Race One of Toyo Tires Stadium Super Tracks sees spectators out of their seats and up against the fence.
True to his word, Robby Gordon and the SST’s had ticket holders clamouring for a better view in their inaugural race showing on Australian soil.
In an unorthodox warm up lap, Charles Dorrance opened proceedings by performing a barrel roll, getting out of shape coming into a sharp corner.
Quickly jumping to his aid, Gordon and other drivers joined medics and clerks in assisting Dorrance to get his Open Country rubber right side down and rejoin the grid.
As the trucks awaited Dorrance and helpers to loop back around for the start, a fever pitch was building in the bleachers. Drivers thumped their rev limiters in anticipation and electricity built through the crowd.
Launching into the first lap, tyres ablaze, experience was evident as new drivers struggled to match wits with likes of Sheldon Creed and EJ VIso.
Grabbing the holeshot, Nathan Pretty assaulted the jumps. The front of his Toyo Tires truck held together by race tape after a wall tap yesterday, Pretty was using every horse and putting the wind up the Americans.
Giving in to high speed, big air punishment, a suspension arm in the lower front left cried ‘no-more!’ and left the unlucky Albury native to limp back to the pits with a DNF.
Racing virtuoso EJ Viso claimed first blood, cruising to a convincing victory with a smooth drive that belied experience. Insulated from the mid-field drama, the former IndyCar wheelman enjoyed smooth sailing up front. Unable to reel him in, Gordon and his signature orange truck settled for second place.
With a smile barely obscured by his helmet, Gold Coast stunt man Matt Mingay had a strong showing, excluding a jarring moment after an aggressive approach to a jump.
“Yeah I nearly went front over on the front straight” said Mingay. “Everyone thought I was gone, with good reason, I thought I was as well.
Undeterred, Mingay realigned his sights and hunted Gordon and Viso to claim third place, keeping the Aussies in the top end of the game.
“It’s carnage out there. To be up on the podium next to two of the biggest legends of this category, topping the Aussies and overtaking a couple of the Yanks in the way in the process. I just can’t wait for race two.”
Still dialling the truck in, local favourite Brad Gallard focussed on keeping his run clean. Making the most of the race time available Gallard is playing for keeps, with two more days of racing ahead of him.
“It was interesting out there, I had the best view in the house of the rollover during warm-up, not sure what happened there”.
“The truck was landing bumpy, but we put on a good show and got it home in one piece, we have a couple of races to go and we are starting to pick up our speed.”
With the fastest lap of the race at 1:50.6299 Gordon ensured no man, woman or child went unentertained. Throwing his SST up onto two wheels on the pit straight, Gordon elicited cheers from a crowd already on their feet.
Race One Results
- EJ Viso
- Robby Gordon
- Matt Mingay
- Keegan Kincaid
- Sheldon Creed
- Toby Price
- Brad Gallard
- Bill Hynes
- Nathan Pretty
- Charles Dorrance
Toyo Tires off the shelf Open Country A/T II is the control tyre for the Stadium Super Trucks series. Selected for its unique ability to grip on-road and grapple off-road, the all terrain tyre is renowned by motorsport and SUV drivers alike for its tough-as construction and aggressive looks.
The Open Country A/T II is available from Toyo retailers nationwide.
