Time A Knoxville Factor

SA sprintcar ace Trevor Green ended with mixed results following participation in the recent 50th Knoxville Nationals event during his racing tour of the US.
The Two Wells resident finished with an appearance in the C-main event at the world’s most famous sprintcar event, driving the #4 car for injured American racing legend Danny Smith.
After a couple of warm up meetings at the famed Knoxville track, Green took part in a Wednesday night qualifying event in the week leading up to the Nationals.
Green was placed 35th in the time trials, with a fastest lap of 15.8 seconds, a little disappointing as the SA charger had closed around 15.5 during an visit a fortnight previously – a time which would have placed him right in the mix.
Green managed a third placing in a heat race, before finishing 17th in the A-main.
Following two nights of qualifying racing, Green sat 54th ranked among a field of 120 cars ... just missed a spot in the top 50 by a solitary point.
Inclement weather forced the non-qualifiers meeting to be run a night later on Saturday, where Green ran fifth in a semifinal race which placed him from position 10 in the non-qualifiers A-main, from which he managed to gain a start in the D-main event off the front row on the final night of the Nationals.
Green finished in second place in the D-main, earning one of two transfer spots to the C-main in which he eventually finished 18th, classified ahead of leading Australian compatriots Max Dumesny and Brooke Tatnell.
During the Nationals program, the 17th annual World Challenge race was also staged, with Green taking an early lead which he retained for nine laps before being passed by Craig Dollansky.
Green fought back to regain the lead, before Dollansky slipped past, and with mounting tyre problems, Green struggled to hold the chasing pack at bay over the 20-lap journey, eventually finishing in fourth spot behind Dollansky, Lucas Wolfe and Max Dumesny.
“All in all, I was fairly pleased with what we achieved at Knoxville,” commented Green.
“It was disappointing that I really screwed up my two qualifying laps, considering we had done pretty well in the my earlier visit to the track when I trialled 10th out of some 40 cars.
“That made it tough to get back into the game at the Nationals, but we did manage to run at the pointy end in a few of the consolation races which did include some very talented drivers.
“At this stage I may well stay a bit longer in Ohio as Danny has asked me to do another meeting there, so I’ll just see how things pan out.”

Trackside Moves Stateside

SA hard charger Trevor Green continues to hone his skills against some of America’s best drivers during his current racing stint in the US.
Taking over the driving duties for the injured Danny Smith, the Two Wells resident is gelling with the car and crew as he prepares to take part in the 50th Knoxville Nationals during August.
At Limaland he was 12th fastest in hot laps, but then had a poor time trial to be placed 42nd, before finishing seventh in a heat race after starting from 12th on the grid.
Green started the C-main from 12th spot and finished in fourth place, behind Darren Pitman, Brandon Wimmer and Tony Stewart.
At Rocky Top Raceway in the southern Ohio mountains, Green time trialled the #4 car as second quickest, before winning his heat which qualified him to start the A-main from fifth spot. After working into the lead on lap 7, a rear end malfunction forced the past Australian Sprintcar Masters winner to disappointingly withdraw.
Skyline Raceway in Ohio was next on the agenda with Green being the 11th fastest in time trials, and after starting from position four, he finished second in his heat. Starting out of seventh spot on the grid, Green recorded a fourth placing in the A-main, on a track which was very slick.
The next night brought a visit to KC Raceway, a 3/8 mile track with three times the banking of the Warrnambool circuit back home. Out of 40 cars, Green timed 4th quickest, and won the dash event to earn pole position in the A-main, where he finished in third place, behind Jimmy Stinson and Jimmy Nier, while Cody Kinser and Sheldon Haudenschild rounded out the top five.
“I led the first 10 laps but lost my rhythm mid race, however I found the groove during the closing 10 laps and had to bang the car off the wall as it was the quickest way around,” quipped Green.
“It’s a great learning curve but Danny is pretty happy on how we are doing considering I have never been to some of these tracks.
The team will now head to Knoxville for a couple of shake down runs before the iconic Nationals event.
“We have a brand new car at our disposal but have decided to stick with the car we are running at the moment as I am starting to get a good feel for it,” said Green.

