Ashland to Australia, Francis takes the championship

This series is going on my bucket list.

Local racer Steve Francis is getting off to an awesome start with the Australian Late Model title.

He'll be headed to Florida shortly to begin the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, racing the #15 Georgia Boot Toyota Camry for Clint Bowyer Racing.

This is a release from the Australian series following the championship along with a couple of photos, and has been posted on Facebook.

Steve Francis Wins the 2013 Australian Dirt Late Model Championship at Bunbury
Press Release for Late Model Racing Australia by Allan Smallwood

American Late Model superstar Steve Francis has won the 2013 Australian Dirt Late Model Championship at Quit Bunbury Speedway last night (January 12th).
 
Francis lead the forty lap championship A Main from start to finish and was never defeated for the entire running of the Australian Championship.

Craig Vosbergen drove a great race to finish second from Warren Oldfield who finished third.

Thirty cars fronted for the second night of the Australian championship with American Devin Moran and Ross Nicastri both sidelined with engine dramas after the first night. South Australian Luke Raymond would also not start the second night with mechanical issues.

Four heat races were held on the second night with drivers contesting one heat each. Steve Francis would win heat nine comfortably over Ryan Halliday and Jamie Oldfield.

Warren Oldfield held off Matt Goodlad in heat ten with New South Wales Darryl Grimson following them home in third.

Craig Vosbergen would continue to show he was a serious chance in the title with another heat win in heat eleven with Vosbergen getting the job done ahead of Matt Noakes and Mick Hamon who had a great battle for second for the entire race.

The final heat race of the weekend would see a depleted field contest the ten laps with Lee Watt scoring maximum points ahead of Koran Atkinson and Matt Nylander.

The top sixteen pointscorers at the end of all the heat races went on to contest the A & B dashes over eight laps.

Steve Francis dominated the A dash, earning himself pole position for the A main. Vosbergen, Warren Oldfield and Jamie Oldfield followed Francis home in the A dash.

Jason Oldfield would lead the early laps of the B Dash before spinning in turn one right in front of Darryl Grimson. Oldfield would retire to the infield with issues in the rear of the MDR transport machine. Grimson would restart in the lead and win the B Dash from Mick Hamon and Koran Atkinson.

A big opening lap accident would occur involving Brad Ludlow, Matt & David Nylander and Dale Clark at the start of the B Main. David Nylander would be the only driver to restart.

Jac Dolmans and Clint Noakes had a great battle for the lead in the B Main with Noakes coming out on top. Matt Noakes got the better of Dolmans in the closing laps finished second from Dolmans, Simon McNab, Ray Leonard and Peter Seaton who all qualified into the A main. Mick Clune and Craig Greentree rounded out the finishers with Mick Clune earning himself a starting position in the A main after Jason Oldfield withdrew with mechanical issues.

Twenty two cars would start the forty lap championship A Main to decide the 2013 Australian Late Model Champion. Francis would lead away at the start with Matt Goodlad and Koran Atkinson both retiring to the infield on the opening lap.

 After ten laps the first restart would occur when Mick Clune hit the wall heavily in turn three. Clune would walk away from the nasty accident with his car sustaining major damage.

Darryl Grimson would hit the wall on the back straight with twenty four laps remaining ending the New South Welshman’s chances while running in seventh place.

 Francis would continue to lead with the laps winding down with Vosbergen comfortably in second place. Jac Dolmans and Mick Hamon would both retire from the race with ten laps remaining with Francis lapping the field up to fifth place.

Matt Noakes would make heavy contact with the wall with six laps remaining bringing Francis back to the field for the sprint to the finish. 

Francis would charge away at the restart and go on to comfortably to win his second straight Australian championship over Vosbergen and Warren Oldfield. Jamie Oldfield who was driving the Brad Blake owned Rocket held onto fourth from Michael Holmes who finished in fifth after doing an engine changed before the main event, Holmes started the race from fifteen.

Ryan Halliday would battle an ill handling racecar into a sixth place finish from Lee Watt, Phil Zuidema, Paul Joss, Matt Crimmins, Clint Noakes and Simon McNab who rounded out the finishers.

Francis was delighted in victory lane, “Great to win this race again, its means a lot to me to come out here and win the title for Michael Holmes and his Ozmine team. Hopefully I can continue the momentum when I go to the east coast now for a couple more races”.

