SPORTSMAN SHOOTOUT: ONE EXCITING SHOT AT GLORY!
31 May 2016
Committed to bringing racers the most dynamic and exciting racing experience, as well as finding new ways to give Sportsman entrants more time on the track, Willowbank Raceway and the 400 Thunder team will debut a new shootout-style sub-event on Thursday 9th June at this year's City of Ipswich Winternationals.
Dubbed the '400 Thunder Sportsman Shootout', the event will be open to Sportsman competitors (Modified, Super Sedan, Pro Radial, Super Street, Supercharged Outlaws, Top Sportsman, Super Gas, Modified Bike and Junior Dragster).
A $50 buy-in will give competitors the shot at a prize pool, which has been given a $3,000 head start by Willowbank Raceway. Entrant buy-ins will form the rest of the prize pool, which could total up to $8,000!
“If we get 100 Sportsman Shootout entrants then the winner could walk home with a cool $5,000, while the runner up could get a $1,000 pat on the back and each semi-finalist could potentially receive $500,” explains Tracey Fletcher, Racing Manager at Willowbank Raceway.
After entrants complete their first qualifying run for the Winternationals, the will be given one shot at a perfect pass for the ‘400 Thunder Sportsman Shootout’. Entrants will race against their dial-in, with the top four open and doored competitors being combined before proceeding in to a series of elimination rounds until a winner emerges.
And with the cut-throat nature of shootout racing levelling the field, the 400 Thunder Sportsman Shootout truly is anyone’s game!
The 400 Thunder Sportsman Shootout will also recognise the fiercely competitive Bike and Junior Dragster categories, and field size and prize pool will be finalised on the day pending support from each category.
"It's just another way that we can think to get people on the track, and it’s important at big events like the City of Ipswich Winternationals to make sure everyone gets their share of track time," commented Willowbank Raceway president Tony Wedlock.
"It's equally important for us to recognise the investment of time, money and talent amongst all entrants. The Fuellers are our headline act no doubt, but the event wouldn't succeed without entrants in all categories, all the way down to our Junior Dragsters, so to be able to instigate a sub-event that gives them some more time in the spotlight is great for the Winters, and it's great for racing."
The City of Ipswich Winternationals lights up Willowbank Raceway from Thursday 9th June and races the whole way through to June 12th. With a field of over 400 racers from all around Australia, as well as the support of the country's best Top Fuellers pedalled by the fastest drivers from all over the world, it promises to be a weekend full of ground-shaking racing that you can't afford to miss!
Tickets are available online or at the gate, and children under 13 get in free with a paying adult.