There’s no rest of the wicked as they say, and the same can certainly be said for the O’Connell family, with brothers Cody and Casey having already gotten their busy 2018-19 season schedules underway in positive fashion in their respective classes.
Splitting their time between Wingless Sprints and Junior Sedans, the Tivoli, Queensland-based O’Connells have plenty of race meetings to keep them occupied throughout the season.
Despite experiencing a mixed start to his campaign in Wingless Sprints, Cody, the older of the two brothers, has since improved his fortune, collecting back to back podium results in the previous two Ian Boettcher Race Parts Super Series rounds, with a runner-up finish at Kingaroy Speedway and a third-place result during the rain-interrupted Toowoomba’s Hi-Tec Oils Speedway round.
Currently sitting second in the Super Series point standings, Cody is hoping to carry his front-running form through to the New Year, as he prepares to make the 20 hour trip down south to Warrnambool in Victoria to contest the Australian Championship from February 21 to 23.
“We had a tough start to the season, but off the back of our two podium finishes, we’re feeling really good heading into the rest of the season and we’re hoping to be able to maintain that for the Australian Championship,” explained the 19-year-old racer, who placed second in last season’s Queensland Title at Kingaroy Speedway.
“With over 100 cars expected to attend the Australian Championship, its’ definitely not going to be an easy event, but we’re hoping to be able to perform consistently throughout our heat races in order to qualify into the feature race and gives ourselves the best chance of a strong result.”
Not missing a beat so far this season, Cody’s younger brother and current NT Junior Sedan Champion Casey is also in good stead as he approaches the largest events on his calendar, having already racked up four feature-race wins.
Contesting the Queensland Title at Gympie’s Mothar Mountain Speedway on January 5, Casey is hoping that the third time will be the charm, having podiumed in the previous two Queensland Titles, placing third and second respectively.
Just one week later, the current Australia # 3 will attempt to improve on last season’s result in the National Title at Maryborough Speedway, making for what will be a hectic fortnight of racing for him.
“I’m really looking forward to running the Queensland and National Titles,” expressed the 16-year-old.
“It’s going to be a busy couple of weeks for us for two title events at two different tracks, but our pace has been really consistent so far this seasons so we’re hoping to keep that up and hopefully build on last season’s results.”
While Casey will be accompanied by his family at Mothar Mountain Speedway for the Queensland Title on January 5, Cody will be supported by his girlfriend Bek at Brisbane’s Archerfield Speedway as he races on the same night, with the event supporting the World Series Sprintcars Championship.
Cody and Casey would like to thank the following 2018-19 season sponsors for their valued support: Darra Mechanical, O’Connell Smash Repairs, ATL Graphix, B&B Garage, Pirtek – Wacol, Tranzmile – Wacol, Toowoomba Car Wreckers, and Bundamba Auto Wreckers, Col’s Fibreglass, Plus Fitness North Ipswich, and Goodenough Cakes.
Special thanks go to their mum and dad Annette and Adrian, nana and pop Spence, nana and pop O’Connell, and Cody’s girlfriend Bek.
To find out more about O’Connell and his team, LIKE them on Facebook by searching Team CC/O’Connell Racing or on Instagram by searching O’Connell Racing.
