PENOLA sprintcar driver Jack Gartner showed impressive pace Saturday night in Round 7 of the All Stars series at Horsham.
Gartner was on the pace from the outset, third fastest in the time trials, before running second in his first heat, then fifth in his second to start the A Main feature from third on the grid.
Brenton Farrer claimed the win, ahead of Phillip Lock and Gartner, with the same three topping the time trial list earlier in the night.
Young driver Ben Gartner also showed plenty of pace early, fifth in the time trials before finishing the A Main in 12th place.
And to top off the Penola weekend, Brad Gartner claimed a win at the Simpson Speedway in the Junior Sedans.
For Jack Gartner it was a welcome podium after three years of battling in the sport.
“We have been running fourth and fifth and finally got it on the podium,” he said.
“We are starting to get inside the top five more times than not, starting to link a few things together and finding a bit of speed.”
The night started out with a shock absorber issue, but once back up and running Gartner began to find pace and fly through the time trial, carrying that speed through his heats.
“We timed third then came second in our first heat,” he said.
“I came from ninth to fifth in the second heat which was awesome – that second heat is all about passing cars.”
Gartner said those early results gave him plenty of confidence heading into A Main feature race.
“We have always had a fast car for the first 15 laps of the A Main and we really wanted to have that same fast car in the last five laps,” he said.
“It was something we managed to do this weekend.
“I thought going into the A Main I would just have to take it on and see what happens happens.
“She was hell-for-leather and I was getting wicked drive out of turn four.
“I dived in on second and got tangled up slightly and we both all-but spun.
“Phil (Lock) shot around the outside for second place, but then we crossed the line not far apart.”
Gartner said Lock’s brother Murray had been helping set the car up this season, which was in turn producing some real speed.
However, he said it was a tough night, with lapped traffic playing a major role in the results.
“You would only get about four or five laps in after a restart and you would be lapping cars,” he said.
“That is massive pressure – you have to think about going high or low, how close the bloke is behind you.
“You can mess it up in the blink of an eye.”
The result sits Gartner fourth in the overall championship, just 45 points behind third place with four rounds still to run.
And he has one simply desire to achieve this year.
“I would love to be on the podium for the championship,” he said.
“That is my goal now going forward.
“There are people in the sport who have been doing it for 10 years and have never been on the podium, so to be where I am now is just outstanding.”
Gartner thanked his sponsors and those following his career, who continued to show plenty of support, along with his parents and brother Sam.
