EXCITEMENT BUILDS WITH OPENING DAY OF CASTROL EDGE WINTERNATIONALS

10 June 2010

The opening day of the Castrol EDGE Winternationals has concluded with the official fan night for the Event held at Ipswich’s Riverlink Shopping Centre tonight.

The on track action at Queensland’s Willowbank Raceway began with qualifying for the Sportsman categories, before some of Australia’s Drag Racing stars headed to the nearby Riverlink centre for a meet and greet with fans.

Top Fuel stars Phil Read, Martin Stamatis and Darren Morgan, Top Doorslammer competitors Victor Bray and Matt Abel, Top Alcohol’s Steve Reed, Pro Bike’s Andrew Badcock and Michael Gilbertson and Top Bike’s Chris Matheson were all signing autographs as the first day of four for the Castrol EDGE Winternationals came to a close at the Ipswich quarter-mile.

The Castrol EDGE Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway is the largest drag racing event held outside of the US with an excess of 480 competitors in action across the four days to Sunday afternoon, including 85 from the elite ANDRA Pro Series categories of Top Fuel, Top Doorslammer, Top Alcohol, Top Bike, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Bike.

Tomorrow's action will kick off from 8.00am with the ANDRA Pro Series categories hitting the track from 12 noon, with the ontrack action continuing through to 8.00pm.

Saturday will see everyone return for an 8.30am start with the Pro categories on track from 11.30am, including 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).

The Castrol EDGE Winternationals is the largest drag racing event outside of the US and is the season finale for the 2009/2010 ANDRA Pro Series season. For more information, schedules or to purchase tickets, please visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au