Laurie Fitzgerald on a roll to third Eighth Mile title this weekend
Super Sedan racer Laurie Fitzgerald heads to this weekend’s grand finale of the 2014 JP Racing Eighth Mile Drag Racing Series as a two-time champion, ready to clinch his third.
The event, to be held this weekend on Saturday 27 September at Ironbark Raceway, will be a nail-biter with only a small points margin covering the top racers of the Ice Slushee Super Sedan bracket.
And Fitzgerald says anything could happen.
“There are about five or six racers at this point that could walk away with the Series win, and even more who could claim the runner-up spot, it is extremely competitive,” said Fitzgerald.
“I think that is great, I love it being such a tight race right down to the very end. It really is the great thing about this Series that it encourages competition like it does.
“Absolutely anything can happen this weekend, so we will just have to try about best, just like everyone else will be!”
Despite the title showdown, Fitzgerald doesn’t expect the relaxed atmosphere of the JP Racing Eighth Mile Series to disappear.
“It won’t make a difference at all, it will still be a great atmosphere with cars and people from all over South East Queensland and even further away,” said Fitzgerald, who is supported on-track by Lucas Oils.
“We all love this kind of racing, and we all keep an eye on the points and give each other a good ribbing when we win a race or advance a point or two ahead, it adds to the fun.
“To be honest, I couldn’t care less about going to some of the more famous events, I love this Eighth Mile Series more than those as it is just such a great atmosphere – we are all mates, we help each other out, it’s just unbelievable the camaraderie that we have going, and this weekend will be no different.”
If things go Fitzgerald’s way this weekend, it will be the first Series title claimed by him at his home track.
“I won the Old School bracket in 2012 at Warwick and the Modified bracket in 2010 at Benaraby, but we haven’t won the big one at home just yet – hopefully I can make that happen this weekend, maybe then I can retire!” laughed Fitzgerald, who has been racing for more than 15 years.
“The Series this year hasn’t gone all that well for me, but it hasn’t gone that well for anyone else either – we have all had our ups and downs through the Series so I have been lucky to have been able to stay high up on the points ladder.
“We are hoping we can bring it home this weekend and clinch the title on the home track – hopefully we can find a home track advantage!
“We have run at Ironbark Raceway in the last few weeks and put in a lot of concentration on tuning the car up right for the finale, and we have got some great times and speeds out of the Corvette, so I am really happy with that, it will just come down to my ability on the day now!
The thrilling action continues across all six categories this weekend, with some classes having only one point between the top two, with multiple racers in contention.
Image supplied. © Blacktrack.com.au
