From Valvoline Raceway
Sydney, AU — (February 26, 2015) — Valvoline Raceway will continue its commitment to preserving the history of Speedway at the iconic Parramatta venue by honoring four Sprintcar legends on individual nights of competition in March.
The celebration of some of the sport’s greats will culminate on March 28 when all of the 17 former Track Champions are recognized.
“The excitement that we have for the future at Valvoline Raceway is matched by our pride in the past,” says Valvoline Raceway Managing Director Steve Green, “since the first ever Track Championship was won by Bob Tunks in 1977/78 there’s been a who’s who of Sprintcar racing collect the honours. When you look back at the winners over the last thirty-five plus years it’s something to be enormously proud of at this track. It’s certainly overdue to celebrate these men and their teams and families.”
Saturday night March 7 will be the first of the “Month of Money” races for the current stars and will see five times Australian Champion Dick Briton honored fittingly on the same night as the Wingless Sprints race with son Dick and granddaughter Nikki also on the grid.
Saturday night March 14 sees a tribute for Bob Tunks – the man who won the first two Track Championships back to back in 1977/78 and 1978/1979 and then repeated the dose on three further occasions to equal Garry Rush’s record. Bob sits ninth on the all time winners’ list at PCR/VR with 24 main event wins.
Saturday night March 21 will honour two-time Australian Sprintcar Champion Jim Winterbottom who stood on top of the country in 1969 and 1974. Jim is still a regular visitor to Valvoline Raceway as a spectator but the Winterbottom name is still prevalent as Jim’s brother Gary is the Sprintcar club’s long time Chief Steward.
The final night of the Sprintcar Track Championship on March 28 will see “The Streak” Bob Blacklaw as the Grand Marshall of the event. The three-time PCR Track Champion still sits proudly sixth on the all time winner’s list for feature wins with 33 main event successes.
“We’re excited that these four men will be able to come down and be celebrated by the spectators, our current teams and our Valvoline Raceway team,” says Steve Green, “it’s fitting that we look forward the future with respect to the past. All four of those nights in March will be just that little bit more special with Dick, Bob, Jim and Bob all here.”