Busy night in store as Raceway resumes

The Raceway meeting is the final qualifying round of the tough 16 event series and the driver who departs the Ballymena Showgrounds at the top of the points chart will clinch the coveted title.

A high-octane night of action lies ahead with Stewart Doak, John Christie, Glenn Bell and defending champion Gary Woolsey all still in with a chance of claiming the honours.

The top five drivers in the points chart will also be confirmed as the Northern Ireland representatives at this year’s World Final so race fans can expect plenty of drama and tension when the National Hot Rods take to the track on Friday evening.

Also on the race card at the Curtis Toyota sponsored meeting are the Stock Rod, Junior Rod and Group Two Lightning Rod classes which will all be competing for a special Jubilee Trophy.

Ballymena lad Chris Gordon took the Stock Rod honours last time out in his Peugeot 106 and will hope to challenge again along with other top local drivers such as Victor McAfee, Micky McFall and Carl Sloan.

Young chargers Derek McMillan and Marc Morrell have made a great impression in their first full season in the senior ranks and will have their eyes set on some silverware, while you can never rule out current British and Irish Champion Raymond Harper from Dundrod.

Kenny Carson is aiming to notch up a hat-trick in the Showgrounds on Friday evening.

The local man has won the Group Two Lightning Rod final on his last two outings at Raceway and will be looking to make it three in a row for the Autoclean Vauxhall Astra.

Mark Turtle and David Wilson both enjoyed race victories last time out in the competitive Group Two section, while Rodney Stewart from Cullybackey and Jason Clyde from Broughshane are both knocking on the door of a race win.

Bradley McKinstry was crowned Top Teen at the Junior Rods previous Raceway outing and the Nutts Corner lad will be trying to add the Jubilee Trophy to his growing collection of awards. Jaimie McCurdy won the Golden Helmet award at Nutts Corner Raceway recently and the Aughafatten lad will be seeking to transfer that form to his home circuit.

Gracehill teenager Peter Greer and Aaron Moody from Ballymena are two other hopes for a local win, with Aidan McFerran from Portglenone and Antrim ace Dean McCrory also top contenders for honours.

It promises to be an exciting evening of motorsport in the Ballymena Showgrounds with the first race commencing at 7:15pm.