Kingaroy Speedway Smashes Record

2018-19 Modified Sedans national title holder, Kye Walters, with the Number 1 roof plate which was presented to him by 2017-18 champion Cameron Waters after the official podium ceremony on Saturday night

April 29, 2019

“Absolutely sensational” … that’s how Kingaroy Speedway president Travis Barron summed up the two nights of racing at the weekend.

Travis said a record crowd of 12,000 people had come through the gate on Friday and Saturday nights to watch the heats and finals of the National Titles in Modifieds and Modlites.

And that was not counting children under 12 who came in for free!

The crowd figure topped the record set at the Kings Royal in January of 11,000 – and that was spread across three nights of racing.

Travis said people had been raving to him about both the racing and the Kingaroy showgrounds track.

“Drivers said to me that they had never been to a race meeting as good as this in Australia or a better venue,” he said.

“They were absolutely gob-smacked.”

He had also received compliments from the drivers about the friendliness of the town.

“It was massive.”

Not only were the races watched by a record crowd at the track – they were also livestreamed to an even bigger audience on the internet.

A large screen erected at the track also allowed spectators to enjoy replays of incidents and watch live interviews with the drivers.

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Modifieds

Victorian driver Kye Walters came from a few rows back to grab the Modifieds National title on Saturday night.

After two nights of keen racing, defending champion Cameron Waters started on the front row for the 40-lap A Main final.

Waters, Gladstone driver Brodie Boss and reigning Queensland champion Aidan Raymont battled it out during the early stages of the final, with some spectacular racing.

At this stage, Walters was involved in his own battle with Victorian Brock Atkins for fourth spot.

The final only had two stoppages but the first, on Lap 17, led to the retirement of local driver Brett Barron. After the restart, favourite Cameron Waters was forced to pull out.

Kye Walters made the most of his luck, racing into second spot and then taking the lead on Lap 21.

Aidan Raymont – who recorded the quickest lap in the final – gave chase for the rest of the race but not could not close the gap, with his brother Mark holding down third.

Queensland champion and Kings Royal winner Aidan Raymont and Kye Walters race side-by-side in the final of the National Title … Aidan finished in 2nd spot on the podium

Victorian driver Bryan Galley ends his run in the Modifieds A Main final in flames on Lap 9

Tasmanian State champion Kye Walters, from Torquay in Victoria, does a lap of honour after winning the 40-lap final

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Kingaroy driver Ashley Barron had a night of ups and downs … he easily won Heat 33 in the Modifieds on Saturday but then was involved in a crash on Lap 5 of the B Main (centre) which ended his hopes of earning a spot in the final … the B Main was one of the most exciting races on the night

Originally there were going to be 99 drivers competing for the Modifieds title, then that became 100 … five pulled out for various reasons before race day but that still left a huge field of State and National champions and former champions (Photo: Denise Keelan Photography)

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Modlites

In comparison to the Modifieds final, the Modlites A Main National Title final was a race of attrition.

Twenty-four cars started but after multiple stoppages, only nine were still circulating when the chequered flag fell.

The eventual winner, Gympie’s Kyle Honour, put in the fastest lap time of the final and managed to steer clear of the carnage on the track.

Kingaroy driver Travis Barron also managed to keep out of trouble. As vehicles dropped out ahead of him it looked at one stage like Barron had a chance of “doing a Bradbury”, but it wasn’t to be and he finished in sixth place.

Second placegetter, Scott Lehfeldt, from Toowoomba, started in 17th spot to finish on the podium.