Narrabri speedway driver Hunter Smith made the step up into the senior ranks in superb style late last year and continued his brilliant form on Saturday by registering back-to-back podium finishes in the four cylinder class.
The 16-year-old Narrabri boy was set to age out of the juniors upon turning 17 in February, so he made the decision to make the jump up into the senior division after Northwest Speedway Club Narrabri hosted the 2025/26 Racing Sedans Australia NSW Junior Title event last month on his home track, at which he placed second.
He farewelled the junior ranks having attended 37 meetings and secured 28 heat wins, 13 feature wins and 24 podium finishes.
His senior career started in a similar successful fashion at the Morris Park Speedway in Dubbo on Monday, December 29, when he claimed his debut feature race victory after finishing fourth in the only heat of the night.
Hunter started from fifth position in the feature and quickly got to the front before leading for almost the entire 15-lap race.
He returned to Dubbo on Saturday for another crack at glory, and this time the four cylinder drivers had four eight-lap heats instead of the usual three to make up for them having only had one at the previous meeting.
The Narrabri boy won his first heat of the event after starting out of P6, won again in heat two after starting out of P4, placed second in heat three after starting out of P4, and placed second in heat four after starting out of P7.
Those results earned him a pole position start in the 15-lap feature, and he led for three laps before being overtaken by eventual winner Zac Walker, a hometown Dubbo boy who had placed second behind Hunter in December.
Hunter told The Courier that he had enjoyed his first two senior race meetings.
“I’m up racing against the adults now. We’re all much better drivers in the seniors, and it’s much more competitive because we’re all much closer together on the track,” Hunter said.
“I haven’t really changed my driving style too much, but I have been trying to push the car a lot faster to advance in my driving and get better.
“I was nervous racing in the seniors for the first time, to see how the car and myself could go against some good adult drivers, and I ended up showing that I was alright.
“All the nerves had calmed after the win. I was really impressed with the car and the engine that dad and I have built ourselves.
“It was marvellous to see how well we can build a car and make it go.
“I think I gained a bit of respect from the older drivers after that win.
“On Saturday night, I started first in the feature and I went three laps in first and then the second-placed driver overtook me. I just wasn’t driving the right line on the track, which is something I can improve on.”
Next up for Hunter is a trip to Gilgandra for a two-day event across the Australia Day weekend.
Hunter Smith, middle, pictured on the podium at the Morris Park Speedway last month following his senior four cylinders debut feature race victory. He is flanked by Lachlan Besant (third) and Zac Walker (second). Photo: Lone Wolf Photography
