While 2017-18 hasn’t been the best of seasons for Michael Tancredi, it certainly ended in pleasing fashion at Geelong’s Avalon Raceway on Saturday night, when the determined racer scored his maiden feature-race win for the season, reclaiming the Victorian 360 Sprintcar Title in the process.

This result continued what has been a series of pleasing Victorian Title campaigns for Tancredi in recent seasons, which began in the 2015-16 season when he claimed the crown at Avalon Raceway. In last season’s event at Hamilton’s Western Speedway, Tancredi quick timed and qualified in pole position; however, an unfortunate driver error while leading the feature race saw him run wide, hitting a lapped car and recording a DNF.

Despite consistently showing strong pace aboard his Vic # 29 Barry Medew Building Supplies supported Cool, the 35-year-old racer and his team have struggled to convert their pace into results throughout the season, due to having experienced a myriad of bad luck, but last Saturday night that all changed.

Timing fastest in his time trial group and winning his opening heat race and then ending fifth in the other, Tancredi finished fourth in the Gold Shootout, lining up on the outside of the front row for the 25-lap feature race. From there, he quickly settled into third, before taking over second place with 10 laps to go. Once in second, he chased after leader and defending Victorian Champion Jordyn Charge, then took control of the lead on the last corner of the last lap and going on to park in victory lane for the first time since his last Victorian Title win two seasons ago.

“More than anything, it was great to be able to reward the team with a win in the last race of the season after all of the hard work they’ve put in previously which we hadn’t been able to convert into results,” enthused the Geelong, Victoria resident, whose other highlight this season prior to the Victorian Title included quick timing and winning the pole shootout in the penultimate All Stars Series round at Moama’s Heartland Raceway, before going on to place second.

“It was also nice to be able to prove that our first Victorian Title win two seasons ago wasn’t a fluke! It really shows us that no matter how much of a bad run you’re experiencing, you just have to be persistent and the results will eventually follow.”

With his 2017-18 season now having come to an end, Tancredi is already looking forward to getting the 2018-19 season underway, with his schedule including rounds of the All Stars Series, a few trips to Sydney’s Valvoline Raceway (NSW) and many of the major 410 Sprintcar race meetings in his home state, including the Grand Annual Classic at Warrnambool’s Premier Speedway.

Tancredi would like to thank the following 2017-18 season sponsors for their continued support: Barry Medew Building Supplies, Menzel Glass, Cubic Mini Mix, Jagcor Concrete Pumping, Saric Earthworks, Highton Bobcat, Pro Addict Paint, and West Coast Concreting. Special thanks go to Tim Perry, Anthony Sutej, Tim Faulkner, crew chief Tony Bartlett, and Damian Radosavljevic.

To find out more about Tancredi and his team, LIKE them on Facebook by searching Tancredi Motorsports.