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2012/13 WSS Schedule Nearing Confirmation
May 9, 2012
Speedway Australia is working feverishly on the 2012/13 World Series Sprintcars Championship.
WSS Management is close to finalising the schedule which will see the tour travel to 5 states across the country with the opening round most likely to be in Brisbane on November 24th. Following the season opener, the series will most likely have another round in Queensland before heading to New South Wales.
Whilst the series will be venturing into New South Wales again this year, unfortunately WSS management were unable to negotiate the series return to Sydney Speedway.
With Speedweek already confirmed through the Christmas/New Year period, WSS will then head back to Brisbane for the Australian Open in January. We then head south once more before making our way to WA for the popular "Western Swing".
WSS advertised for drivers to express their interest in a contract several weeks ago and the response has been very exciting. With the ever increasing young talent pool in Australian Sprintcar racing, the race for a WSS contract this year is going to be fascinating.
With the pieces of the puzzle quickly coming together for 2012/13, it’s shaping up to be a fantastic championship yet again this season.
Stay tuned to worldseriessprintcars.com.au over the coming weeks for further announcements regarding the 2012/13 WSS Championship.
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The 2012 SRA 360 Victorian Title Goes to Chris Solomon
By Ian Vale
Chris Solomon drove a very calculating race to take the win from Tony Moule and South Australia’s Keke Falland in the later stages of the Belmont Diesel Victorian 360 Sprintcar Championship last night at Simpson Speedway in front of a healthy crowd.
Six heat races were conducted to determine the qualifying position for the main event, early casualties in heat race two were Simon Amato and Jamie Hennessey who both rolled there machines in tandem metres apart that would see both drivers out for the rest of the night.
A few drivers were having trouble coming to term with the Simpson track surface early in the heat races with a few spins from some of the more fancied drivers that were going into the event among the favourites for a placing on the night.
With three heats each the order of the night Tony Moule in the Act 26 car topped the point sheets after the heats were completed with two wins and a second place, the Act 15 driver Harley Bishop also claimed two heat wins leaving S78 Keke Falland and S31 Craig Vanderstelt to take a win each.
With the field set for the final it was Moule in pole position with Falland in P2, Bishop and Vanderstelt filled row two and row three had local hope John Vogels out of fifth place with Chris Solomon along side. With the rest of the order being lead by Western Australia’s Chris Ackland, Brendan Balcombe, Paul Solomon, Michael Phillips, Phil Lock, Kristy Ellis, Domain Ramsay and Andy Caruana.
It was not long before that action on the track came to a holt at the start of the Belmont Diesel 360 Title with three casualties out of the race, while the second row starters appeared to make contact on the start Vandersetelt was into the wall and leaving both Phillips and Caruana with no where to go where they both were tangle up in the incident and out of the race. On the next attempted start Balcombe rolled the V24 sprintcar and joined the retirees on the infield. At this point Chris Solomon had a flat left front tyre that he was allowed to change as there was not a recorded lap in the books yet but it sent him to the rear of his starting line for the restart. With a depleted field the decision was made to reduce the race to twenty laps.
Attempt three and Moule jumped into the lead from Falland and Bishop, with one complete Chris Solomon had made the move into position four ahead of Vogels from Ellis, Ackland, Lock, Paul Solomon and Ramsay. Lap three and Chris Solomon made another move this time on Bishop to take the position leaving Vogels who was keeping in touch with the leaders a littler further back.
A little further back Ellis was out minding her own business in front of Lock and Ackland who were trading places as was Paul Solomon and Ramsay at the rear of the field. With the drivers all now holding station and Moule holding a slim lead over Falland Chris Solomon was driving a different line to the leaders that was creating his own racing line, heading into the dying stages of the race the V83 car of Solomon’s wad the one to watch as he was all over the back of Falland. Going into lap seventeen Solomon made the moved to take second place and quickly move onto the tail of Moule, without wasting any time Solomon set himself up for a outside pass on Moule coming of turn two with two laps to go, heading down the back straight Solomon made the move stick and to go on and take a comfortable victory from Moule, Falland and Bishop in a flag to flag race. Rounding out the finishing order was Vogels who picked up the Caruana Motorsports award from Lock, Ellis, Ramsay, Paul Solomon and Ackland.
