Reigning Australian Sprint Car champion Jock Goodyer has stamped his authority on the opening three rounds of the southern Clay-per-view Speedweek series in South Australia and Victoria.
Driving the Daniel Trucking entry, the 22-year-old Tasmanian driver claimed the first two rounds of the series at Murray Bridge speedway and the third at Borderline Speedway.
In doing so, Goodyer walked away with the $10,000 winner’s prize each evening.
On the opening night, Goodyer proved too fast for the field, defeating Lachlan McHugh and Luke Dillion in the final.
Backing up for the second night, Goodyer faced a concerted challenge from visiting drivers Chase Randall and Aaron Reutzel.
Randall had opened his season Down Under with a strong win at Victoria in a 360 feature a few days before. Driving for Danny and Kyle Mason in the EZ Print car, in the ‘Battle of the Bullring’ feature at Nyora Speedway, the visiting Texan was too strong for the locals headed by Adam Greenwood and Nigel Laity.
The young Texan carried his form into the 410 features in South Australia, placing second in the dash to sit outside fellow American Reutzel on pole.
Randall dashed away from the field at the green flag holding a dominant lead through traffic on the tight quarter-mile oval.
But disaster struck the leader on lap 15 when a deflating front tyre sent him into the wall and a series of flips on turn one that ended his race.
Just before the incident, McHugh had slipped past Reutzel in traffic to claim second placing, which he would maintain to the checker. Matt Egel (Territory Plant Hire) eventually filled the third position on the podium.
Goodyer’s form was impressive on very different driving tracks each night. Affected by the rains which had caused havoc along the east coast, the first night produced a tight racing lane. With the cushion opening up the following evening, Goodyer was able to run a more open race.
It’s just a great way to start a tough week,” Goodyer said after race two. “The track was completely different to last night. I felt really comfortable up there on the cushion.”
Supercars star, Cameron Waters, Tasmanian Tate Frost and James McFadden joined the strong contingent for the third round of the series at Mt Gambier’s Borderline speedway.
Racing at Victoria’s Simpson Speedway a few days earlier, Waters displayed his best ever form in a Sprint car, claiming the pole position for the feature.
Driving the McQuinn Electrical entry, Waters eventually finished second to Tate Frost in the A-main. Jake Smith rounded out the podium after just eight cars finished a willing final.
But it was Goodyer who dominated the racing once again on night three of the southern series.
He raced to the checker ahead of the reigning Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic champion, Brock Hallett (GW Racing) and James McFadden (NAPA Auto Parts). Chase Randall and Lochie McHugh rounded out the top five.
Justin Peck opened his campaign down under with the first heat from Matt Egel. Jake Smith and Jordyn Charge claimed the next two heats, before Carson Macedo scored from Tate Frost in the fourth qualifier. Macedo struggled for the remainder of the meeting, failing to make the final.
The two dashes were won by Goodyer and McHugh, before Peck and Reutzel claimed the two B-main races.
Starting from the pole, Goodyer was unstoppable, leading the entire 35-lap feature. Brock Hallett displayed his consistency with second placing, ahead of McFadden in the Toyota-powered sprint car. It was the first outing for the new motor in Australia.
“I’m lucky to have such a great team around me – we built this team with really good operators and it’s really rewarding to have the success we’re having,” said Goodyer after winning the third round.
McHugh said after the race that he “struggled for speed” during the feature. Matt Egel was looking a podium prospect, having moved from fifth to third, but a broken front shock absorber ended his run. According to McFadden, Goodyer is now the “benchmark” sprint car driver in Australia.