Only days remain before almost 500 racers take to Queensland’s Willowbank Raceway for the Castrol EDGE Winternationals
The event is the largest drag racing event outside of the US and is also the season final for the 2009-2010 ANDRA Pro Series, with many championships yet to be decided, including many in the Professional categories.
More than 80 Professional racers from the categories of Top Fuel (9), Top Alcohol (14), Top Doorslammer (20), Top Bike (13), Pro Stock (20) and Pro Stock Bike (9) will be joined by hundreds for sportsman categories and two V8 Supercar stars – Greg Murphy and Russell Ingall for the Castrol EDGE V8 Supercar Shootout – while plenty of off track entertainment including roving performers and children’s rides will ensure non-stop entertainment.
Part of that entertainment will be a special team of six of the award-winning North Queensland Cowboys cheerleading squad.
Incorporating gymnastics, dance and cheer into one package, the team has acquired several championship trophies and world-wide competition status, and Willowbank Raceway Managing Director Steve Bettes said he was ecstatic to have this elite squad joining the Castrol EDGE Wintnerationals entertainment line-up.
“To have the North Queensland Cowboys cheer squad, who are elite in their field, is really great for this event and its fans, and sits well with what this event is all about – the best drag racing event in the country and outside of the US, the best racers and the best racing,” said Bettes.
“I have no doubt that between the show provided by the cheer squad, our roving entertainment, children’s rides, behind the scenes action and of course the on-track action provided by our 480 plus racers, that the fans will be spoilt for choice this Queen’s Birthday long weekend.
“We had 120 of the racers here yesterday for the official Winters Warm-Up event and I can tell you the excitement is certainly building – the place is buzzing and with some great results at the weekend it is looking like it will be a massive four days of racing.
“In the Pro Stock category especially things are looking like they are going to be very heated, with run after run right on the limit on Sunday including a strong showing by American racer Todd Patterson despite the fact he is still coming to grips with the unfamiliar facility.”
The Castrol EDGE Winternationals will kick off at 9.00am Thursday June 10 with qualifying for the sportsman categories through to 8.00pm, before Friday again kicks off at 8.00am with the ANDRA Pro Series categories of Top Fuel, Top Doorslammer, Top Alcohol, Top Bike, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Bike hitting the track from 12 noon for their first two of four qualifying runs.
Friday’s action will continue through to around 8.00pm before Saturday sees everyone return for an 8.30am start with the Pro categories on track from 11.30am, including the racing by V8 Supercar stars Greg Murphy and Russell Ingall for the Castrol EDGE V8 Supercar Shootout. Saturday will conclude at 7.00pm before Sunday’s finals day starts from 8.00am with Pro Series eliminations from 10.00am, with racing expected to conclude at 4.00pm (all Finals from 3.00pm).
In celebration of the upcoming festivities Willowbank Raceway will hold the official fan night of the event at Ipswich’s Riverlink Shopping Centre (Foodcourt) on Thursday June 10 from 6.30pm, with the stars of Australia’s professional drag racing categories on-site to sign autographs, with entertainment and giveaways also on offer for fans.
The Castrol EDGE Winternationals will host the championship ANDRA Pro Series final rounds for Top Fuel, Top Alcohol, Top Doorslammer, Pro Stock, Morgan & Wacker Top Bike and Morgan & Wacker Pro Stock Bike as well as final championship rounds for all of the sportsman brackets.
For more information, schedules or to purchase tickets, please visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au