A pleased Chris Solomon launched his machine into a series of donuts to celebrate his victory in the Victorian Belmont Diesel 360 Sprintcar Championship. To cap of a good night for Chris he also won the All Star Hoosier Tire award at the drivers meeting, ironically it was the driver he took the lead form in the dying stages of the race that joked at the driver meeting to Chris that he was not allowed to bolt that tyre on for this night so he would not beat him!
The Sprintcar Racing Association of Victoria congratulate the place getters of the Belmont Diesel 360 Victorian Title, Chris Solomon, Tony Moule and Keke Falland.
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Victorian 360 Sprintcar Title is set for Simpson Speedway
By Ian Vale
This Saturday night Simpson Speedway will conduct the Belmont Diesel 360 Sprintcar Victorian Championship with support from Victory Lane Racegear and Caruana Motorsport with a healthy field of competitors from three states.
Tony Moule will be one of the leading contenders and he is no stranger to success in the 360 sprintcar division and he must start Saturday night’s event as one of the favourites. Tony has to his credits a 1st place in the 2007 Australian 360 Sprintcar Championship as well as the 2008 Victorian 360 Title.
An interesting list of driver nominations has been received for the Belmont Diesel 360 Sprintcar Title that will see a few of the open sprintcar drivers putting a 360 engine into there cars to run against the regular 360 sprintcar competitors.
Five time Eureka Garages and Sheds Series Champion and local racer John Vogels will make the change this weekend and his experience at the Simpson venue will hold him in good steed for a shot at taken out the Title to add to his impressive list of racing achievements. Another local driver Phil Lock will be tough to beat here also, Phil is a very good performer in the 360 class and is capable of taking a win also.
Recently the 360 drivers raced at Western Speedway Hamilton for the 360 Gold Cup that produced a great night of racing and with most of the competitors from that event nominated for the Title so if Hamilton was any indication of what this weekend will be like it will be a night not to miss.
Regular 360 competitor Simon Amato showed good pace at Hamilton taking a fourth place finish and has the equipment to challenge all night for a top three placing. From Victoria joining Amato is once again the Solomon brothers, lady racer Kristy Ellis along with Andy Caruana, James Hennessey and the second and third pace getters from the 360 Gold Cup Domain Ramsay and Michael Phillips. Domain was not a happy camper after loosing the Gold Cup to Darren Hickman after leading the race for eighteen laps, he will be out to not let that happen again and wants a win this weekend.
Chris Ackland has made the trip over from Western Australia for a crack at the Belmont Diesel 360 Title, Chris is a regular racer in WA and will want to have a good run while here to justify the travel and cost to be at the event.
South Australia’s Colin Brooks is no stranger to the 360 racing in Victoria over the last couple of seasons, Colin is a very consistent competitor with a very good placing’s average. Definitely one to watch, another visiting driver Shane Heathcote is hoping to be able to make the show this weekend subject to a few family commitments allowing him to make the trip and with the assistance from Mat Eastham to help him Shane has a good chance of being at the front of the field.
Two other drivers have nominated from South Australia, Keke Falland who picked a win in South Australia last weekend, Keke has been showing good form of late. Craig Vanderstelt must carry the best hopes of the South Australian’s after his performances in the recent Australian 360 Sprintcar Titles where Craig took a win in the preliminary night of the Title and was the runner up in the Title final. A well know and hard charger in the 360 sprintcar ranks and definitely will be one to watch.
The Belmont Diesel 360 Victorian Championship is not short of talented racers
looking to stand on the top step this Saturday night, with a strong field of competitors this will be a competitive event.
The SRA would like to thank the 360 Title sponsors Belmont Diesel along with Victory Lane Racegear and Caruana Motorsports for there support of the 360 Sprintcar Victorian Title.
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EASTER TRAIL SPRINTCARS THIS GOOD FRIDAY NIGHT AT AVALON RACEWAY
MEDIA RELEASE – AVALON RACEWAY, 6/4/2012
The lights will come on for the last time this season at Geelong’s Avalon Raceway on Good Friday night when the annual Easter Sprintcar Trail rounds out another great season at the venue despite a number of unfortunate rainouts. With a world class Sprintcar field nominated the event promises to be another cracking race and with a monster fireworks show plus a Demolition Derby set to round out proceedings it’s one night not to be missed!
