Queenslander Patrick Barron went all the way to the Super Sedan final at Benaraby Dragway at the weekend in what was the latest round for the NDRC’s Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship.
Barron has big plans for the inaugural NDRC season as he looks to chase the title, and is now hoping to back up the points he has scored in Gladstone with further success at back to back events at Dragway at the Bend (October 21-22) and Sydney Dragway (October 27-28).
The Marsden racer won’t even head home between the events, instead planning a 1.5 week road trip to take in the back to back racing weekends.
“From Benaraby we go to Dragway at The Bend and Sydney, and then back to Sydney in January, Willowbank in February, and hopefully that should give me enough for the Eastern Conference final and I can get an invite to the Grand Final,” Barron said.
“This is the long plan – we are definitely having a crack at the title, and it has started off pretty good!
“I am looking forward to the whole thing, we are living the dream as they say, and it is great to be racing so often. Before Warwick was cancelled next weekend, we were looking at four weekends back to back which was fantastic – when you love the sport and you want to go racing, you make it happen and away you go.”
Barron faced off against local racer Ace Edwards in the final of Super Sedan on Saturday, with the race coming down to who was better on the tree.
“We managed to dial the car into the Benaraby track by the end of the night, but unfortunately missed the tree in the final and the young local guy, Ace Edwards, didn’t and he gave me a tune up,” Barron said.
“Ace is a really good young driver and with funding I think he could be one of those next racers to win a lot of things. He just loves it as well which is great to see.
“It was good to make the final and get the runner-up as we are counting points, although I am a harsh critic so am beating myself up a bit for losing the final. You have to push yourself though don’t you, otherwise you don’t get better.
“Benaraby is a great country track, and they ran a pretty good show, so thanks to them and NDRC and Aeroflow for running the event so we could come and race and chase some points.”
With Benaraby now complete, Barron’s attention has turned towards Dragway at The Bend (Spring Nationals) and Sydney Dragway (Sydney Nationals).
“Hopefully we can turn the car up for Adelaide, it is a brand-new track, but it looks beautiful by the pictures and hopefully they come up with a good track and we can go for some quick rides and see how we go,” he said.
“I am looking forward to having a whole new bunch of people to race against and I am pleased that a few Queenslanders are going down too.
“To have this track online is a really good thing, it is good for Adelaide and good for the sport, and I am looking forward to going down and having a go – hopefully I can get an extra day off work so we can go to the test and tune as well and get some runs in before Saturday and Sunday.
“Sydney is a really good track since the resurfacing. I have been there a few times now and the Sydney boys know me and the calibre of the car. I am really looking forward to seeing what we can do there too.
“We will be away for one and a half weeks, including a trip to Canberra between events staying with my brother. A road trip is always good, there is nothing better to be going racing.
“I hate driving home, but going racing is always good – the anticipation of going for a race and all of that, I love it.
“I have been going to race tracks since I was 17 and I am now 61. I think I have only missed one or two race meetings and that was because I was in hospital with two broken wrists! I love it, I live for it.
“Thank you to Jaidyn who came up and was my crew this weekend after my regular crew couldn’t make it, and also to Aussie Diffs, RCE Performance Warehouse, TSR Racing Products in America, Aerospec Safety Equipment and Paul Weel Radiators, and everyone else that helps out.
“And importantly thank you to my family, the Brain’s Trust as I call them – my sons Matthew and Tim and my wife/bank manager, Karen, for all of their help and support.”
For further information on the upcoming events at Dragway at The Bend and Sydney Dragway, go to www.nationaldragracing.com.au
To learn more about the NDRC, visit www.ndrc.tv
Photo credit: Emma Hickmott – EMpowered Collective
