THERE will be a huge focus on the Borderline Speedway tonight for the first sprintcar event of the season.
While there will be many big names in the field, one Limestone Coast competitor will look for a solid performance for different reasons.
In what is set as Rory Button’s last season of sprintcar racing, he will certainly want to go out with a bang at his home track.
Button only contests selected events throughout the year, mainly at the Borderline Speedway and across the border at Warrnambool.
He has been a long-time competitor in a sport he simply enjoys being a part of.
Like any driver he loves a podium finish, but his pure passion for the sport is the main driving factor in his continued involvement over the years.
Button spoke to The Border Watch this week and was happy with his decision to call it a day at the end of the season, quite satisfied with where his motorsport career had taken him.
“I started racing dirt karts and wingless sprints back in 2007,” he said.
“I won an Australian title back then, got an Australia 2 and won a couple of state titles in wingless.
“I have had two feature wins in a 360 sprintcar which was good.
“There are a lot of guys who race their career and never win a feature, so I have ticked a few things off my bucket list and I’m happy where it is now.”
This season Button’s S57 machine will run a 410 engine, after previously running a 360.
He did have a 410 in the car for some of last season, but is looking forward to the new motor.
However, it is Button’s passion for speedway that simply comes to the fore.
“I used a 410 last year for a few shows but I hired it, so this year is my first real season with a 410,” he said.
“It has an extra 120 horse power, so there are a few differences.
“But to be honest, I just enjoy doing any sort of racing.
“Whether it is a wingless sprint or a dirt go kart, I enjoy just getting in a motor car and doing any sort of racing.”
In his final season Button has prepared his car well, with an eye-catching livery which displays his many sponsors.
“We gave the car a bit of a freshen up last year,” he said.
“We got it done locally and I think it come up good.
“We did not do many shows because of engine trouble, but we are on top of that now and the engine is going good.
“I had my first meeting of the season last weekend at Warrnambool and got a second in a heat, but was back a little bit in a final.
“I just went there to do some laps to make sure the motor was okay, plus I had not been in the car for 10 months.”
Button said his main focus for tomorrow night would be to keep the car clean, be consistent and give his sponsors some coverage.
He said if he makes the A Main it would be a bonus.
“I’m happy to just be racing, to have some fun and if we can pick up some good results, that’s good,” he said.
Button’s pedigree in the sport not only dates back to his own start in dirt karts.
His father raced speedway for many years and Button said the local support from fans of his father to now was strong.
“It is sometimes a bit overwhelming,” he said.
“People always see me in a shop and ask how the racing is going.
“It is very humbling.
“I had a kid come in the other day and asked if he could get a picture of my car.
“You try to give the kids as much time as you can, sit them in the car and explain what the cars do, because they are the next generation coming through.”
Once this season is over Button said there may be other opportunities to race at a lower level in someone else’s car, but either way it is quite evident he will not be disappointed to step back from racing and certainly holds no regrets.
“At the end of the day I am happy with what I do and I am rapped with the racing I have done,” he said.
“I am privileged enough to be able to race a sprintcar – a lot of people do not get that opportunity.”
