Rochford's Roll Continues In 2.0 Hot Rods

Jordan Rochford’s rich streak of form continued at Tullyroan Oval on Saturday night (April 26th), the Portadown 2.0 Hot Rod driver taking another final victory in the opening round of the Hoosier Challenge Series. A dramatic night in the Junior Productions saw Antrim’s Leyton Hughes successfully defend his Golden Helmet title in style, whilst a big grid of 1300 Stock Cars saw Ballyclare’s Michael Logan race through for victory.
The Ninja Karts saw almost 30 drivers racing and there was a heat and final double for Maghera’s Jordan Davis, whilst the Thunder Rods saw Rasharkin’s Jason Darragh take an excellent feature race win.

The two graded heats in the 2.0 Hot Rods were closely fought, with Ally Neill taking a hectic opener from Shane McMillan and Callum Doak. Neill repeated the feat in heat two, rounding McMillan for a fine win with form man Jordan Rochford in third.
The final, the opening round of the Hoosier Challenge Series saw the grid formed on points from the heats. Neill hit the front, but Rochford pulled off a sublime outside line pass to take the lead and the win. Jordan also received a new tyre courtesy of Hoosier Tyres UK, with Andy Best getting the better of the places scrap to take second.

Noah Teggart got the better of a packed field of Junior Productions in a dramatic opening heat for the young stars. There was a rollover for Jake Barnett as Teggart took the flag over Ryan Berry and Andrew Hawe. Having tasted success for the first time, Teggart repeated the feat in heat two which was marred by a big back straight crash. Hawe this time took second over Austin Grattan as the lower graders dominated.
The Golden Helmet final was lined up in points order from the heats, with Teggart setting the early pace. An oil spillage from the previous race made conditions challenging, but Leyton Hughes was showing experience way beyond his years to use the wide line around the oil to catapult himself to the lead. Leyton raced clear to successfully defend his title and take the superb trophy, presented annually by the McKeown family, back home to his Antrim base. Hawe and Teggart impressed greatly in second and third ahead of Berry and Jack Morrison.

A domestic record of eighteen 1300 Stock Cars came to grid for their opening heat, including a debut for former race starter Curtis McConkey. The racing was frantic to say the least, with cautions for a loose wheel on turn four and then a track blockage on the back straight. Star man Curtis Greer burst through the chaos to take the win over Gary Freeburn and Jon McQuillan. Heat two saw debutant Neville Richardson battle with Davy Clarke for the lead, with Richardson taking a well deserved win over Clarke and NI Points Champion Matthew Milliken who had made a sterling drive from the back.
The opening laps of the final were action packed to say the least, and on lap four it was Michael Logan who raced into the lead. Having not figured in the heats, Logan put his trusty Toyota Starlet to great use to extend his advantage and take the chequered flag and the silverware. McQuillan and Graham Meek filled the podium slots after a great battle, ahead of Milliken and Irish Champion Bobbie Johnston.

Steven Bolton was the man to watch in the opening Thunder Rods heat, the former Unlimited Bangers World Champion putting his borrowed car to good use to take the win ahead of a great battle which saw Jason Darragh take second from Gareth McCrory. Brandon Kernohan led the second heat away, but he lost out to Tyler McMaster who took the victory ahead of Darragh and Mark McLaughlin.
McCrory quickly hit the front in the final, holding resolutely to the inside line and inviting his challengers to make the pass on the outside. Approaching mid distance Darragh took the bull by the horns, hit the outside and clawed his way past to record a superb victory. Andrew McLean came through for second ahead of Joe Largey, Bolton and McLaughlin.

A host of English visitors in the Ninja Karts boosted the grid to almost 30 karts, with the busy raceway leading to numerous caution periods. Somerset’s Charlie Major blasted through to win the opening heat in dramatic fashion after Jaxon York and Jack Murphy found the fence on the run to the flag. George Cooper took second, with Murphy claiming third as he slid down the wall! Jordan Davis took the win in heat two, just holding off an assault from England’s Tyler Ward. Jaxon York sneaked second on the line ahead of Ward and Mason Carberry.
The final saw the flying Davis take his second win of the night, this time powering home ahead of Cole York, Murphy, Ollie Williamson and Carberry to complete a superb night for the 6-11 year old stars of the future.

