TOWER Hill driver Quentin Tanner admitted to having a heavy heart when he claimed a top-five finish in time trials on night two of the Lucas Oil Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Tanner’s father and “main man” Allan died suddenly, aged 55, on January 3.
Tanner said when he returned to the pits after finishing a career-best fourth in qualifying, he was looking for his father.
“He would have had a smile from ear to ear,” he said.
“He would have loved it.”
Tanner said Allan had worked tirelessly to get him on the track for race meetings.
“He was my best mate,” he said.
Tanner, who had entered the Classic having contested only three or four events, said he was determined to do well at his home track and not be distracted by the emotion surrounding his father.
“I’m just doing my own thing, I’ve got nothing to prove.”
Tanner, who turned 30 yesterday, enjoyed his last days in the 20s by gaining direct entry in the Saturday night A main — the Australia/America Challenge Cup.
He started the 30-lap feature from position 15 — a career best at the Classic — but with six laps remaining he unluckily tagged a stricken car entering turn one, ending his night. Queenslander David Muir had suffered front end damage and was diving for the infield in front of Tanner, who at high-speed had nowhere to go.
Earlier he had finished third in his opening heat and eighth in his second.
grbest@fairfaxmedia.com.au