USA star Shane Stewart heads the 48 strong Sprintcar entry list and with his recent success the diminutive speedster will once again be amongst the drivers to beat this Friday night. Camden Neon Signs presents Friday’s action with the Easter Sprintcar Trail entering its 33rd year with the drivers then travelling to Mount Gambier on Saturday night and Warrnambool on Sunday.
“This event is a fantastic way to end our season with 48 Sprintcars entered plus support from the Super Rods, the ever popular demolition derby and fireworks, there is something for everyone,” confirmed Avalon commentator Brian Alexander.
“With Shane Stewart driving the Monster Energy Sprintcar plus a host of his great rivals including perennial Easter Trail favourite Max Dumesny, Steven Lines, James McFadden, David Murcott, Garry Brazier and defending Easter Trail champion Shaun Dobson, the field is as good as you could ask for.”
While most drivers will be battling for the $5,000 first prize that’s on offer, James McFadden has his eyes firmly on another prize as he currently leads the Essendon Ford Sprintcar track championship. Should McFadden make the A-main on Friday night and record a solid finish, he will win the season long track championship and drive away in a brand new Ford Fiesta valued at $18,000 for his efforts.
In what has been a landmark season for McFadden, the talented 22 year old recorded six round wins on his way to winning the World Series Sprintcars championship while he also won four of the five Speedweek rounds including Avalon’s December event.
Alexander also confirmed the addition of Dumesny who has won no less than nine Easter Sprintcar Trail rounds at Avalon is a massive boost for the local Sprintcar fans. In total, Dumesny has won a staggering 31 rounds of the Easter Sprintcar Trail in his career that has spanned three decades.
“Max is a living legend of Australian Sprintcar racing and to have him nominated along with his emerging son Mitchell is a great achievement and I am sure fans will make the most of this rare chance to see the father and son combination this Friday night.”
Other drivers of note including Stephen Bell, Jamie Veal, John Vogels, Brett Milburn and the recently crowned Eureka Sprintcar Series champion Darren Mollenoyux will also be flying the Victorian flag against the quality field.
The fireworks spectacular and the demolition derby will be conducted at the conclusion of the Sprintcar A-main.
“Friday night’s season ending event is always among the most popular for the season so we always encourage everyone to make their way to the venue early to get the best possible viewing spot,” said Alexander.
Racing is set to kick off from the earlier time of 6pm with public gates opening at 3pm.
Admission:
Adults $30
Concession $20
Child 12-16 $10
Child 5-11 $5
Child Under 5 Free
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Britten Races To Crossley Series Round Win In Brisbane
Peter Britten raced to an emotional victory in the Crossley Racing Engines V8 Dirt Modified Series round at the Supercheap Auto Archerfield Speedway on Saturday night (Mar 31), beating home Kelvin Hamilton and David Clark in the 25-lap main event.
The victory was Britten's first since the recent passing of his father Paul, and came just 48 hours before he returns to America to contest the 2012 season.
"I don't think i have ever screamed at myself during the race to get it going but I did tonight" said Britten, " I really wanted to get that one and we got it so its a pretty good feeling"
It was Hamilton who had the fields measure for much of the race, powering his Hy-Performance Fluid Power Teo past pole-sitter Keith Muller on the opening lap and holding out a determined pack for the first twenty laps.
Britten, who started from the third row, stalked Hamilton through heavy lapped traffic and with just a handful of laps remaining executed a daring outside pass on the to take the race lead, going on to record a popular victory.
"I was waiting for a mistake" admitted Britten post-race. " I kept looking at the lap board coming down the back straight and counting down the laps thinking come on, I've got to get something happening here soon. I really thought he (Hamilton) would have slipped up a little more than he did. But he drove a really good race, and he defiantly made me work for it. My game plan was to try and wait for him to push up and sneak under him but it didn't seem like that was going to happen so I just stuck it in there as hard as I could and I got around him. I wish I had got up there about 15 laps earlier! "
It was a case of close but not close enough for Hamilton, who is threatening for his maiden V8 Dirt Modified victory.