The 2014 Australian Dirt Late Model Championship will be held at the picturesque Borderline Speedway in Mount Gambier in South Australia. The Championship will be held on the 6th, 7th& 8th of March 2014.

2013 Australian Late Model Championship A Main Official Placings
1. USA91 Steve Francis (40 Laps)
2. W8 Craig Vosbergen (40 Laps)
3. W15 Warren Oldfield (40 Laps)
4. W0 Jamie Oldfield (40 Laps)
5. W91 Michael Holmes (39 Laps)
6. W99 Ryan Halliday (39 Laps)
7. W10 Lee Watt (39 Laps)
8. W39 Phil Zuidema (38 Laps)
9. W22 Paul Joss (38 Laps)
10. SA10 Matt Crimmins (38 Laps)
11. W23 Clint Noakes (37 Laps)
12. W49 Simon McNab (37 Laps)
DNF W20 Matt Noakes (31 Laps)
DNF W57 Michael Hamon (28 Laps)
DNF W46 Jac Dolmans (27 Laps)
DNF NSW6 Darryl Grimson (14 Laps)
DNF W5 Ray Leonard (10 Laps)
DNF W3 Mick Cline (8 Laps)
DNF W9 Ben Ludlow (4 Laps)
DNF W65 Peter Seaton (2 Laps)
DNF W18 Matt Goodlad (0 Laps)
DNF W63 Koran Atkinson (0 Laps)

 

Ready, set, party and race!

Here is a shameless plug for a race peep’s business. I met and got to know Wayne Brown through the Official NASCAR Members Club over the past few years. He always brings fun stuff to our tailgates in Charlotte, N.C. And it’s generally easier to find race-themed items through him, because I certainly have problems finding stuff locally.

This is Wayne’s latest Facebook post.

Race Party Decorations, LLC

Happy 2013 to all my Facebook friends, this is going to be a great year for racing!!!

Just for liking Race Party Decorations on Facebook you can get a 10% Discount on purchases at Race Party Decorations. We carry a large variety of black & white checkered, NASCAR and generic race themed party decorations and tableware. We have VERY FAST SHIPPING! FREE ground shipping on orders over $100.00.

Put the code FBW2013 in the voucher space in the shopping cart to receive 10% off your order.
http://www.RacePartyDecorations.com/

This is the car, that won the race that Australia put on over Christmas. Driven by local resident, Steve Francis.

Today’s next offering is a shout out to Ashland, Kentucky’s Steve Francis, who continues his winning ways on track. Right now, that’s in Australia and the Australian Late Model Championship series expects him to have back-to-back titles.

Australian Late Model Championship Preview by Allan Smallwood
A quality field of close to 40 entries has been received for the 2012/13 Australian Dirt Late Model title to be held at Quit Bunbury Speedway on January 11th and 12^th.

This will be the 12th staging of the National Late Model title with the Bunbury track hosting the event for the first time. 

The big, fast, Quit Bunbury Speedway is an ideal venue to host one of Australia’s biggest speedway events and has held many National titles in the past.

Heading the nominations for the Australian Late Model Championship is defending champion Steve Francis from Ashland, Kentucky in the United States of America.

Francis won last years title held at Sydney Speedway and will defend the title in the Michael Holmes owned Rocket that he has been campaigning during the Supatilt Wild West Tour.

If Francis shows the form that he has shown during the opening rounds of the Wild West Tour he will be hard to stop at Bunbury.

AMRA gets new management

Another group is getting new management for the 2013 race season. I'm feeling editorial commentary coming over me shortly.

Here is the information sent out by our friend Scott Wolfe on the AMRA management change.

RACINE, OHIO-The American Motor Racing Association would like to announce that the organization’s ownership has been transferred to DRIVE - a group of investors from various aspects of the racing community. The mission of DRIVE is to promote dirt track racing in an effective, economical, and simplistic fashion that insures a safe, level playing field for dirt modified and dirt late model racers.  Through the AMRA, DRIVE will strive to keep costs for racers at an affordable level, improve and equalize competition, unite area promoters under one uniform set of rules, and energize the foundation of dirt track racing fans throughout  WV, Ohio, Kentucky, and Virginia.

