Media Release – January 31st, 2008

This Saturday, February 2, sees the Sprintcar Thunder Series return to the historic Redline Raceway Ballarat for the first time this championship season.

Chief title protagonists Troy Little and Ian Lewis were all fired up to continue the battle here late last year until an issue with the track lighting saw the event postponed at the last minute. However, the lights are well and truly switched on now and the two Sprintcar terrorists can’t wait to cut lose on the old quarter mile speed bowl.

“It seems like last season since we actually last faced off against each other due to events beyond our control.” Stated Sydney Speedster Troy Little. “Lewis just got the edge on us in the opening round, the second was rained out, the third postponed and then we had pole at the last round before the feature was cancelled without it being run so I’m eager to try and square up the ledger and take the series lead.”

Lewis is just as keen to maintain his lead and win the championship prize in what may be his last season of competition due to the impending retirement of his car owner and benefactor Paul Jordan

Last season at Redline, Bendigo’s Darren Hickman had his best series result ever and after a solid fifth place in open competition with his ASCS 360 engine at Avalon recently he will pose a major threat to everyone.

We’ve said it before, and hopefully this time it will come true that Frank Ramsdale will actually make his series debut after a litany of issues kept him from taking to the track in Leon Hennessey’s #8. Ramsdale will have plenty of  frustration to use as motivation this weekend.

Ricky Barrand is having his best season of 360 Sprintcar competition since his new engine arrived and he even contested the Fireball Derby and Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic with David Cooks 372 engine last weekend. Watch out for the former AMCA Nationals Australian champion.

David Cook is also expected to make his series debut with the ex Luke Veal 360 engine and could be a strong competitor. “Cookie” was a top class Super Rod racer before reversing direction and putting a wing over his head.

The Solomon brothers of Chris and Paul will return to the drivers seat after a brief hiatus in their pair of Rolling Thunder Raceway Eagles.

Westside Honda’s Mark Charge will shake them up a little as he continues to shine in his second year of competition as will Lauren Densley, Ashley Burke and Rob Tresize. Former VSC Sprintcar racer and Densleys partner Brad Foster made his series debut at the last round and was quickly up to speed in his ASCS powered car which Densley raced at last years Brodix Tournament of Champions event.

SPEEDWAY ON THE RADIO

Additionally, in the lead up to the next two events at Rolling Thunder Raceway (February 9th and February 23rd), Sports Entertainment Network. Radio SEN 1116 on the am dial is to feature interviews with leading Sprintcar All Star Competitors in their “On The Grid” segment which air’s each Sunday between 8-10am.

Leading radio announcer Tony Schibeci will interview drivers in the lead up to the two “All Star” events at Rolling Thunder Raceway on the 9th and 23rd of February.

Tony, who attended the Thunder Showdown on the 2nd of January 2008 at Rolling Thunder Raceway Bacchus Marsh was impressed with the shear speed of the Sprintcars and has vowed to return for a ride in the “Two Seater” Sprintcar at a future event.