ONE-time leader South Australian Daniel Pestka is set to reignite the Sprintcar Racing Association of Victoria series showdown with Warrnambool star Jamie Veal this weekend.
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Pestka, who led entering last Saturday’s round at Moama, blew two motors in a horror night that put a cloud over his participation in the final four rounds.
But his Pakenham-based team is set to resurrect the campaign tomorrow at Simpson Speedway and on Sunday at Allansford’s Premier Speedway.
Car owner Matt Eastham said an engine from Pestka’s family-owned car would be used this weekend as they try and rev up their quest for glory.
But the engine is only a short-term fix. It needs to be reconditioned after this weekend so question marks remain on what they will do for the remaining two rounds of the series.
Eastham predicted the team’s attitude would change going into the lucrative double-header rounds that each carry $5000 for the winner with a further $1000 up for grabs for the driver with the most points across the weekend.
“We are really trying to win,” he said.
“We are not racing for points any more. We are racing to win some money to help fix the problems we’ve got.”
Eastham is predicting a repair bill of $30,000 for the damaged motors.
He said he and Pestka had hoped for a podium finish last week which would have left the Strathalbyn driver on top of the standings heading to races on tracks they were better suited. “We are smart enough to realise if Jamie (Veal) keeps winning, he will win the series,” he said.
“But he can’t win them all. We don’t want to roll over and hand it to him.
“You never know what will happen.”
Eastham said Veal would be tough to overrun in the remaining four rounds for the $10,000 series winner’s cheque.
“We are going to try and see it through, try not to quit,” he said.
He said the team had fond memories of doing well at Simpson in the 360 cubic inch engine class and at Premier, they were always quick.
Eastham is yet to pinpoint what caused their main engine to detonate in hot laps last Saturday before the second one suffered the same fate after five laps in the first heat. Adding to Eastham’s disappointment was that Pestka produced the fastest lap in the heats for the night.
Pestka sits third in the series but he is still in contention. Veal has a 164-point lead in the championship over Brett Milburn while Pestka is a further 17 points back.
