Scott Connole places second in the 2019-20 season opener

The 2019-20 NSW Formula 500 season got underway on Saturday evening and Narrabri driver Scott Connole got off to a flying start.

At the Valvoline Raceway in Parramatta, Connole placed second in the 20-lap feature race.

He started that race from the front line after finishing second in both of his heats earlier in the evening.

After starting at two in the final he got shuffled back to fifth at the first corner after taking the wrong line, going high when the other drivers went low.

But Connole regrouped and eventually placed second, less than a second behind the winner of the race, Canberra driver Tim Randell.

Also racing to a podium finish was Hunter Valley driver Roy Urpeth who placed third.

Connole told The Courier that he was not usually one to celebrate finishing second, but made an exception this time considering the company that he had on the night.

“It was the season opener at Valvoline Raceway there in Parramatta, I’ve raced there a couple of times over the past few seasons but never had much success so it was great to go down there and come away with second,” he added.

“I raced two heats, started fourth in the first and finished second then started third and finished second.

“That put us on the front row for the final where we started out at two and finished two.”

Connole said that his next race would be at Tamworth on Saturday, October 26.

He will then race in front of a home crowd at the Northwest Speedway Club’s next race meeting at the Newtown Park Speedway on Saturday, November 9.