Young gun’s homecoming

Rookie Wingless Sprints driver Jake Condren is pumped ahead of his home-track debut in Saturday night’s Keenquip 50-lapper at Attwell Park Speedway.

For the first time, the 50-lapper will be held in Albany and despite being a local boy, Condren will also be very new to the venue, having never turned a wheel on the Attwell Park clay.

A solid field of 15 cars have nominated for the popular event on the Wingless Sprints calendar, with Condren out to upset his more fancied rivals, including newly crowned State champion Matthew Iwanow, former national champion Daniel Hartigan and Ash Hounsfield.

A new 50-lapper champion will be crowned given Tom Payet, who has won the past two events, has not entered for the Albany venture of the growing division.

After two heat races each and then a top-eight shootout, drivers will contest the gruelling 50-lap distance to determine the champion for 2017-18.

Having transferred from the bitumen, on which he raced go-karts and is now enjoying plenty of strong results especially in the Perth Motorplex Track Championship, Condren is bullish about Saturday night.

“I’m definitely blown away with how well we’ve done and how much quicker we’re getting every race meeting,” Condren said.

“It’s going to be all new to me at my home track but I’m definitely hoping to get a strong result and after a recent fourth in Perth, I know I can run with the fast guys when we get the car set up right.”

Driving the Merv Lowther-owned car this season, the youngster has his father and former racer Ryan Condren turning the spanners.

It will be a huge grand final at Attwell Park Speedway, with the Open Club Championships also fought out between local division junior sedans, formula 125s, street stocks, productions and limited sprintcars.

Burnouts will also be on the program and more than 15 cars are set to crash and bash at the end of proceedings in the popular small-car demo derby.

Gates open at 3pm, with burnouts from 5pm and the racing starting at 6pm at the season finale.