Green Flag In Us

SA sprintcar driver Trevor Green has commenced an eight-meeting US tour as he continues to make his comeback from last summer’s serious back injury.
Ironically, the Two Wells charger will be driving for American legend Danny Smith, who is slowly recovering from his own spinal injuries sustained during a spectacular crash at Attica Raceway last month.
Smith took over the driving chores of the ADRAD #4 Maxim ‘Down Under’ last summer following Green’s demise, and the roles have been reversed during the American racing season ... an unexpected bonus for Green who finished in a credible fifth place during his comeback meeting at the 2010 Australian title in Darwin in late May.
“Thanks to ADRAD Radiators, Vin’s Mini Buses and Green Welding, I have been able to get here and saddle up for my first show on July 14 which was the World of Outlaws Brad Doty Classic at Limaland,” reflected Green earlier this week from Ohio.
“I have arrived with mechanic Brenton ‘Jesus’ Puddy from Perth, and after the Doty Classic we will be competing in an Ohio show this Friday, before heading to Eldora to watch the Kings Royal event.
“After that we will be running in a few Ohio races before going to Knoxville to run on July 31 and August 7, and then the 50th running of the famed Knoxville
Nationals.”
“I was extremely surprised when Danny asked if I would like to come over and run the 50th Nationals in his car ... he said “Come on, it’s the 50th and we gotta have the car there!”
Having been able to find the budget to do the trip, Green will use the Ohio and earlier Knoxville races as a warm up to get the feel of Smith’s #4 car before lining up in the iconic Nationals event.
“I have been to Knoxville before but have done just one race, it’s pretty damn hard, so at least I will have a bit of time to find my feet and hopefully put in a respectable performance,” assessed Green.
Upon his arrival in Ohio, Green handed Smith a sizeable sum of money that has been donated by Australian fans to help out the popular American driver since his accident.
“Danny is in good spirts and was extremely chuffed that people from Australia had done such a thing,” Green said.
“When I gave Danny the money I also gave him a list of the people who had donated so he knows exactly who are those great and caring people.
“I also had the displeasure of seeing one of his six-figure medical bills ... it made me cringe.
“So I really can not thank enough the people who have donated, and if anyone is still able to, their contributions would be very much appreciated.”

Help For A Legend!

As most speedway fans may be aware, world wide sprintcar icon Danny Smith suffered a serious spinal injury in a violent wreck at Attica Raceway on Friday, June 18.

Danny's wife Stephanie has advised me this morning that Danny underwent a
4-hour operation where his spine has been fused above and below the fracture, and he will now begin a long and intensive rehabilitation program.

Being one of the original World of Outlaws competitors, Danny has thrilled fans in both the USA and Australia during his 35 years of competition, and as racing is his only source of income, I have set up a fund for his legion of race fans to help offset some of Danny's medical and rehab expenses, and general living costs.

Any donation, no matter how large or small, will be greatly appreciated via a EFT transfer or by a cheque.

EFT payments
BSB No 015-228
Account No 5643 34452
Reference Danny Smith Fund

Cheques payable,
Trevor Green Racing/Smith Fund
21 Kenworth Road,
Gepps Cross
SA 5094

Could all prospective contributors please send your full name, address and phone number with your donation.

On behalf of Danny and Stepahnie, I would like to thank everyone for their kind thoughts prayers and support through this difficult time, and I am confident we will be able to raise a significant amount to help out a true legend and mate of the sprintcar racing fraternity.

– Regards, Trevor Green.

Support Danny Smith Fund

As most people are aware, world wide sprintcar icon Danny Smith has suffered a serious spinal injury in a violent wreck at Attica Raceway on Friday June 18th.

Danny's wife Stephanie has advised me this morning that danny underwent a 4 hour operation where his spine has been fused above and below the fracture.

He will now begin a long and intensive rehabilitation program.

Being one of the original Outlaws, Danny has thrilled fans in both the USA and Australia during his 35yr racing career, and as racing is danny's only source of income I have set up a fund for his legion of Australian race fans to help offset some of Danny's medical, rehabilitation expenses and his life in general.

Any donation no matter how large or small will be greatly appreciated via a EFT transfer or by a cheque.

EFT payments
BSB No 015-228
Account No 5643 34452
Reference Danny Smith Fund

Cheques payable,
Trevor Green Racing / Smith fund
21 Kenworth rd
Gepps Cross
S.A 5094

Could you please send with your donation, your full name, adress and phone number.

On behalf of Danny and Stephanie, I would like to thank everyone for their kind thoughts, prayers and support through this difficult time.

Regards Trevor Green