January 30, 2017
Meet the new “King of Kingaroy” … Gold Coast speedway driver Greg Worling has been crowned king for a second reign after the fifth annual Kings Royal.
The Kings Royal – the South Burnett Speedway Club’s premier event – was run and won on Saturday, topping off three nights of exciting racing action in Kingaroy.
The Kings Royal is for Modified Sedans, ie race cars built on the base of four-seat hardtop sedan.
This year’s event attracted a record number of nominations, almost 70, all keen to take home the $10,000 first prize.
The drivers and their support crews – from Queensland, NSW and Victoria – provided an economic boost for the South Burnett as well as an opportunity to see some of the best speedway drivers in Australia in action.
Heats were raced from Australia Day night to eventually trim the field back to 24 racers who took to the track for the A Main final late on Saturday night.
The early laps of the final were dominated by Australian champion Brett Baxter and fellow Gympie driver Mark Raymont.
Close behind was Gold Coast driver and eventual winner Worling.
These positions seemed fixed until the half-way mark when the trio started to get caught up in lapped traffic.
Raymont was the first to get past Baxter, followed by Worling who then took the lead with 20 laps to go.
Last year’s winner, Gavin Fletcher, from Brisbane, spun out 11 laps from the chequered flag.
Local driver Brett Barron caused some concern when he was forced to pull to the track wall with smoke pouring out of his cabin; Barron was not hurt in the incident.
The close racing also caused a number of other small incidents which added to the excitement for the big crowd in the stands.
This is the second time that Worling has won the Kings Royal; he was also crowned in 2014 and was runner-up last year.
As well as Modified Sedans, a number of other categories were also raced over the three days in Kingaroy: Junior Sedans, Production Sedans, Street Stocks, Late Models and Wingless Sprints.
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Kings Royal Results
1. Greg Worling – Holden VY Commodore – Gold Coast
2. Brett Baxter – Holden VZ Commodore – Gympie
3. Rodney Pammenter – Holden VZ Commodore – Gowrie Junction
4, Lincoln Bath – Holden VZ Commodore – Brisbane
5. Mark Raymont – Ford EL Falcon – Gympie
