SOUTH Australia’s Brad Keller kick-started his tilt at South West Conveyancing Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic glory with a confidence-boosting qualifying run on Friday night.
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Keller said his best lap time of 10.158 seconds in the second run of qualifying at the 47th edition of the prestigious race at Allansford’s Premier Speedway was one of his best.
“I think it is the quickest I have been around this place,” he said. “I did a 10.25 at World Series (Sprintcars) a couple of years ago but that was definitely faster and I think the softer right rear helped me out a little bit.”
Keller said his confidence was back to its highest point after a heavy crash at the same venue.
“It (crashing) reminds me when I come back for the classic that it has happened before but that was a couple of years go,” he said.
“We have done a lot of racing since then and rolled out the gate a lot times so I’m confident in my body and we have implemented a lot more safety in the cars now, which generally helps in those situations.”
One driver's misfortune turned into a bonus for teenager Jock Goodyer.
The Tasmanian rising star, 17, has Warrnambool-based crew chief Glen Beaton in his corner for the Classic.
Beaton is working with Goodyer following Glen Sutherland's withdrawal due to a shoulder injury.
"It's lucky for us to get him, he's a good asset for the team with a lot of experience behind him which helps us out a lot," Goodyer said after posting a fast 10.203 in qualifying on Friday night.
"When it comes to these big events, he knows what he's doing and it helps us out.
"We haven't known each other (for that long), probably a year or two, since we used his shocks and we've just become friends after that."
Goodyer is competing in his second Classic after starting his speedway career in formula 500s.
"I just want to make the A-Main, that's all I am here for, getting good laps and maybe a feature win will come later on down the track," he said.
Goodyer races in his home state of Tasmania and enjoys getting to other tracks around Australia as he builds his resume.
"There's a little bit, the competition isn't as great over here as there's low car-count numbers," he said.
"But it's good fun down there as well."
Keller continued his form in heat three, which saw Chris McInerney and Luke Stiron crash out after one lap.
Heat four was also full of drama with Daniel Sayer, who lost a tyre on turn two, Kristy Ellis and Eddie Lumbar all crashing early on.
American Cory Eliason (heat one) and Warrnambool’s Darren Mollenoyux (heat two) secured victories in their respective runs.
