by Geoff Rounds
STEVEN Lines will be looking to continue his amazing hot streak at Avalon Raceway this Saturday night in the 45th running of the Fireball Derby.
The 29 year-old Mount Gambier driver is in red-hot form and will be aiming for consecutive wins in the Derby and his third straight win in the Eureka Garages and Sheds Championship this year, which this meeting doubles as.
Lines’ blistering start to the 2013-14 season has yielded seven victories and two second placings from nine feature race starts and he will be keen to bank more points in his chase for the Essendon Ford track championship.
A strong list of 56 sprintcars have entered at Avalon and will also include two Americans in Kyle Hirst and the Australian debut of his countryman Geoff Ensign.
With recent wins at Warrnambool and Mount Gambier in as many weeks Lines says he is under no pressure and hopes his stellar form rolls on.
“Everything’s going quite well early in the season and yes, I hope we can keep it going,” Lines said.
“I get more upset if I don’t perform. You just go out and give it your best shot.
“We go into each race with a plan and I’ve got a good car and a great team around me. I’ll just come to Avalon and work my way through the qualifying process and then hopefully we’ll be in a good position for the feature, then what happens will happen. It’s been great so far though this season.”
Lines’ main opposition is likely to again from Eureka Series leader Jeremy Cross of Dubbo who has finished all three rounds on the podium this season and holds a hefty 266 points lead over Terang’s Jack Lee.
Current Australian sprintcar champion James McFadden is due for a change in luck after failing to grab a victory this season although a stronger showing at Warrnambool last weekend was encouraging.
Warrnambool driver and reigning Eureka champion Darren Mollenoyux will also be on the pace while his cross-town rival Jamie Veal, who finished third in the Fireball Derby last year is another hoping for a change of fortune when motor dramas last weekend forced him out of racing.
Others that will be in the mix are Geelong’s Domain Ramsay and Aaron Haugh, former Avalon track champion Stephen Bell, past Fireball Derby winner Mike Van Bremen, while Grant Anderson, Nick Lacey, James Hennessey, Shaun Dobson and the talented South Australian Daniel Pestka.
The popular Super Rods are also on the program and public gates will open at 3.30pm and racing is from 7.00pm.
Admission:
Adults $25
Child 12-16 $10
Child Under 12 Free
Website: www.avalonraceway.com
For more info contact Jeff Drew 0418 160 985 / Geoff Rounds 0413 024413.
