NIF2.com - Top Flight Oval Racing Returns to Aghadowey

Bringing The Best of Northern Ireland's Oval Racing
to your browser since 2001

#StockcarRacingIsMagic

Added: 23 Apr 2014	Category: 2014 Oval Racing
Top Flight Oval Racing Returns to Aghadowey
Easter Monday seen the re-opening of Aghadowey under the DMC Race Promotions umbrella and following a lot of work done around the venue throughout the winter. I was trying to work it out on my way up, but I think it was 1998 the last time I was at Aghadowey on Easter Monday, but it was always one of those traditional opening meeting fixtures. Something was different this time around though, with the change of layout, the development work done around the stadium, coupled with the return of top flight racing, it didn’t feel like I was just returning to a re-opened venue, it almost felt like I was turning up at the track for the first time, and I think that was down to the unknown elements of how everyone would go on the reshaped track and the sheer buzz around the place. It felt like a really big meeting, there was a buzz around the place similar to that of Ballymena’s 30th Anniversary, Nuttscorner Oval’s first Speedweekend in 2005, Shamwrecks or subsequent Speedweekends. The weather certainly helped bring in the biggest crowd I’ve personally witnessed first hand at Aghadowey. The honour of winning the opening race went to Ashley Graham in the Thunder Rods, which managed a turnout of nineteen cars for their opening heat. Graham went on to take the final later in the day. The Superstox had some great racing with Denver Grattan the winner in the final. In the Lightning Rods it was local racer Norman Purdy that took the final win, after Ben McKee had won the opening heat, a victory on the third track in three days, having won races at Cowdenbeath on Saturday night and Lochgelly on Sunday. The Stock Rods raced for their Irish Masters title, with Micky McFall winning the opening heat, Scottish visitor John McAllister won heat two before Colm O’Sullivan led home Stephen McNeice and McFall in the final. Mervyn Crawford won all three races in the Nationals, followed home by Mark Heatrick. The final turned out some great racing as the leaders caught the back markers and had to make their way through the traffic. As with Tullyroan a few years ago, I was quite sceptical about the amount of travelling that I’d need to do in order to get to the racing, but when the racing is as good as it was on Easter Monday, it’ll prove worth the trip.















More Photos on DMCRacePromotions.com

Other Sites we Contribute to

- 2 Litre Hot Rod -
- Ballymena Raceway -
- DMC Race Promotions -
- National Hot Rod -