The sport of Sprintcar racing has many events throughout the course of the speedway season and while some events carry more significance than others do, this Saturday night’s Sprintcar Fireball Derby has a long and very special history. Geelong’s Avalon Raceway is proud to host the 43rd running of the event held in memory of Bill Evans, a long serving and highly respected Victorian speedway icon.
While the event hasn’t always been held at Avalon Raceway, the Fireball Derby has however found it’s home in recent years and once again another great lineup of Sprintcar stars are set to contest this annual event. In recent years there have been some memorable results including a stunning three peat by track specialist David Murcott. Mount Gambier star Steven Lines managed to snap Murcott’s winning streak in 2009 before local favourite Mike Van Bremen conquered the field in last summer’s event.
“We are thrilled to host a high profile Sprintcar event that carries so much prestige and history like the Fireball Derby, there are very few long running events that have history such as this one,” said Avalon’s Jeff Drew.
“This event has been running ten years longer than our President’s Cup and even Warrnambool’s Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic has been run thirty nine times so to have this event at Avalon is great.”
This Saturday night’s Fireball Derby is also the second round of the hotly contested Essendon Ford Sprintcar track championship and also the seventh round of the domestic Victorian based Eureka Sprintcar Series.
Young Warrnambool star Jamie Veal leads the Eureka Series standings from Darren Mollenoyux while Simpson duo John Vogels and Tim Rankin are effectively leading the track championship due to point leader Steven Lines being committed to World Series Sprintcars. Vogels finished runner up behind Lines in the opening meeting of the season in November while Rankin also finished on the podium. Vogels, a five times and current Eureka Sprintcar Series champion would love nothing more than to add a brand new car to his garage come season’s end.
“Even though there has only been one round of the track championship completed, following this weekends event there will be a real trend starting to appear in the race for the brand new Ford Fiesta,” said Drew.
Thirty-four Sprintcars have entered for this Saturday night’s Fireball Derby including defending track champion Stephen Bell. Defending event winner Mike Van Bremen will also be keen to return to victory lane while a host of Victoria’s finest will all be trying to add their name to the illustrious list of previous winners.
Public gates will open at 3pm Saturday afternoon with Sprintcars taking to the track from 6pm while the always exciting Super Rods will also be on the program.
Admission:
Adults $25
Concession $20
Child 12-16 $10
Child 5-11 $5
Child Under 5 Free
Website; www.avalonraceway.com
For more info contact Jeff Drew 0418 160 985 / Gavin White email gwxp@speedway.net.au