Action-packed night at Gunnedah speedway track

A large crowd flocked to the Gunnedah speedway track last Saturday night, as the Gunnedah Speedway Club held two memorial races.

The Allan Butcher Memorial (Super Sedans) and the Shorty Forty (Benders) were well supported, as there were 22 Gunnedah competitors while nearly 40 competitors came from a mix of Narrabri, Tamworth, Newcastle and Gilgandra.

The divisions were Juniors, Street Stockers, Fenders and Fast 4’s, with Shorty’s brother Dave Partridge leading the honour lap for the Shorty Forty participants along with his son Justin and daughters Donna and Sophie.

Donna stepped into a car for the night after 17 years away from racing.

Dave Partridge was among the Gunnedah drivers to earn a podium position, having placed third in the Fast 4’s Standard while fellow Gunnedah driver Stephen Keeler was the runner-up to Narrabri’s Hunter Smith.

Sophie Partridge also earned a podium placing, as she finished second in the Junior All Stars while the victor was another Gunnedah driver: Clinton Hall.

Hall was one of three Gunnedah drivers to take out a top placing, with the others being Matt Cobb in the Street Stockers and Brad Mulherin in the Fast 4’s Modified, while fellow Gunnedah driver Kevin Keeler came third in the Street Stockers.

Several Newcastle drivers also finished on the podium, with Newcastle earning a clean-sweep in the Shorty Forty category.

A spokesperson from Gunnedah Speedway Club said “it was an entertaining night of racing” and that “once the track dried out, it was a good fast track”.

There was plenty of activity off the track as well, with more than $3000 raised in a 50/50 raffle for a local young woman – whose family has been a part of the speedway club for many years – who was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

The crowd was generous with its support, and the gentleman who won $1515 donated some of his winnings to the family seeking support.