Sixteen powerful Sprintcars from all bar one with LS Chevrolet engines, including one driver from New South Wales raced in two heats each through the evening with all drivers qualifying for the Dennison Quality Roofing Restorations supported ‘Rumble at the Rock’ feature event. With the Sprintcar Racing Association of Victoria governing body never holding an event at Bairnsdale previously starting ten lap records were set for the class with James Oliver coming away from town with that record of 2:24.511 after winning heat number four. Before him Adam Greenwood, Steven Loader and Rae won the earlier three heats.
The thirty lap feature event was hammer down from the drop of the green with Rae leading Oliver and Dennis Jones from Morwell, Adam Greenwood from Sale and Steven Loader right up until the twenty-four-lap mark where Oliver road the left rear wheel of Rae and Jones right behind him had nowhere to go and ended up stationary in turn four causing a caution light stoppage. On lap twenty-nine Greenwood dropped out of third spot and the race due to mechanical issues and Loader seized the moment to move to third as the race came to a conclusion with Rae, Oliver, Loader, Steven Horton, and Bairnsdale’s Koby Noonan the top five to finish.
Rae after the race spoke with the track media advising that he was thrilled to start the season with a victory, he was pleased with the track and the facility, although it would be nice if the track could have widened out a little more for the racers, and that he looks forward to coming back The crowd gave their appreciation with a call for Rae to come back later in the season when the Sprintcars return.
Veteran motorsport competitor Keven Stoopman from Sale got his Division 2 Hot Rod season off to a terrific start winning the first and second heat races of the night before current Victorian champion Leigh Mitchell claimed the win in the third heat race. Bairnsdale racer Beau Stuchbery and Stoopman started the feature race on the front row with the second-year senior racer Stuchbery ripping around the outside of Stoopman through turn two and hitting the lead. Mitchell hassled Stoopman in a battle for the second spot with Mitchell getting the better of Stoopman on lap eight. Meanwhile Stuchbery in the lead had a margin over four seconds as he led the non-stop race for fifteen laps from start to finish with Mitchell second Stoopman, and Adam Wharton rounding out the finishers after mechanical issues curtailed other driver efforts.
Morwell racer and Bairnsdale member Josh Thomas was off to a hot start also in the Open Standard Saloon class as he set about winning the first two of three heat races finishing ahead of Bairnsdale man Daniel Argoon twice before Thomas failed to come out for heat race number three, with the car and race team soon leaving the venue with unconfirmed mechanical issues. Moe driver Jack Yeomans then won the third and final heat. Yeomans then led Jamie Prezioso racing out to a significant margin whilst Argoon put pressure on Prezioso for the second spot. Argoon would eventually secure second with Yeomans ahead of him by almost ten seconds. When the race came to its end, Yeomans had set a new twenty-lap record of 6:39.098 with Argoon, Prezioso, Andrew Cormack and Mithcell Ling the top five finishers.
Darren Adams had a huge win in the first heat of Limited Sportsman, and he had night ending mechanical concerns that did not allow his car back on track. Daniel Hurley was the last man standing in heat two and beat Jayden White in a short sprint for heat three. In a first for Jayden White, he then led all ten laps in the final to defeat Daniel Hurley and Mark both breaking his tail shaft on the last lap as he ran the final metres to the chequered flag where he dropped down a new ten lap record of 3:10.543
Ladies competitors with their Standard Saloons also were part of the nights entertainment. Kate Stuchbery set about winning all three of the heat races heading into the final. Some confusion around the final entrants initially had two entrants on track and racing through to a chequered flag finish where it would be amiss of us not to mention that Michelle George took victory in. Media were then informed this was a non-race. The final competitor stuck behind the track entry gate Sharni Stuchbery, then was able to come on track and then George and Kate Stuchbery called back on to track to run a six-lap final which Kate Stuchbery won and set a new six lap record of 2:08.563
Racing returns November the 8th with the Junior Sedan Promotional Association bringing their drivers from right around Victoria for one of their series rounds in the national governed Speedway Sedans Australia Juniors. Local competitors in Limited Sportsman, Division 2 Hot Rods and Open and Ladies Standard Saloons will also be competing.
Race night records
10 LAPS – JAYDEN WHITE – BAIRNSDALE – 3:10.543 – 26/09/2025
6 LAPS – KATE STUCHBERY – BAIRNSDALE – 2:08.563 – 26/9/2025
20 LAPS – JACK YEOMANS – ROSEDALE – 6:39.098 – 26/9/2025
Bairnsdale Speedway Association wish to acknowledge and thank these wonderful supporting businesses.
A1 Building Designs
Active Sound Services
ARB Bairnsdale
Assist A Lift
Aussie Septic Solutions
Bairnsdale Autobarn
Bairnsdale Automotive and Transmissions
Bairnsdale Bearings and Industrial
Bairnsdale Radiator
Bairnsdale RSL
Bairnsdale Trophy Centre
Bridgestone Service Centre Bairnsdale
Buchan Towing
Bunnings Bairnsdale
Burson Auto Parts Bairnsdale
Club Eastwood
Cranes Civil and Surfacing
Dahlsens
Dennison Quality Roof Restorations
Eastern Signs and Designs
East Gippsland Lock and Keys
East Gippsland Plumbing and Drainage
East Gippsland Shire Council
East Vic Hydraulics
EGEE Printers
Eureka Garages and Sheds
Eye Care Plus
Gippsland Critical Mines
Gippsland Grain Store
Gippsland Treated Pine
Gippsland Truck Centre
Goodman’s
Granite Rock Quarries
Great Southern Kitchens
Hine Transport & Stock feeds
JD Automotive
Kennedy Trailers
Lake Land Ice
Lakes Hydraulics
Lakes Tile and Carpet
M & S Laity Hay Contractors
Mitchell Valley Excavations
Paint Right Bairnsdale
Patties Food
Phaselink Electrics
Razor Images Print. Sign. Clothing
Repco Bairnsdale
Riviera Automotive
Riviera Concrete
Riviera Trailers
SS Auto Wholesalers
SSM Asbestos
Tambo Waste
Tim Bull MP
Todd Plumbing Supplies
TRFM and GOLD 1242
Wayne Trinder Plumbing & Gasfitting
Westpoint Motors
WGI Earthmoving and Heavy Haulage
Written by
Dean Thompson
Dean Thompson Speedway Media
For Bairnsdale Speedway Association
