Narrabri teenager races to podium finish at RSA Junior Sedans NSW Title event

Hunter Smith secured a third-place finish in the 2024/25 RSA Junior Sedans NSW Title event at the Goulburn Speedway on Saturday night.

The 16-year-old speedway racer was one of 21 juniors in action on the night, competing in the annual event that was originally scheduled for February 8 but was washed out.

Hunter was hoping to keep the title in Narrabri hands after Wyatt Lawler was crowned the 2023/24 NSW junior champion in December 2023, and he put himself in a position to do so as he placed fourth in his first heat, second in his second heat and then first in his third heat to earn a P2 start in the 25-lap feature race.

He was sitting second until about halfway through the main race when he got caught up among lap cars and moved back to third. That was where he remained as Portland’s Levi Payne raced his way to victory and Grafton’s Jackson Bailey placed second.

Hunter told The Courier that he had exceeded his expectations on the night and he enjoyed competing in his maiden 25-lap race.

“I was hoping for top five and ended up top three,” Hunter said.

“It was the first time I’ve raced in a title race. There were a lot of kids there that I’d never raced before or seen, and there were a lot of quick cars there, which was interesting.

“Levi and Jackson are the same guys that I was on the podium with at Tamworth, so that’s always fun, being up there with mates.

“I was second there for a while and then lost it because I got caught up with some lap cars and I chose to go the wrong way and third place ducked under me to get second. That was halfway through and I stayed third.

“That happened in my second heat too. I was first and got caught up with some lap cars and it took me back to second.”

There were two other Northwest Speedway Club Narrabri drivers who lined up in the RSA Junior Sedans NSW Title event They were Liv Shoobert and Benji Gordon, who both represented the club very well on a track that was more challenging and technical to what they are used to.

Liv placed 10th in the feature race, while Benji drove well throughout the evening but did not finish the feature.

Hunter is now hopeful that he will be able to have another crack at the RSA Junior Sedans NSW Title in the 2025/26 season, but the date of that race will determine whether or not he is eligible. Drivers age out of the junior division once they turn 17 years old, and for Hunter that will be on February 23 next year.

As for when that date arrives, Hunter said he looks forward to the challenge of competing in the senior division. He will continue to race in his current car but plans to switch over to a street stocker in the future.

Next up for the Narrabri teenager is a home racenight when Northwest Speedway Club Narrabri hosts its next meeting on Saturday, April 12. The club was scheduled to hold an event Saturday, March 8, but it was cancelled due to wet weather.