Michael races to the front of the line

By Monique Ebrington
SPRINTCAR racing has always been a family affair for the Phillips crew.
For Coldstream resident Michael Phillips it has also proven to be a winning combination.
Despite driving sprintcars for only three years Michael has walked away with second place in the VSC Sprintcar Association Season 08/09 and first place in the RSA Inc Season 08/09 VSC Sprintcars.
At 14 Michael started watching sprintcar races with his father Dale and the pair were asked to be part of the pit crew for a family friend.
After watching his dad drive for a season and after turning 18 Michael said he was practically pushed into the driver’s seat himself.
While Michael’s only prior sprintcar driving experience came in the form of Playstation games and racing car stimulators he proved to be a natural talent and was placed fifth out of 14 drivers in his first season.
Since then the family have bought their own car and set-up and formed Michael’s pit crew.
He says that during race season they all have their own roles to play and travel across Victoria together to towns such as Bairnsdale, Nyora and Wangaratta to race.
Sister Stephanie videos the race, his father Dale services the car and his mother Faye, girlfriend Beth and Stephanie’s friend Brad help make up his cheer squad.
“We have a routine and our own jobs to do, like pack the trailer and things like that,” Faye Phillips said.
Michael even races under the number 13, his dad’s birth date, and his aunty Gail Thompson also helps out by embroidering his racing suit.
“I wouldn’t be able to do it without them,” Michael said.
He said he looking forward to bettering his performance in the next sprintcar season, starting this month.