AFTER a rough start to the 2017-18 sprintcar season, Mount Gambier driver Steven Lines claimed a podium position in last Saturday night’s Jackpot Invitational at Geelong’s Avalon Raceway.
A change to a Cool Chassis and a new crew chief in Dave Sharman for the Halls Motorsport driver meant there was plenty of work to do early in the season.
But it came together at Geelong where Lines delivered a consistent performance, qualifying third for the $10,000 to win 10-lap feature race and crossed the line in the same position.
“Despite not being able to get the win, Saturday night’s result was a pleasing one for the whole team and it’s a real testament to the hard work that Dave and everyone else in the team have been putting in,” Lines said.
“Our pace to start the season has been encouraging and I’m confident that with more track time and the more Dave and I work together, then we’ll be challenging for wins.”
Lines said it was good to have someone of Sharman’s calibre on board this year after Craig Bennett left the team at the end of the last season and expected more positive results to come as the two continued to work together.
“Dave and I have spent a fair bit of time together in recent months working on the car and we’re gelling really well in our opening three race meetings, which has been one of the main reasons behind us starting the season strongly,” he said.
A mechanical failure and a spin caused a DNF and a 12th place finish at Murray Bridge and Mildura in Lines’ first two meetings, but he still showed plenty of pace.
Lines now heads to Warrnambool’s Premier Speedway to contest Saturday night’s Victorian 410 Sprintcar Title.
