"I was talking to Paul throughout the whole race, it was a big night."
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The speaker of these heartfelt, emotional words is second generation driver Jacob Jolley, who on Saturday night April 27 at Castrol Lismore Speedway, took out the 2024 Australian Wingless Sprint Championship.
It was more than a win as he led runner-up Travis Millar and third-placed Luke Weel to the chequered flag.
It was a victory from beyond the iconic Lismore Showground venue.
It was a victory from somewhere else.
It was a victory that had very special meaning following the recent passing of Paul O'Neill who died of a heart attack last month aged 64.
Paul was not only chief backer and sponsor for Jacob Jolley Racing via his Lismore Nissan dealership, he was family.
This is the kind of title win that was meant to be - guided by divine intervention from above. Paul was there in spirit.
It was a National Championship at his home track and several months ago as the title neared, Paul said a win would mean everything to him.
"Paul was really excited about this event," Jacob said.
"Obviously it means the world to us and the entire O'Neill family.
"Paul's daughter Victoria wife Wendy were watching and it meant a lot to everyone."
Jacob said the title final was not only a hard fought event against the best in the country, but he was concerned about his VP 6 Buick-Commdore engine when it developed a vibration during the event after he got away to a good start from the pole position.
"We got the lead at the start of the race, the track was fast but after we ran ten laps the motor lost oil pressure and had a big vibration," he said.
"I could not give the car full throttle and I was just trying to roll on the throttle as best I could and really not flattening it.
"At that stage of the race everyone was running on the bottom of the track."
What was also on Jacob's mind was the opposition - and his closest pursuers.
"They weren't too far off our tail throughout, but Travis was right on us in the last ten laps."
Jacob also said winning a national title aged 27 had incredible significance.
"Paul's (uncle) won his Australian Grand National Sedan Championship at 27, my dad took out the Modified Production Sedan at 27 and now this for our generations at 27."
It's further proof the outcome of the 2024 Australian Wingless Sprint Championship just had to happen and came from out of this world.
