Fowler wins Australian title at Wahgunyah

Zeke Edwards broke records in the Dirt Modifieds and Shannon Meakins continued his dominance of the Hot Rods whilst the Howling Humpy Holdens celebrated thirty years as a club.

All this happened with an enthusiastic attendance by members of the Australian Defence Force, taking advantage of the free entry offered to them by the Corowa-Rutherglen Club as a thank you for their service to the Australian nation and local community.

With drivers from around Victoria and New South Wales competing for honours in the Australian title for Grand Prix Midgets, almost twenty competitors were on hand for the night’s racing that began with Shepparton racer Alex Myers claiming victory in heat one after he led the complete eight-lap distance.

Myers won by less than a second in a close one and the same scenario came about when former Australian title holder Paul Perry won heat two. He then doubled his victories in heat three after he passed NSW visitor Adam Buckley on the final lap to snatch the win.

In the first victory greater than a second, Chris Fowler won heat race number four leading from start to finish.

Riley Bowyer then won heat race five by the greatest margin of the evening, leading all the way, before his father, Gary Bowyer, won the final title qualifier when he moved to the front on lap three.

With twenty laps ahead of them, seventeen racers began the Australian title race with Alex Myers the top qualifier an early race leader.

Gavin Black from New South Wales then assumed the front spot on lap four and led Myers, Fowler, Gary Bowyer and Buckley on lap five.

At the halfway point of the race, Black still led Myers with Bowyer in front of Fowler with Buckley in fifth.

By lap thirteen Fowler was in second spot as Bowyer dropped out of the leaders’ group and his son Riley moved into fifth.

With five laps to go Black headed Fowler, Buckley, Matt Kamolins and now Travis Florrimell in fifth spot.

As the chequered flag unfurled for Black, nobody was to know that he would not be crowned the champion.

A post-race technical check found the wing height on the car out of alignment with the rules and he was disqualified by stewards after being informed of the findings by scrutineers.

Fowler from Geelong was declared the winner over Buckley, Kamolins, Florrimell and Mark Cecil.

In Goulburn Ovens Sedan Association competition, the current Victoria number two Ben Schmetzer confirmed the favouritism for him going into the night’s event with a win in the first of three heat races.

Wodonga based driver Brandon Lovel then won heat race number two before Tom Schmetzer won the third and final qualifier.

In a terrific performance on his way to claiming his first ever Speedway win, Lovell then led every lap in the fifteen-lap final first leading Tom Schmetzer then leading Shane Barkley all the way to the finish.

Lovell was victorious by seven seconds over Ben Schmetzer, Alex Gouveia and Daryl Joosten.

The thunderous Dirt Modified class were also on hand with Shane Ardley claiming a win in the first of three qualifiers after stepping into the seat of the car normally campaigned by his brother Michael.

Zeke Edwards then won heat number two and three and would be the star of the class setting three new track records for Dirt Modifieds through the evening over the one lap, six lap and then twelfth lap distances.

Edwards won the final by over eight seconds from Ardley, Jack Smith, Wayne Simpson and James Deahm.

The visiting Speedway Drivers Association of Victoria Hot Rods also held three heat races in their Legends Cup night of racing.

Victorian champion Shannon Meakins won heat race number one, whilst his wife Kali Hovey beat him in race number two, and Tony Green claimed the win in the third.

Meakins secured the front spot of the race right from the start and was marginally faster through the twelve-lap final to finish in front of Green, Allan Borradale, Daniel Chesterfield and Stewart Knight

Wahgunyah Speedway’s next event on May 24 includes the Lachie Howie Memorial for Standard Saloons, Goulburn Ovens Sedan Association 1000, Wingless Sprints, Unlimited Sedans series, Sports Sedans, Ladies Sports Sedans, Production Sedans and Humpy Holdens.

New Track Records

Dirt Modifieds

1 Lap – Zeke Edwards – Victoria – 20.039– 26/4/25

6 Laps – Zeke Edwards – Victoria – 2:04.068 – 26/4/25

12 Laps – Zeke Edwards – Victoria – 4:06.038 – 26/4/25

GP Midgets

1 Lap – Gavin Black – New South Wales - 20.909 – 26/4/25

8 Laps – Riley Bowyer – New South Wales – 2:50.512 – 26/4/25

SDAV Hot Rods

8 Laps – Tony Green – 3:06. 267 – 26/4/25