Motorsport: Coons has another crack at NZ

Driver Jerry Coons Jnr. Photo / Greg Bowker

One of the most recognised names in speedway racing, Jerry Coons jnr, is back in an effort to repeat his all-conquering performance of last year.

Last time he was on our shores, the American sprint car and midget driver was never off the podium, winning the Barry Butterworth Memorial Trophy and the New Zealand Midget national championships - the first overseas driver to do so.

Coons has been coming to New Zealand since 2008 as it's the off-season in the US and he's keen to keep the race miles up - and there's the chance of extra prize money.

"It's great coming here because as a racer you want to race every night. It's in your blood and that's all we know," said Coons.

"It's a fun couple of weeks to come down here and race and Western Springs is a great track. I'm not just saying that and people who don't go to Western Springs don't know what they've got in their backyard. It's a phenomenal place to race - the atmosphere is incredible and there's a lot of history there."

So far this year things haven't quite gone according to plan, but Coons has a chance to salvage something this weekend at the 30-lap World Derby race that was rained out on New Year's Eve.

"In the opening race we finished fourth and I wasn't very happy. We were a bit off on the car setup-wise. In the second race we seemed to just have one problem after another and sometimes you just can't control things," he said. "I'm definitely a little bit disappointed but I've got a few more races to make things right and a win always seems to make up for any problems you might have."

In a lot of speedway racing the cars and drivers are going flat out for up to 160km. A dirt oval, unlike a race track, doesn't allow for any respite and there are no pit stops either.

"At the end of the day it's just what you do. Sometimes you'll get a couple of cautions through a race but I do remember a race at Indianapolis that we did 100 laps without any cautions."

There's not a lot left for Coons to win, but as any professional racer will attest, the drive to keep winning is what motivates them.

"My best finish at the Chili Bowl is third or fourth, I think, in the main race. That's a title I would very much like to get done. To me the race is one of those that takes a little bit of luck to win because of sheer number of cars and the format.

"But there's always more races to win like the Springfield Mile and the DuQuoin Fairground Mile and of course you also want to win more championships."

Jerry Coons jnr

* One of only five drivers to win the USAC Triple Crown with national championships in Silver Crown, Sprint Cars and Midget Cars.
* Belleville Midget National winner 2005 and 2007
* USAC National Midget title 2006 and 2007
* USAC National Sprint Car series and Silver Crown series 2008
* New Zealand Midget champion 2011
* Eldora Four Crown National winner
* Two preliminary feature wins at the Chili Bowl.