 

DRIVE is an acronym for Driver, Race Promoter, Investment, Vision, Equitable.

The AMRA will build upon the strong foundation established during the previous 19 years that the organization has been in existence. Under new leadership, the organization will take the lead in restructuring and enforcing its rules’ package, while at the same time working to reduce costs, increase participation, and fan involvement and to help to promote AMRA sanctioned tracks.

Sponsors are excited about what is ahead for the AMRA.  “I am excited about being involved as the Rookie of the Year sponsor again in 2013,” said Dave Norton of Carthage Auto Parts.  After a one-year absence, Norton and Carthage have returned as a strong AMRA supporter.

Scott Wolfe, Director of Racing Operations for the AMRA the past three years will remain in that position, and will be the point of contact for the new organization. Wolfe can be reached at 740-992-1490 or via e-mail at swolfe1490@suddenlink.net or via mail at Scott Wolfe, AMRA, Box 872, Racine, Ohio 45771.

"I am anxious to get started," said Wolfe. "This is an exciting time in the racing world. The new investment group is an energized, proactive group that has the genuine concerns of racers and track promoters at heart."

What will remain is the lucrative National AMRA Points Fund which has paid out several hundred thousand dollars in cash awards over the past 19 seasons, most recently paying out over $40,000 at its 2012 awards dinner and banquet. It is the AMRA’s intention to restore the weekly points to pay back 35 spots in 2013 in the open wheel modified division and to maintain the point funding commitment to the AMRA Late Model division.  It is also AMRA’s intention to once again offer a ‘parts and equipment package’ valued at well over $10,000 for member competitors.

The revised rules’ package will be available in print and on the AMRA website no later than January 15^th and according to Wolfe, “very possibly well in advance of that date.”

Wolfe added, "We want everyone to have a shot at winning. We want the cars to be equal under the rules, and the drivers to make the difference on the racetrack. The AMRA wants a level playing field for all."

"If a car was inadvertently or by inappropriate interpretation deemed legal last year, it Does NOT mean it will be legal this year. This is a new year under new management-- a year that I think will be a year of victory for fans, drivers, and track owners/promoters," said Wolfe.

Wolfe reminds everyone that all safety equipment, namely helmets and seatbelts/shoulder harnesses should be up to the current Snell and SFI standards. All helmets must be certified to Snell SA2005 or SA2010 Standards (Rule 11).  All belts must be dated no more than three (3) years old (Rule 14). If not dated, AMRA must assume the date has expired and they will not be allowed. No belts or harnesses should be cut or altered; nor used if damaged.

AMRA is updating contacts with speedways in the region. The AMRA hopes to announce a technical director soon; and announce the site and date for a tech seminar tentatively set for late January.

The AMRA will once again be racing on Hoosier Tires in its modified division for 2013 as HOOSIER once again will contribute significantly to the season's point fund.

Malta Doors and Windows was the Title Sponsor of the AMRA Modifieds and Tru-Tech Customs for the Late Models in 2012.  Other fine sponsors of the MALTA AMRA Modified series are Dave Poske's Performance Parts, Octane Race Products, Wrisco Industries, Hoosier Racing Tire/Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley,  Carthage Auto Parts, AERO Racing Wheels, Rocket Chassis, Lincoln Welders & Lincoln Electric, Hypercoils, Bazell Race Fuels, Alky Racing Alcohol and Sunoco Race Fuels, Impact Racing, ADP Rivets, RCI, OTR Filters, MSD Ignition, Wilwood Brakes, Kluhsman Racing Components (KRC), Evans Vinyl Signs, Winters Performance Products, Bilstein Shocks,  AFCO, PST Drive Shafts, Schoenfeld, Killer Bee Race Bodies, Bell Racing Helmets, The Bumper Man, and Pike Street Lanes.  Join the AMRA now!-America's Open Wheeled Modified’s Most Competitive Series!

Drivers and Fans can seek updates on www.amramodified.com or the AMRA FaceBook page. The AMRA wishes to thank to all of the racers and promoters who have supported and participated in the past and to those continuing to support and participate in the AMRA. 

A word from our driver. . .

Steve Francis is off to a great start in Late Model Racing Australia series and he is a interview done a few days ago in the land Down Under. Steve, of Ashland, Ky., is 2 for 2 in wins and well on his way to taking this series!