Sam To have A Crack At Sprintcars

press release

The 2009/2010 Tasmanian Spintcar season looks to be a dream come true for Launceston’s first year small engine apprentice Sam Crack.

Renowned legend and former Tasmanian Sprintcar Champion Robin Dawkins has put together a scholarship package that includes a car, engine and running program for a complete new team, giving the opportunity for not only a driver but a new crew to work under him as an educational program.

Above: If this is what Sam Crack does in a Sprint kart, what is he gonna do in a Sprintcar?! (Junior Clubman rollover at 2007 AKA Nationals)

Mr. Dawkins has been responsible over many years for putting top drivers in his cars to entertain Tasmanian and Mainland crowds. He has also given drives to people like Americans, Danny Smith, Joey Saldana and Australian drivers, Kerry Madson and Trevor Green. Not to forget his own many victories including a Tasmanian Title not to long ago.

When asked why he would consider such large financial investment like this and to someone that hasn’t so much as driven a lap in these horse power monsters he said ” There is a couple of things I looked at, firstly the sport has been good to me and that I would like to give something back, secondly I am giving several young people the opportunity to focus on something they appear to be passionate about, it will have them off the streets and who knows what a group of young brains can produce”.

Robin also said that in his selection process “Sam stood out as he initially meet him back in 2003 when he crewed with me and I won the Kart Magic Tasmanian point score. He was a regular patron of my in-door kart complex, the day after the Sprintcar season ended, he raced his first race at Launceston. I have watched him from there grow up racing asphalt karts very successfully and last season he returned to the dirt, also in karts”.

Above: Mark Webber crewed with Sam Crack in November 2006

“Whilst it may appear a free ride it won’t be as that as the crew is responsible for all the day to day costs of running the car and their licenses along with repairs. Sam will need to spend his own money and seek sponsors; it will be a huge commitment that I’m sure he and his crew will rise to”.Mr Dawkins said.

The now seventeen year old has won major events in karts on the mainland which very few Tasmanians have achieved lately. As a Rookie he won in South Australia and Victoria. Locally He has won on all Tasmanian Tracks winning Junior Driver of the year in 2006. Last season he competed in seniors for the first time winning several club titles and the respect of many senior competitors. He was offered a drive by the Italian Birel factory team at Macau but had to decline this offer due to final year school exams at Scotch Oakburn College. This season he also took on the dirt karts gaining a third position in the clubman modified Tasmanian titles using a standard motor.

When asked what his expectation would be in his first Sprintcar season Sam said, “I’m so keen to be out there with the people I have watched and admired, just to get behind the wheel will be simply awesome, to avoid collisions with fellow competitors during my early racing and keeping my car straight will be the  highest of priority”. He also said “I feel that my physical fitness will be an early focus as well as being able to translate car feel and set up to my crew chief , who will also be a novice, it will be a steep learning curve”.

Above: Sam lead the first hour and lapped the entire field bar 1 before a broken throttle cable relegated him to 3rd in Launceston’s 4 hour endurance race.

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