In what will become his last season, long-time V8 Ute driver Gary Chucky Baxter will celebrate his 300th Race start on his home track when he hits the grid for Race 1 of the 2013 Auto One V8 Ute Racing Seriesprotected by Armor All at the Clipsal 500, Adelaide, Thursday, 28 February3rd March.
Baxter has been in the Series since 2002, and will join Jack The Hustler Elsegood as the only other driver to accomplish this. Elsegood pipped Baxter by only 2 races and the Sage Automation/Roof Seal backed driver will go down in the history books as the first Holden driver to accomplish this.
Its great to reach so many races in my career and more exciting to do it on my home-track. Ive got a great track record here in Adelaide (2 titles, 3 podium finishes, 3 race wins & 1 Pole). It would be nice to put another Clipsal win on the board; I havent had one for a while, said Baxter.
The part-time movie stunt driver and driver training expert will go up against Peter Burnitt, Charlie OBrien and newcomers Tony Longhurst and Richard Bloomfield to battle not only for the Series title, but also the Masters Award.
It would be nice to take out two awards in my last year but Ill just take one race at a time. It should be a fairly tough field this year but Im looking forward to it, said Baxter.
Also returning to the field is Jesus Racings Andrew Fisher, Nathan Pretty, Kim The Assassin Jane, 2012 runner up David Sieders, Stratco Racings Rhys McNally, 2011 Rookie of the Year Ryan Hansford, Macmahon Minings Gerard McLeod, West Aussie Todd Zani, Danny Buzadzic, 2012 Rookie of the year and Clipsal champ Kris Walton, Jeremy Gray, Phonsy Mullan, locals Craig Dontas and Noel Edge, along with reigning V8 Ute Champion Ryal Harris.
Its great to be back again this year. Ill be looking for another great year and hopefully I can start off with a round win at Clipsal, said Harris.
Walton will be looking to mirror his result from last year to kick off his 2013 campaign in the Rentco Ford.
Well be having a good hard go, (at reclaiming the Clipsal title); I reckon we can do it. Weve had very little practice but well be trying to get one afternoon in before we go. Im feeling confident, I love the track and hopefully we can just repeat what we did last year, said Walton.
Other locals joining the field are Craig Dontas identical Twin brother Troy, and son of former V8 Ute driver Charlie Handlebars Kovacs, Charlie Jnr.
Wayne Wakefield and Stephen White will join the long list of former V8 Supercar drivers to join the Series, along with 3 time Bathurst winner Longhurst, Bathurst 24 Hour winner Nathan Pretty, Sieders Racing team mates Andrew Fisher and David Sieders, Jane, OBrien and 2012 Shannons Supercar Showdown winner Jesse Dixon.
Another driver with former V8 Supercar experience is Elliot Barbour, fresh out of the Development Series. He will join six other novices including Dixon, Cam Wilson, Adam Marjoram, Grant Bromley, Rhett Noonan and Matthew Nolan in the toughest Rookie title fight yet.
This will be the thirteenth year in a row that the V8 Utes have hit the streets of Adelaide to take part in the event and wont disappoint with two live races on the Seven Network (Race 1, Friday, 1st March and Race 3, Sunday, 3rd March) 2 practice sessions, a qualifying session and 3 races over the weekend.
See below full schedule: Thursday, 28th February Practice 1 11:55amThursday, 28th February Practice 2 3:35pmFriday, 1st March Qualifying 8:30amFriday, 1st March Race 1 4:55pmSaturday, 2nd March Race 2 10:25amSunday, 3rd March Race 3 11:40am
The V8 Utes Series is managed by SPHERIX, and consists of 32 Ute field made up of 16 Ford and 16 Holdens. The Series has been in action since 2001 and is televised nationally through Network Seven.
Ronald McDonald HouseSouth East QLD is the Official Charity to Australian V8 Ute Racing. Ronald McDonald House is dedicated to helping seriously ill children and their families and provided vital help to over 75,000 families through a wide range of programs.
