Jesus Racing's Andrew "Fishtail" Fisher will celebrate his 100th race start this weekend when he hits the streets of Townsville for Race 1 of Round 4 of the 2011 Auto One V8 Ute Racing Series - protected by Armor All, Saturday, 9th July.
When joining the Series in 2007, Fisher brought with him a personal partnership yet to be profiled in a motorsport arena - the Jesus All About Life brand. Fisher was the first driver to promote his faith through his passion for motorsport, and over the years he has built the involvement to include a program that sees Andrew speak to more than 50,000 high school students and 10,000 adults every year at conventions and community events across Australia.
"Jesus Racing deliberately chose the V8 Utes when they launched the team as it was the roughest toughest, closest racing in the country and the least likely place that you would expect to see the name of Jesus. There is no doubt that the uniqueness and the counter cultural role that Jesus racing plays has added a new dimension to the V8 Utes, the Jesus ute has become synonymous with ute racing in Australia and the publicity the team generates off the track has helped the development of brand recognition for the V8 Ute championship," said Fisher.
Fisher also puts one hundred percent effort into his skills on the track, and in his first year in the Series took out the Rookie title against former champion Layton Crambrook and NASCAR driver George Miedecke.
In 2008, he stepped behind the wheel of a V8 Supercar racing in the Fujitsu Series at the final round in Oran Park and in 2009 the New South Welshman celebrated his first podium appearance at Symmons Plains in Tasmania. He backed that up with a drive in the main -game V8 Supercar Series at the infamous Bathurst 1000. He also took the Jesus brand to the MINI Challenge Series, when he drove at Sandown raceway.
In 2010, he made the move to Sieders Racing with a win in the "Ten Years of Legends Race" with Rick Bates to kick off the year.
By the end of 2010, "Fishtail" claimed third overall for the Series behind two time champion Grant Johnson and 2010 champion Jack Elsegood and is looking forward to adding this milestone to his career highlights.
"We did not even entertain the thought of being here almost 5 years later. The success we have had and the leverage that the V8 Ute series has provided has meant that we have been able to make an impact beyond our wildest dreams," said Fisher.
Fisher is currently ninth in the Series in his Jesus Racing's/Gloria Jean's Coffee backed Ford BF and is looking forward to a great result in Townsville where he will be cheered on by V8 Supercar Chaplain Gary Coleman.
"He's doing so well and we both work for the same major sponsor and I'm sure he will do another 100," said Coleman.
Race 1 and Race 2 will be televised as LIVE as. Race 1 on Saturday, 9th July from 2:00pm (AEST) on Network Seven and Race 2 on Sunday, 10th July from 12:30pm (AEST) on Seven Mate.
See below full schedule for Round 4 of the Auto One V8 Ute Racing Series- protected by Armor All:
Friday, 8th July 9:55am Practice 1Friday, 8th July 3:20pm Practice 2Saturday, 9th July 9:00am QualifyingSaturday, 9th July 1:00pm Race 1Sunday, 10th July 9:10am Race 2Sunday, 10th July 2:00pm Race 3
The 2011 Auto One V8 Ute Racing Series - protected by Armor All features 32 Ford and Holden production based V8 racing utes - covering 8 championship rounds, and 26 races through five states of Australia. The series is televised nationally on the SEVEN Network, through Fox Sports, TV3 New Zealand, Motors TV Europe and over 40 countries worldwide.
Make-A-Wish® Australia is the official charity of Australian V8 Ute Racing who will endeavour to assist the foundation with their mission, which is to "To grant the Wishes of Children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope strength and joy."