Big Easter Monday Wins For McNeice and Murray

An outstanding Easter Monday of racing at Aghadowey Oval saw Randalstown’s Sam McNeice win the feature race of the afternoon, The Alan Connolly Memorial Trophy for Stock Rods. In the National Hot Rods formula, Galgorm ace Shane Murray reeled off a faultless hat-trick of wins to take the spoils in World Series NI Round 12, whilst Suffolk’s Mason Carberry successfully defended the King of Aghadowey title from a packed field of Ninja Karts. The other feature races fell to Portadown’s Nigel Jackson in the Lightning Rods and Glenavy’s Joe Largey in the Thunder Rods.

A healthy field of Stock Rods, including Scottish and Republic of Ireland visitors, took to the grid to contest the Alan Connolly Memorial Trophy, held annually on Easter Monday in memory of the champion driver from Ballymoney. Jonny Cardwell relieved early leader Adam Sloan of the lead in the opening heat, Jonny powering home to the win ahead of Sloan and Dan Shannon. The reversed grid heat two saw European Champion Robbie Armit take a flag to flag win ahead of Irish Champion Mark Crawford and Darragh O’Shea.
The final paired Shannon and Scotsman Dean McGill on the front row, with Dan taking up the running until Cardwell found a gap inside him into the Brown Trout Bend to hit the front. Many eyes were now on Sam McNeice as he made great strides towards the front, nipping past McGill to go second before pulling the same move on Cardwell to grab the lead. Sam romped home to a great success, with Cardwell and Crawford completing the line up after a competitive afternoon of racing.

Ahoghill’s Philip McCloy was the first to show in the opening National Hot Rods heat, before Shane Murray blasted ahead in his Ginetta. Murray took the win ahead of Derek McMillan and Jordan McCann, after Adam Maxwell was dropped from second to fourth by the Stewards for contact. Murray repeated the feat in heat two, this time mastering the changeable track conditions to win ahead of Simon Kennedy and Ian Riordan.
Kennedy set the pace early in the final on what was now a dry track, but Murray was again to be the master as he swooped past on the high outside line to take the lead and complete a faultless hat-trick for the afternoon. Kennedy, Scotsman James Mooney and McCann completed the major places.

A huge field of 35 Ninja Karts from right across the British Isles arrived to chase the King of Aghadowey title. Norfolk’s Elliott Lake won the opening heat for England, ahead of Eddie Fowler and defending Champion Mason Carberry. Heat two again saw Lake take the win as he impressed for a second time, with Jordan Davis and Rowdy Grattan next home. The final qualifier fell to another Norfolk driver, George Cooper from Ralph Payne and Jaxon York in an all-England top three.
The final was a superb race with all 35 karts taking the green flag this time. Cooper and York had a great battle out front, before Carberry surged past to the lead to take the win and successfully defend his crown. English drivers again dominated proceedings with Cooper in second followed by Finley Weston, Tyler Ward and York.

The Lightning Rods were contesting the final meeting of the 2024/25 NI Points Championship campaign, with Nigel Jackson doing his chances a power of good with the win in heat one over Stuart Agnew and Ross Houston. Mark Corry then took a controlled win in heat two ahead of Feargal McNally and Agnew, to leave the points title on a knife edge going into the final.
Corry led early on but it was Jackson who surged through to take the win in some style and with it the NI Points title, with Houston, Corry and Conor Doherty the placemen in the feature race.

