January 30, 2020
About 8500 people passed through the gates of the Kingaroy Speedway over the weekend … the biggest Kings Royal event yet!
South Burnett Speedway secretary Tanya Barron said the eighth annual Kings Royal had been an awesome three days of racing and a huge success for the club.
“It was the biggest Kings Royal … the car count, the crowd, everything,” she said.
“It was all very clean racing and exciting right up to the big race, where they were still racing two across the track.”
The Kings Royal is Australia’s richest event for Modified Sedans.
Heats were held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday before a number of elimination events and the exciting 50-lap final late on Sunday night.
Australian champion Kye Walters, from Victoria, took out the $10,000 first prize money (and crown) just 0.2 seconds ahead of Queensland driver Aidan Raymont after a closely fought battle.
Mark Raymont was in third spot.
Aidan Raymont and Walters hit the finishing line almost simultaneously after racing doorhandle to doorhandle.
Raymont – who logged the fastest lap in the Final – actually got past Walters at one point only to be called back under a restart.
The Modifieds action on Sunday night had fans on the edge of their seats, with Dashes and Pole Shuffles determining places in the Final.
The frantic efforts in the “last chance” B Main led to a six-car pile-up on Lap 8. Twenty drivers started the race, eager to earn a spot in the final, but only eight finished, leaving the in-field looking like a wrecking yard.
But the Modifieds didn’t hog all the action over the weekend … Modlites were racing on Friday and Saturday as well as Production Sedans on Friday and Street Stocks on Saturday.
Juniors hit the track on Sunday in two classes, New Stars and Top Stars (for more experienced racers).
The Queens Royal, for women, returned for the third year on Sunday but was split for the first time into two classes: New Stars and Top Stars.
Two-time winner, Maggie McGee, was performing strongly in the 15-lap Top Stars final before having to pull out on Lap 7.
The 2020 Queens Royal crown went to Top Stars winner Brooke Ferguson.
The Queens Royal New Stars ended early after a pile-up knocked out the frontrunner, Neisa Rasmussen. Her car finished on a tow-hook but she ended up on the podium.
- More Speedway Photos: Denise Keelan Photography
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Raw video of the parade of finalists ahead of the Kings Royal main race on Sunday night:
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Results
(Photo: Denise Keelan Photography)
(Photo: Denise Keelan Photography)
- External link: Full Race Results
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Gallery Of Photos
A well-written piece of sporting news, so much action at the IBRP Kingaroy Speedway was depicted in this write-up. Thank you. I have always believed that a well-run speedway with community support is a winner for all concerned.
I saw many shoppers, with the speedway arm bands on, purchasing items. I have been led to believe many accommodation motels have already received booking (tentative dates still to officially released) for a return visit, same time period as next year. Congratulations to all the volunteers who worked tirelessly to host this event.