The chance for a strong top ten finish for Ricky Mitchell at last weekends 2010 Queensland Sprintcar Championship was taken away at the mid race point after a clash of wheels damaged the left front wheel on the Eagle Ignition Leads #19 Cheetah. After qualifying for the 35 lap final after a fourth placed result in the 20 B-main Ricky forced his way inside the top 10 with a storming run on the top of the track but the clash peeled the tyre from the damaged rim forcing Ricky to the infield.

“It would have been better if it had just gone flat, at least I could have driven with that as it was the left front but it peeled right off the rim so there was no way I could keep going. It was a real shame as the car was really good; I probably showed my hand a little early by going to the top too quickly as I really showed them the fast way round. But overall I was happy with the weekend, we made both finals which was our aim” added Ricky as we spoke shortly after the A-Main.

The weekend got off to a solid start as Ricky timed in 18th in the 36 car field after being the 16th car out in the single car qualifying. The invert saw Ricky start his opening two heats from the second row and he went on secure a third in heat two while he emerged victorious in heat six after the early race leader spun handing Ricky an easy win. “You have just got to keep on going. You never know when someone is going to make a mistake” he commented after his win to the infield commentator.

With the third round of heats being seed on points and then inverted Ricky started from position six in heat nine but he faded back to finish ninth. “Looking back on the weekend it was my third heat that really hurt us, a better result in that heat would have really helped” lamented Ricky at the completion of the weekend.

When all three heats were tallied Ricky just sneaked into the 16 car Preliminary Feature, finishing fifteenth in the non stop 20 lap event.

After night one Ricky sat 18th in points therefore he lined up on the second row of heat 14 in a star studded field and the result was undoubtedly the heat race of the weekend, with Ricky right in the thick of the action. During the 10 lap race Ricky was involved in two monumental scraps, firstly with former Queensland Champion Todd Wanless and then with Bryan Mann. After a great race with both drivers Ricky got the better of duels finishing an impressive second. “That was a lot of fun. You know you can race hard with those guys and they will give you room. After the first caution I pulled the wing back as it was lacking forward bite. From there the car just took off”.

As previously mentioned Ricky then went on to finish fourth in the B-main but was taken out of the final just prior to the mid race point.

Despite the fact he failed to finish Car Owner Peter Mitchell was extremely happy with Ricky’s performance. “We achieved what we set out to do, make both main events. Ricky drove really well all weekend and I must say that heat race with Wanless and Mann was as good as I have ever seen Ricky drive. I was really happy to see him having a real go” he added in a proud manner.

The next appearance for the Mitchell Motorsport Team will be the 2010 Australian Championship in Darwin in late May.

The Mitchell Motorsport Team would like to thank the following corporate partners for their association with the 2009/10 Sprintcar season:

• Eagle Ignition Leads
• Wesfil Filters
• Penrite Oils
• Performance Wholesale
• Dayco
• Phil Michell Motorsport Media

Ricky at the drivers briefing on night 2 of the QLD Title (Phil Michell Photo)

The immaculate Mitchell Motorsport Q19 Cheetah (Phil Michell Photo)