The all action Thunder Rods completed the programme, with Brandon Kernohan hitting the front in heat one before he was removed for trailing bodywork. That left Mark McLaughlin out front until a superb outside pass by Adam McKinney saw him pip Mark to the win on the final lap. Heat two was a very ill-tempered affair, but this time McLaughlin held on all the way home to take the victory over James Goldie and Joshua McMullan.
The final was another scrappy but entertaining race, with Kernohan and then James Steele setting the pace. McLaughlin squeezed past Steele to the lead but in doing so caught the eye of the Stewards, and when he took the flag he was demoted two places to third in the final analysis. That handed victory to former Stock Rods star Joe Largey ahead of Steele.

Foster and Kennedy Spring Easter Surprises at Tullyroan

An epic Easter Saturday night at Tullyroan Oval saw some fantastic racing from all five formulas on show. Armagh’s Mark Foster took the major win of the night, the Stock Rods Northern Ireland Open, whilst Donaghcloney’s Simon Kennedy secured a heat and final double in the latest National Hot Rods World Series Round.
Portadown’s Jordan Rochford had a dominant win in the 2.0 Hot Rods Irish Masters, with the other feature race wins falling to Lurgan’s Graham Meek (1300 Stock Cars) and Loughgall’s Casey Cherry (Junior Productions).

A huge field of Stock Rods, including quite a number of visitors, assembled for the Northern Ireland Open. The action was frantic amongst the big pack all evening with Stevie McNiece getting the better of Tipperary’s Paddy O’Dwyer to win the opening heat after a great outside run, with European Champion Robbie Armit from Scotland in third. Heat two saw defending champion Sam McNeice of Randalstown take a resounding victory by some distance over Callum Magill and National Champion Jonny Cardwell.
The final paired Siobhan Martin and Mark Foster on the front row from points scored in the heats, and after a few laps side by side it was Foster who broke clear into the lead. He wouldn’t be challenged all the way home to the title, with Martin and Cardwell completing the top three after a great night’s action.

Simon Kennedy quickly hit the front in the opening National Hot Rods heat, just holding off a late charge from Scotsman James Mooney to take the win with Cork’s Ian Riordan in third. Heat two was run in slippery, drizzly conditions and this time Gary Woolsey got the better of early leader Kennedy to take the win over Dean McCrory and Jordan McCann.
Kennedy led the way in the 35 lap feature event, building a significant lead until a caution was called with Jeff Riordan stranded on turn two. The double file restart saw his challengers pull right alongside and behind Simon, but he knuckled down with some great speed to extend his lead once again. Despite Ian Riordan challenging hard over the final laps, Simon held on to complete a fantastic heat and final double, with Woolsey in third.

Shane McMillan was the frontrunner in the opening 2.0 Hot Rods heat, and he just fended off a late charge from British and Irish Champion Drew McKeown to take the win. There was a great battle early on in heat two between World Champion Adam Heatrick and Aaron Stewart, with Adam getting the win in the end ahead of Andy Best and Jordan Rochford.
In the Irish Masters final there was no stopping Rochford, as he quickly pulled clear of the chasing pack to take a dominant win. McKeown came through for second place ahead of an impressive Ally Neill and Heatrick.

Alexander McCreadie and then Graham Meek had spells ahead in the first 1300 Stock Cars heat, but Jonny Patterson timed a perfect last bend hit on Meek to race through to take a fantastic win. Heat two was action packed once again, with Matthew Milliken this time the winner over Fionn Donnelly and Meek.
The early exchanges in the final were superb to watch, with Meek emerging with the lead. The former Junior Productions Irish Champion reeled off the laps and took the win in some style from Craig Bodenham and Patterson.

Irish Champion Leyton Hughes got the better of a battle between Ryan Carroll and Ryan Berry to snatch the opening heat win in the Junior Productions in opportunistic fashion. In heat two there was a first ever victory for young Austin Grattan, as he raced home to the flag ahead of Noah Teggart and Charlie Johnston.
The feature race final was littered with caution periods, with Carroll out front until he was bundled wide by Grattan. Hughes then challenged for the lead before coming unstuck on the treacherous outside line, which opened the door for British Champion Casey Cherry to take the win after a great drive. Hughes and Andrew Russell completed the top three.