"We changed alot of things throughout the night" offered Hamilton, " With thanks to Glen (Seaton), he's here helping us on the car and every time he comes here we just go ahead to another level. We did have a little problem with the car and we just chipped away at it. We got it better for the feature but it wasn't perfect and I wouldn't say it was good enough to win, but it was going alright there for a while. I knew peter would probably show that top line sooner or later, I was a bit reluctant to go up there and he showed me and then he just cleared out. We are just trying to win one of these bloody things, but we just keep coming up short. Sooner or later it will happen and we will get on the top step"
Clark's third place finish came after a scare in the dash, where contact with Kevin Britten saw the pair spear off the racetrack. Despite closing on the leading pair over the closing laps, he was outside of striking distance and would have to be content with the final podium position.
" Having that altercation in the dash and coming out of six made it a bit harder tonight" offered Clark. " The track was good in the sense that it had 2 lanes, I was around the outside, which helped me get on the back of the pack a bit quicker cause the guys out front were running down low. It definitely seemed to be quicker through turns one and two, gave us plenty of opportunities to pass the lapped cars and the cars coming through. They (Britten & Hamilton) defiantly had a fairly good gap on me. I pulled it in a bit in lapped traffic, but I didn't really have much for them"
Keith Muller and Gary Wathen rounded out the top five.
Top qualifier Kevin Britten endured a horror run in the feature, retiring with a flat left-rear tyre after just a handful of laps. Brian Scott and Ray Klarich were also forced to retire from the event. A tough night also for Phil McNamara, who after rolling his car the week prior in Lismore, damaged an engine early in the night and was unable to make the main event.
Earlier in the night heat race wins went to Kevin Britten (2), Daniel Rowlands and Kelvin Hamilton, with Keith Muller earning pole position in the Feature courtesy of his win in the dash.
The next Queensland outing for V8 Dirt Modifieds is the Queensland Championship at the Kingaroy Speedway on April 14.
Crossley Racing Engines Series
Feature Race (25-laps) 1st Peter Britten, 2nd Kelvin Hamilton, 3rd David Clark, 4th Keith Muller, 5th Gary Wathen, 6th Mark Robinson, 7th Mick Sauer, 8th Scott Foy, 9th Matt Ingrey, 10th Paul Booker, 11th Daniel Rowlands, DNF: Brian Scott, Ray Klarich, Kevin Britten.
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AVALON RACEWAY SPRINTCAR JACKPOT INVITATIONAL QUALIFIERS
MEDIA RELEASE – AVALON RACEWAY, 1/4/2012
With just one event remaining for the current speedway season, Geelong’s Avalon Raceway is already looking forward to next season with anticipation as the qualifiers continue to grow for the annual season opening Sprintcar Jackpot Invitational. Next Friday’s Easter Sprintcar Trail round is the last chance for drivers to win a heat race or feature in an attempt to qualify directly for October’s unique $10,000 to win Sprintcar Jackpot Invitational.
Avalon Raceway management devised a unique race to reward the loyal Sprintcar racers that support the venue throughout the summer and the only prerequisite is that the driver must win a heat or feature race throughout the previous season to qualify. Other drivers known as ‘Wildcards’ can be voted into the 32 car field should numbers need to be boosted.
“We are already thrilled with the quality of the drivers that have made the list of qualifiers for next October’s event,” said Avalon’s Jeff Drew.
“It goes without saying that several drivers that have qualified such as American’s Jason Meyer’s, Daryn Pittman and Craig Dollansky would be non-starters considering the logistics of getting them back for one event.”
“On the other hand we are excited that Victorian stars such as Stephen Bell, John Vogels, Darren Mollenoyux, Brett Milburn and Jamie Veal have qualified while interstate stars such as James McFadden, Robbie Farr and Trevor Green have also qualified,” said Drew.
The inaugural Sprintcar Jackpot Invitational winner was Max Dumesny who was ironically voted into the field as a ‘Wildcard’. With 36 drivers already qualified and the possibility of others on Good Friday, the ever popular Dumesny may have to rely on a ‘Wildcard’ vote once again to contest the Jackpot.
The event also boasts a unique format that requires the drivers to contest a pair of 16 car, 25 lap features that begin the night. Drivers are then required to continually finish at the front of a series of knockout events before the $10,000 to win, 12 lap feature for the top 10 drivers.
