It has been a huge year of Ute racing, and the final results are in !
Production Class Utes
The production class provided some of the best racing we have seen in a long time this year. After 5 rounds and 25 races the points came down to the very last round to decide the championship winner.
In third place Mick McCloud in the AU Falcon took 2nd runner up for the year. Mick is one of the hardest racers you are likely to see on track and always gives 100% full send in every race he starts. Really look forward to seeing Mick back again next year.
In second place for the championship was Craig Kasper in the VU Commodore, Craig is in his 2nd season of the Ute racing Qld championship and would be one of the most committed racers in the series. Craig battled with set up and reliability issues with the VU most of the season and took all the setbacks in his stride and kept working hard on the ute and his driving. A well-deserved result for a trying season. I am sure that Craig will be back next year to go one better on the points ladder.
Our 2023 Production Ute Champion is John Young in the VZ Commodore. John had almost the perfect season apart from a couple of DNS from minor mechanical issues, John won 98% of the races he started and many round wins for the year. John has been one of the original members of the series going back to 2017 and takes a professional, meticulous method to his driving and race prep. A well deserved championship win.
John is in the process of building his VE V8 commodore for next season. Can’t wait to see that one on track.
V8 Ute Class
The V8 class this year really was a battle of the Ford FG Falcons. Last year’s defending champion Brendan Exner had a battle on his hands in the form a 14-year rookie AJ Gealy. The racing between Brendan and AJ was the something to be seen, fast hard clean racing was to be had all season with some outstanding races at Lakeside.
It was unfortunate that Brendan Exner suffered a engine issue at the last round of the year. This was not the way the year should have ended to him, but as they say “that’s racing”.
Results-
In third place on points for the year in the V8 Class was Brendan Exner. I am sure Brendan will be looking for some redemption next year. However, Brendan was pushed by AJ all season and the racing was next level.
In 2nd place was Allan Hughes. Allan Hughes went quietly about his business all year and had a reliable package that banked points in every round. Allan a long-time racer also competes in the current TCM class in a very tough torana but loves the utes. A great result for Allan this year.
Our 2023 V8 Ute Championship winner- AJ Gealy
AJ Gealy joined the series this year as rookie at the ripe old age 14 years. AJ is the real deal and is a star of the future. Keep a eye out for this driver he has the world at his feet.
AJ and his committed family-based team competed at the highest level bringing a professional outfit to the series. It was a joy to be a part of the journey and seeing some fantastic racing in the V8 class, AJ and Brendan did put on quite a show many times over the year. AJ will take his next challenge in Production cars next year and we hope to see him come back for a round or to in the Utes.
Huge thanks to our series sponsor DC Voltage. Our pole award sponsor Valmont Coating. Website support myraceprofile.com
Next year will be bigger and better with some exciting news on 2024 calendar that will be released soon.
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