04 January 2008   
MEDIA RELEASE - FRIDAY ACTION POSTPONED TO SATURDAY MORNING

Due to rain falling on the track this afternoon after a fine morning, the Willowbank Raceway Managing Committee has decided to cancel tonight’s Night Fire Top Fuel Spectacular action, with qualifying to instead take place tomorrow morning ahead of the evening’s pre-scheduled Elimination rounds.

All categories will have two qualifying rounds, with the Superstreet Eliminator, Junior Dragster and Modified Eliminator classes hitting the quarter mile first at 9.00am sharp with the Group One categories of Top Fuel, Top Alcohol and Pro Stock Motorcycles enjoying their first qualifying round at 10.00am.

Willowbank Raceway Managing Director Steve Bettes said the weather forecast for the Ipswich area tomorrow was fine and he anticipated a interruption-free day of Night Fire Top Fuel Spectacular action.

“The forecast provided to us by the Bureau of Meterology is for the Ipwsich area to be 31 degrees and fine,” said Bettes.

“The plan is to for each category including Group One to complete two qualifying runs before going ahead with the Elimination rounds in the evening as planned in the original schedule.

“I strongly urge anyone interested in drag racing to come out to the track tomorrow with a full day and night of action set to play out and plenty of fun for the whole family.”

Those who have purchased tickets for today’s racing can have their ticket honoured for entry tomorrow, or a credit given where patrons are unable to attend. For those with two-day tickets, a credit will also be given for a day’s racing in the future.

A full schedule for tomorrow’s qualifying will be drafted overnight, with the evening’s Eliminations to run as planned with Group One scheduled to run at 5.00pm, 7.00pm and 9.00pm.

The New Year Top Fuel extravaganza at Willowbank Raceway delighted spectators during the 2007 running of the event, which saw the quickest side-by-side pass in the history of Australian Top Fuel drag racing at the time set when Phil Read’s 4.66 seconds (317 mph/ 511 km/h) proved just too good for Allan Dobson who turned in a 4.71 second effort (306 mph/ 494 km/h) in the final.

The overall performance over the two days reaffirmed Australian drag racing’s position as the best competition outside the professional ranks of North America and continued to enhance the reputation of Queensland’s Willowbank Raceway. This weekend's event also features a family entertainment package including fireworks, skydivers and free kids rides.