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A slightly later E-News - good job there is no racing this weekend! To be fair, the weather is pretty atrocious out there as I sit typing this on Sunday morning - confused as to what the actual time is. To note, nobody told my spaniel we get an extra hour in bed today!
But you are not here to read about Storm Boelo or the end of British Summer time...so let's get into Shootout 2026.
Saturday 17th October at Mildenhall Stadium would bring to a close Stage 2, the meeting sponsored by 24/7 TV - who kindly provided race winners and the BSCDA PR team with a branded hat. As you may know, I am partial to a good Beanie, and have to say this one gets very high marks. Comfortable fit, doesn't make your head itch, nice colours, and keeps you just the right amount of warm.
Main interest centred on 120 Casey Englestone who was 24 points adrift of 3rd placed 16 Mat Newson. It would be a big ask of Casey to score the points needed, and stop Mat adding to his total...but this is 'Stock Car Racing - Shootout style', and anything can happen!
To add into the mix, we all know what happened with Casey, Mat and 515 Frankie Wainman Jnr at the previous weekend's Skegness session. They all seemed quite friendly when attending the pre-meeting Junior Grid draw, but it's certainly a whole different ball game when out on track. 16 v 120 exhibit one!
As it transpired, Casey's Shootout journey pretty much ended in his Heat, racing a 'new to him car' (purchased for brother George's '27 F1 debut). Damage to the inside front and resultant spin exiting turn 4, brought a dnf. Last chance Consolation, and further bad luck for the 120 machine meant no Final qualification and sadly, confirmed elimination from this year's GBE UK sponsored championship. 2026 was Casey's first Shootout, and by his own admission he has learnt loads. It may not look like it from the outside, but this is a different style of racing and it does take some getting used to. Casey would certainly be a welcome returnee when we go racing for Silver in 2027.
Over in Group A, and it would be a much easier night than anticipated for Dutch resident 418 Niels Tesselaar. There was the possibility that Niels would be facing into a duel with 4th placed 446 Joe Booth. 36 points were needed from the European Champion, but Joe understandably elected to stay at home with his family and new arrival. Without turning a wheel, Niels made it into Stage 3, thus achieving one of his 2026 ambitions!
Also missing from Mildenhall, 84 Tom Harris and 368 Callum Thornton. Both drivers had already accrued sufficient points to enable safe passage into the final four rounds, and sensibly wanted to keep the cars safe for King's Lynn the following day.
...which is where we continue. A midday start-time was a big tick, as pretty much everyone stays locally, and then hopefully getting people on the road home at a reasonable hour. The Premier Inn around the corner from the track was certainly busy, and it does make you realise how much local economies can benefit from stock car racing.
Marine Services, Sierd were sponsors of Stage 3 Round 1. All six drivers were present, and for removal of doubt they are.
A two-heat format, the pre-meeting Junior draw determined which one of the two the drivers would race. First car out of the box, Heat 1, second car out Heat 2, third car out Heat 1 and so on. This also makes the grid order for the Consolation, Final and National. So if you were pulled out first, you would be pole Shootout driver.
I keep saying it, but this is one of my favourite bits of the Shootout. And it's not only the draw, the driver postcards are brilliant too. Saw it loads on Sunday, children walking round, pen in hand getting those all important signatures from their heroes. Tell me who does this kind of thing better!?
Heat 1 featured 212, 368 and 515. Frankie is proving to be one of the quickest out there on Shale at the moment, and dominated the first race of the afternoon. Frankie took the chequered, surviving a last bend lunge from 55 Craig Finn. It was an impressive 'ride round the wall' from Frankie and was one of the points of discussion in his BSCDA interview in the Shootout Hub. For some reason, 'The Hub' has been seemingly underused for driver chats this season. I can see that changing imminently with the colder weather - as I am sure it was mentioned that some kind of heating can be fitted @ Sophie Clark?! We are going to Buxton on the last day of October! Danny and Callum tangled when Danny made a move up the inside of his Shootout rival as they exited turn 4. It would be a dnf for the pair.
Heat 2 and 84 Tom Harris would be the first Shootout driver home in 3rd. He was in 2nd only for an errant backmarker to hinder progress...not the first time this would happen on Sunday for the defending champion. Niels 6th and Mat 9th ensured the full Shootout quota from this one had made the all important meeting Final. This is the race with the big points on offer - and doing well can positively impact your Championship standings.
Callum and Danny made it through from the Consi...and we were on to the main race of the day.
As I've alluded, the meeting Final is so important, and as such, it's appropriate it feels that way for the fans. At King's Lynn the field was gridded with the exception of the 'Shootout Six'. One by one they were announced onto the track - out through the pit gate, big noise down the back straight into their starting spot. Certainly had an impact on me!
Tom made the break early on and was looking good for a high finish, until 53 John Lund decided he wasn't. I mean I don't think it was intentional from JL, he's too nice for that! As I saw it, John was in the fence turns 1&2. Facing the wrong way, he looked to rejoin, but did so in front of Tom, sending the 84 machine to the infield with outside front damage. Tom got going, but this cost him a lot of time. Luckily his rivals were running well down the order - 16 Mat ended as best placed finisher in 7th. Tom regrouped and made 8th. Frankie delivered 9th and Niels 11th. No big points on the board from this one...certainly not for Callum and Danny, they had another race to forget.
In the pits, frantic work on the 84 car to get fully race ready for the Grand National - and it paid off. In a big field of cars, Tom was making rapid progress. An early race caution called, and Tom was already up to 5th, this was determined driving for sure. He went on to take the win, and in doing so put himself top of the chart, and an eleven point advantage over joint 2nd Mat Newson and Frankie Wainman Jnr. Tom was delighted with his victory as this race hosted the very special Ben Turner Memorial trophy.
It was a great weekend of Shale racing. The Shootout is once again delivering what it is supposed to; stories, interest and a massive Championship that any of the six drivers could win!
Up next is the return of Sheffield. Love this venue, and such great news that it sounds like the start of a long-term arrangement. It is on a 'not normal raceday' - Tuesday night is the date made available. What this has thrown into the mix is Tom is unavailable to race due to a pre-booked family holiday. Absolutely, 'family before Stock Cars' is a given; it is unfortunate and I understand the criticism from some quarters that the meeting should not be a S/O round.
Has it impacted Tom's defence of the Silver roof? Yes. Can Tom still win Shootout 2026? Yes. Will it go down to the last meeting of the season? Yes!
The meeting at the South Yorkshire venue is looking good. 30 cars on the booking list is brilliant. This will be a big meeting for the Shootout...don't miss it!
Words: Jonathan Abbott.
Photographs: Dave Bastock Photography
