DURING his five seasons with the Wingless Sprints class, Daran Humfrey had never visited the podium, let alone won a feature race, but that all changed last Saturday night at the Perth Motorplex when he achieved both.
While he’d always experienced strong pace aboard his WA # 84 Carldenn Wines/Denco Industries supported QT car, Humfrey had not yet been able to put it all together to score a podium result, with his best previous result being a fourth-place finish; until last Saturday night’s Powerpalooza event at the premier Perth venue.
Getting his night off to the best possible start, Humfrey won his opening heat race, before placing third in his remaining heat race, earning him an outside front-row start for the 15-lap feature race, which would not take place for another three hours.
Utilising the time to watch the track and take note of the changing conditions, something Humfrey admittedly felt he and his team needed to focus more on in each race meeting, 39-year-old racer from the Perth suburb of Walliston felt quite prepared as he lined up alongside pole-sitter Ash Hounsfield.
While it was Hounsfield who got the jump off the starting line to take the early lead, Humfrey managed to keep the pressure on him, moving to the bottom of the track where he battled side by side with Hounsfield for the opening two laps before eventually moving into the lead on lap three.
Finding all of the moisture on the track, Humfrey could not be stopped throughout the remaining distance, creating a solid gap following the race’s only stoppage in the middle stages and going on to greet the chequered flag in first place.
“Winning my first feature race was honestly a bit surreal, particularly having never even stood on the podium before,” admitted Humfrey, who was forced to regain his confidence in his car this season, after being involved in a large crash at the Perth Motorplex late last season which put him in hospital.
“It’s definitely even more special given that it’s at the Perth Motorplex, which is such a big stage. It took me a fair few race meetings to feel comfortable in the car again after last season’s crash, so to return to the Motorplex a season later and win is an amazing feeling.”
After enjoying a decade-long stint in go karts on the tar circuits, Humfrey’s decision to step into Wingless Sprints came while crewing for 410 Sprintcar and Wingless Sprint driver Darryl Clayden for a number of seasons. It was encouragement from Clayden and other friends Mike Sully and Merv Lowther that eventually saw Humfrey follow through, purchasing a QT Chassis from Henry ‘H’ Caruana.
Racing sporadically throughout his first two seasons, Humfrey began contesting the full season schedule three seasons ago, with his added track time evidently having paid off.
Off the back of his pleasing victory, Humfrey will be back in the driver’s seat on April 21 at Narrogin Speedway for the Bunny Burrowes Memorial, which will be his final hit out for the 2017-18 season.
Humfrey would like to thank the following 2017-18 sponsors for their support: Carldenn Wines, Denco Industries, and Peak Performance. Special thanks go to his dad Dennis Humfrey, Henry ‘H’ Caruana, Warren ‘Waz’ Mellor, and his pit crew Jed Davie, Renee Wilson and Gus.
