This March long weekend Geelong’s Avalon Raceway will return to action with a very special Sunday night event that will see the 44th Victorian Sprintcar Championship decided as the event also doubles as the popular Great Southern Sprintcar Showdown. Defending state champion Tim Rankin puts his title on the line as a strong 40 plus Sprintcars will do battle for the rich $5,000 first prize including World Series Sprintcars champ James McFadden along with 2012 President’s Cup winner Robbie Farr.
Sunday’s Sprintcar event will also see the season long Essendon Ford Sprintcar track championship continue with point leader McFadden attempting to extend his healthy point lead of Stephen Bell and Jamie Veal. Sunday night’s result will also carry points toward the Eureka Sprintcar Series where Veal is currently on top of the season long standings ahead of Darren Mollenoyux.
“McFadden won the World Series Sprintcars Speedweek round at Avalon in December and then went on to win both the Speedweek title and the World Series Sprintcars championship following his stunning season,” explained Avalon’s Brian Alexander.
“Fans will be keen to get a glimpse of this 22 year old sensation following his performances across Australia this summer while he won’t have it all his own was as Farr, Veal, Mollenoyux, Bell and a bunch of others tough contenders will give him a run for his money.”
A fourth place finish in January’s President’s Cup ensured McFadden vaulted to the lead in the Essendon Ford Sprintcar track championship however WSS commitments in Western Australia forced the team to skip Avalon’s next scheduled event in February which eventually rained out.
McFadden’s crew chief Glen Beaton explained the teams joy at the news of the washout from the West coast which now allows the team to set about finishing the next two Sprintcar meetings at Avalon in anticipation of winning the track championship and the Ford Fiesta.
“You have no idea how pleased we were when we heard the February event was cancelled and we are pumped to be coming back to Geelong on Sunday night looking to continue gaining more points and hopefully driving away in an Essendon Ford car at Easter,” said Beaton.
The Great Southern Showdown has paid $5,000 to win for the past few seasons and Sunday night’s feature will once again place 5K in the winner’s hand. Drivers will also be enticed to Simpson Speedway on Saturday night for the opening round of the Great Southern Showdown where another 5K awaits the winner while the driver with the best results across the two nights will also pick up a further cash bonus for their efforts.
Other contenders hoping for success on Sunday night include Jamie Veal who has been victorious at Avalon Raceway earlier this summer while defending track champion Stephen Bell has been void of luck this season despite tremendous car speed.
New South Welshman Jeremy Cross has won a Eureka Sprintcar Series round recently and once again will make the trip from Dubbo while Darren Mollenoyux has also enjoyed a strong season.
Defending Victorian champion Tim Rankin has been quick as has his fellow Simpson racer and defending Eureka Series champion John Vogels. Both drivers will be looking for success Sunday night. Brett Milburn won the corresponding event last season and once again will be keen for success while Mike Van Bremen, Domain Ramsay, Nick Lacey, Carl Ludeman and Rod Mathews will also be in action.
Also on the program are the V8 Dirt Modified’s who return to the venue following on from the success of their national title held at the venue in January.
Public gates will open at 3pm on Sunday afternoon while Sprintcars will be on track from 6pm.
2011/2012 ESSENDON FORD SPRINTCAR TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP
1. James McFadden 465
2. Stephen Bell 315
3. Jamie Veal 310
4. Tim Rankin 295
5. Jason Meyers 290
6. Darren Mollenoyux 285
7. John Vogels 255
8. Robbie Farr 255
9. Steven Lines 230
10. Brett Milburn 210
Website; www.avalonraceway.com
For more info contact Jeff Drew 0418 160 985 / Gavin White email gwxp@speedway.net.au