Ian Riordan On Form At Tullyroan Oval

County Cork driver Ian Riordan had his Lotus Exige in sparkling form at Tullyroan Oval on Saturday evening, grabbing the spoils in World Series NI Round 10 for National Hot Rods. Dublin’s Stevo McGrath took the honours in the Unlimited National Bangers King of Krash, whilst the other three finals all fell to Portadown drivers – Nigel Jackson (Lightning Rods), Steven Haugh (Superstox) and young Ollie Williamson (Ninja Karts).

Thomas Dilly made great use of his yellow grading and his joker round (giving him 4 new tyres) to take the opening National Hot Rod win of the night ahead of Scotsman James Mooney and Dean McCrory. Heat two saw a fiery and very scary engine blow up early on for Mark Heatrick, which necessitated a caution period to clean up the mess. Dilly was once again on fine form, and he pulled away from the chasing pack to take his second win of the evening. The flying Ian Riordan inherited second spot ahead of John Christie after a lightning fast race from the rear of the field.
Dilly again held the premier spot for much of the final, until he unfortunately found the wall on the Annaghmore Bend. That gifted top spot to Mooney, but he could offer little resistance to the flying Ian Riordan, the Lotus pilot from County Cork blasting around the outside to take a sublime victory over Christie and Mooney.

A lower than anticipated entry of Unlimited National Bangers still produced some very watchable racing, with Gordy McKee the leader in the main King of Krash event until he was baulked by the backmarking Kieran McIvor. That opened the door for Stevo McGrath to take the win over McKee and Leonard Dunn.
The first Allcomers event saw McKee take the win this time ahead of McGrath and Dunn, before McIvor led the second Allcomers until McKee swooped past to take another win. The Destruction Derby completed the night, with McIvor and Dunn fighting it out. After trading several great blows it was Dunn who took the win as last car moving, with McIvor having to make do with the Entertainer of the Meeting tag.

Neil Hyndman quickly hit the front in the opening Superstox heat, but he had no answer to the pace of the flying World Champion, Jordan Robinson. Jordan took the win over Paddy Murphy and Ethan Martin. Hyndman once again took the lead in heat two, this time holding the top spot all the way home for victory ahead of Murphy and Steven Haugh.
The star graders traded blows early in the final which was a joy to watch, as Hyndman and then Murphy held sway out front. But Haugh was the man this time, scything through to the lead and the win in some style ahead of Jamie McCann and Kyle Beattie.

It was pleasing to see such a good grid of Lightning Rods on hand, with Jake Morgan excelling in the opening heat to win ahead of Nigel Jackson and Feargal McNally. Jake then repeated the feat in heat two in his fluorescent orange BMW, racing home once again with Conor Doherty and Dermot Tynan the placemen this time around.
An upgrade for the final did little to thwart Morgan’s progress in the final, but just as he challenged for the lead he found the turn one wall and his race was done. That opened the door for stalwart Nigel Jackson to take the victory and the silverware over Ross Houston and McNally.

A big grid of young Ninja Kart racers as always produced some fine racing, with Frankie Stirling leading the opener until Matthew McNeill went motoring past to take it up. Matthew just left the door open in the final bend, and that allowed Rowdy Grattan to snatch the win superbly over William Brown. There was a first ever win in heat two for Jordan Davis after a splendid drive, as he just held off Brown on the run to the flag to grab a well deserved first trophy in his racing career.
Stirling impressed in the final as he raced into the lead, but he was eventually caught by the pack before a mid race caution period bunched them all up for the race to the chequered flag. Ollie Williamson burst through to the lead, and he took the trophy in fine style from Cahan Bradley, with the impressive Brown next home ahead Grattan.

Rochford & Johnston Crowned Kings of Aghadowey

It was a night of close finishes and first time winners at Aghadowey Oval on Saturday night (April 5th), as the sun drenched fans were treated to some great racing. Portadown’s Jordan Rochford (2.0 Hot Rods) and Ballymena’s Bobbie Johnston (1300 Stock Cars) were both crowned King of Aghadowey in their respective formula’s, whilst there were heat and final doubles for both Cullybackey’s Keegan Turtle in the Junior Productions and Coleraine’s Mark McLaughlin in the Thunder Rods.
The Stock Rods also served up some fine action, with Portadown’s Rab Preston taking the trophy by the smallest of margins.

