Michael “Slim” Pickens and Zach Daum put on a master class tonight to run first and second in the Preliminary night 20-lapper at Valvoline Raceway to kick off the Rod Bowen’s Prestige Smash Repairs Australian Speedcar Championship.

American Daum took the lead early in his GRD #14 Eagle in the uninterrupted main event before Kiwi champ Pickens got by in the Sirrom Racing #38 King to take the number one spot and never relinquish it.

“This is a great way to start our Australian Championship assault,” grinned the iconic Kiwi throttle-stomper in victory lane, “I can’t thank Brett Morris and Shaun Insley enough for the car tonight.

Apart from losing our brakes in an earlier heat we’ve been right where we need to be. It feels good to go into tomorrow night with a win, even if it’s only a preliminary.”

Daum was clearly thinking about tomorrow night already.

“Hats off to Michael he did a great job but I know we can be better tomorrow. We’ll give some thought to where we can improve and come back for Night Two with a new game plan. We were fast tonight, especially in that earlier heat race when we came from the back, that was fun.”

Despite finishing second to Pickens Daum is on top of the points for tomorrow night.

Fellow American Brady Bacon came home in third after being impressive all night in the Precision Air #70 Spike.

“I found the track a little crazy tonight, particularly down in turn three and four where it was slick but still had a bit of bite in it. We’ll learn from tonight and get after it for the title. I feel good here and I’m grateful for Gavin and all the guys from Precision for this opportunity.”

West Aussie Dayne Kingshott started the night in disastrous fashion with front end damage and a DNF in his first heat but the #24 Bunbury Subaru entry was rapid in charging from the eleventh row of the grid to an eventual fifth place finish hot on the heels of American Alex Bright in the Graham Jones Racing #4 Spike!

Defending champion Adam Clarke brought the Polar Ice Spike home in sixth place ahead of the aggressive American Andrew Felker, Kiwi Hayden Williams, Queenslander Brendan Palmer eighth (the first QLD car home) Sydney’s Troy Jenkins ninth and West Aussie Todd Waddell rounding out the eleven.

Braydan Willmington rewarded his new sponsors and family for the investment in a new Beast with twelfth ahead of Kaiden Manders, Bob Jackson, Rusty Whittaker, Cameron Restall, Austin Prock, Paul Farrell and Troy Jordan the last registered car in nineteenth position.
DNF’s were Michael Kendall, Lee Redmond, Troy Ware, Tyler Thomas and Brad Mosen.

Fifteen heat races were conducted on Night One with a remaining group of five heats tomorrow night.

Top 20 in the RBPSR Australian Speedcar Championship after Night One are:
1. Zach Daum 70
2. Michael Pickens 66
3. Brady Bacon 65
4. Tyler Thomas 61
5. Hayden Williams 61
6. Andrew Felker 56
7. Troy Jenkins 56
8. Brad Mosen 51
9. Adam Clarke 49
10. Alex Bright 49
11. Michael Kendall 44
12. Troy Ware 44
13. Darren Jenkins 44
14. Cameron Restall 43
15. Lee Redmond 42
16. Rusty Whittaker 42
17. Todd Waddell 42
18. Dayne Kingshott 41
19. Brendan Palmer 40
20. Matt Jackson 38

Hard luck stories came thick and fast including Nathan Smee who was chasing his tail all night with a new car and engine program on debut for the event. Engine issues hampered the former Aussie champ and he’ll have to dig deep tomorrow night.

Both Michael Stewart and former Aussie champ Neville Lance also hurt motors and face engine changes before tomorrow night.

Night Two of the Championship is conducted tomorrow night – February 6, with the remaining one heat group, the preliminary mains and then the 40-lap Championship final.

The AMCA Nationals main event was won by Matt Hardy who edged out his father Russ Hardy in second place and Shane Cartwright rounding out the podium.

The Hardy men were rapid all night and certainly deserved their 1-2 finish.

“I’d like to thank my wife Narelle for signing the cheques and allowing Matt and I to do this,” grinned Russ.

“Yeah, thanks Mum,” echoed Matt.