Mount Gambier based sprintcar supremo Steven Lines leads the Essendon Ford $20.000 Sweepstakes at Avalon Raceway, but a 15 point lead can evaporate quickly and without trace.
Lines scored a resounding win in the first premiership race and has opened a 15 marker margin over Darren Mollenoyux with ever present Brett Milburn a solid third.
Journeyman David Murcott,, who opened the Avalon season with a barn burner to take the CAT Rentals 10.000 to win Jackpot, is fourth in points with Stephen Bell hot on his exhaust pipes.
The next round of the premiership will be the traditional Fireball Derby on Saturday, 8 December which offers many drivers a chance to either extend their points advantage or to play catch up.
The World Series Sprintcar series does not launch until 26 December in Adelaide which coincides with the Sharp Cranes Gold Cup at Avalon, another Essendon Ford competition round.
“This could well be where we have a change in leaders,” said Avalon’s Jeff Drew this week.
Avalon’s traditional holiday show, the World Series Sprintcar Speedweek spectacular on Sunday, December 30, is a night with points on offer in the both the WSS and Essendon Ford championships.
Mr David Dickson, dealer principal at Essendon Ford and a devout sprintcar traditionalist, believes the points gap between the top drivers this summer will be negligible.
“The later start by WSS this summer guarantees drivers can support our premiership at Avalon for the majority of race meetings and hang tough when date conflicts surface,” admitted Mr Dickson.
The upcoming Fireball Derby on 8 December at Avalon will have a Christmas feel about it with a knockout support card plus a visit by Santa to get everyone in the festive spirit.