The event is one of three $10,000 to win events throughout the season and unlike the other two open events, the Jackpot Invitational is based purely on an invitational system either by qualifying directly in or by the ‘Wildcard’ system.
Held the week after the Bathurst 1000, the Sprintcar Jackpot Invitational has unfortunately been hampered by wet weather in the past two seasons yet despite the obvious setbacks, the Avalon Raceway management is committed to providing great paying events for both competitors and fans alike.
AVALON RACEWAY 2011/2012 SPRINTCAR JACKPOT INVITATIONAL QUALIFIERS
1. S20 Glen Sutherland
2. V70 John Vogels
3. V45 Steven Lines
4. V77 Darren Mollenoyux
5. V68 Brett Milburn
6. V20 Domain Ramsay
7. V95 Ryan Davis
8. V35 Jamie Veal
9. N36 Eddie Lumbar
10. V37 Grant Anderson
11. V9 Rod Mathews
12. V14 Carl Ludeman
13. V73 Charles Hunter
14. V2 Ryan Farrell
15. V26 Nick Lacey
16. T77 Shaun Dobson
17. N75 Glen Saville
18. S24 Ricky Maiolo
19. Q83 David Murcott
20. N21 Garry Brazier
21. NQ25 James McFadden
22. V6 Mike Van Bremen
23. W87 Carl Dowling
24. V55 Peter Murphy
25. USA14 Jason Meyers
26. USA27 Daryn Pittman
27. USA7 Craig Dollansky
28. S4 Trevor Green
29. Q7 Robbie Farr
30. V48 Adam King
31. V88 Stephen Bell
32. V44 Ron Dalton
33. N18 Ian Loudoun
34. V40 Darren Hickman
35. V74 Michael Cunningham
36. V17 Dennis Jones
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ESSENDON FORD SPRINTCAR TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP UPDATE
MEDIA RELEASE – AVALON RACEWAY, 24/3/2012
Action returns to Geelong’s Avalon Raceway this Saturday night when the Speedcars take centre stage with the annual Beasley Memorial set to be decided. In what is the second last event of the current season, Saturday night also has Super Rods programmed hot off their state title held last weekend where local ace Geoff Leigh scored a triumphant victory.
Fans are still talking about the most recent event at Avalon Raceway when Sprintcar stars Robbie Farr and Stephen Bell crossed the finish line side by side recording a dead heat. Electronic timing couldn’t separate the pair and they were both awarded joint ownership of the 2012 Victorian Sprintcar Championship.
While the event also carried points toward the Essendon Ford Sprintcar Track Championship, point leader James McFadden continued his good form in the race for a brand new Ford Fiesta with a third place finish behind Farr and Bell. With only one Sprintcar event remaining for the season on Good Friday, McFadden now holds a 125 point advantage over defending track champion and last season’s car winner Stephen Bell.
“It’s really McFadden’s to lose at this point in the season,” said Avalon’s Jeff Drew.
“Good Friday’s event traditionally attracts a large field of cars and anything can happen but McFadden has been so good here this year, Bell almost needs him to not make the A-main and then he has to finish in the top 5 to have a shot at back to back cars.”
Jeff also went on to say that without the support of Essendon Ford and in particular David Dickson then the prize of a brand new car would not be possible.
“David is a speedway fan and loves his Sprintcar racing. This is the third year that we are giving a brand new car to the Sprintcar track champion at Avalon and we believe its prizes like this along with companies such as Eureka Garages and Sheds that support the SRA Series that have raised the car counts here in Victoria.”
Saturday night public gates will open at 4pm while racing will get underway from 6pm.
2011/2012 ESSENDON FORD SPRINTCAR TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP
1. James McFadden 615
2. Stephen Bell 490
3. Robbie Farr 430
4. John Vogels 400
5. Darren Mollenoyux 355
6. Brett Milburn 350
7. Jamie Veal 310
8. Tim Rankin 305
9. Jason Meyers 290
10. Steven Lines 230
Admission;
Adults $20
Concession $15
Child 12-16 $10
Child 5-11 $5
Under 5 FREE
Website: www.avalonraceway.com
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