to winner Michael Pickens. Earlier this year at Brisbane's Archerfield Speedway he took out the Australian title.
Kiwi Hayden Williams was placed fourth in his previous Sydney Midget 50 lap appearance in 2019. He comes into the starting line-up fresh from recent success at NZ's Baypark Speedway.
Hayden brings a wealth of experience to Eastern Creek Speedway.
Winner of the NZ Midget Championship and NZ Midget Grand Prix in past seasons, Hayden also has competed in America regularly during his career. He has contested the United States Auto Club Midget Speedweek on several occasions and also has raced at America's Indoor Chili Bowl Midget Nationals. Hayden has an impressive career record as NZ Test Team representative, Auckland Track Champion, winner of the Heritage Shield and Barry Butterworth Memorial amongst other major victories. He has been one of the dominant drivers at Auckland's Western Springs Speedway for a number of years and has been a regular visitor to Australia, especially for the 50-lap events in Sydney and Brisbane. Hayden will be joined by Kaleb Currie who will drive the South Australian #6 “The Speedway Shop” entry.
With lap prize money endorsements for the annual Midget 50 lapper, which has a great history in Sydney speedway racing tracing back to the early sixties, the event offers $10,000 to win and pays $5,000 for second and $3,000 for third.
The 50-lap race format will feature fastest to the rear.
Kyle Mock, Mark Blyton, Jason Bates, Andrew Sayre, Andrew Seery and Troy Little are amongst the leading runners in the Wingless entries."
Photo Credit:
The Art of Speedway - Gavin Skene
Speedcar Association of NSW