The reversed grid qualifying system was in operation for the 2.0 Hot Rods, with former double World Champion Jordan Rochford taking the opener ahead of Drew McKeown and Ally Neill. Broughshane’s Adam Weir continued his good run with victory in heat two, but all eyes were on Rochford who used the notoriously tricky Aghadowey outside line to haul himself past the field in the closing stages to superbly grab second in what was easily the drive of the night.
On aggregate points Rochford had annexed pole spot from McKeown, and when the green flag went down they settled into the top two spots. McKeown just had no answer to Rochford’s pace, Jordan taking the King of Aghadowey with ease from McKeown and Aaron Stewart.

The 1300 Stock Cars were also chasing the King of Aghadowey title, the opening heat seeing a runaway win for Jonny Patterson from his generous yellow grading with Michael Logan second in his Toyota Starlet ahead of Fionn Donnelly. Patterson again won heat two to take pole position for the main race, with Josh McKinstry’s stirring drive in the midst of a lively places battle netting him second ahead of Craig Bodenham.
The King of Aghadowey final was lined up in points order with a closed grid, and as expected the opening exchanges were very lively indeed! As the frontrunners rattled around the wall early on, Bobbie Johnston burst through to the lead, and despite the best effort of Matthew Milliken it was Bobbie who took the honours with Gary Freeburn in third.

The opening Stock Rods heat produced a stunning finale, with the top three all coming to the line side-by-side. It was the closest of finishes, with Declan O’Connor getting the nod by a hairs breadth from Harry Minish and Rab Preston. Junior Productions graduate Minish again led the way in heat two, and once again he had O’Connor and Preston tracking him down from the handicap. Harry this time just held on for his first ever senior win from O’Connor and Preston.
The final, unsurprisingly, again saw the same trio battle it out as the star graders struggled to get on terms. Minish led but as the lap boards came out his night long adversaries had arrived to commence battle. O’Connor went to Minish’s outside and edged narrowly ahead, only for Preston to find a gap up the inside of them both on the final lap to nip ahead. Rab took a fine win by another very fine margin, ahead of O’Connor and Minish, with Mark Crawford next home in fourth.

The Thunder Rods are currently booming with a superb 24 cars on track. It was hectic going throughout the field all evening, with Mark McLaughlin racing past early leader Brian Hutton to win the opener by some distance. Hutton and Liam Irwin completed the places, before Hutton went one better by grabbing his first ever win in the second heat ahead of Irwin and Liam Wilson.
Ballymena’s Brandon Kernohan had a spell ahead in the final before Hutton charged to the front, but McLaughlin was once again a man on a mission as he scythed through past Irwin to the lead to take his second chequered flag of the evening. Mark even survived a late caution period and restart, with Irish Champion James Goldie getting the best of huge places scrap to take second from James Steele and welcome returnee Adam Graham.

There was a first ever win in the Junior Productions for Jake Barnett in the opening heat, coming home ahead of Leyton Hughes and Jack Morrison. Heat two saw another maiden victory, this time for recent Ninja Karts graduate Keegan Turtle in only his second ever meeting in the formula. Keegan led home Ryan Abernethy Jnr and Charlie Johnston at the chequered flag.
The final saw an early yellow flag, which looked likely to change the face of the race. But Turtle had other ideas, calmly settling into the lead once again despite the challenge of Johnston from behind. Keegan drove superbly to keep them all at bay and take his second win of the evening, with Johnston, Hughes and Casey Cherry filling out the places.

Martin Wins Dramatic Tullyroan National Hot Rod Final

A breathtaking National Hot Rods final at Tullyroan Oval on Saturday night, March 29th, had the fans on their feet right to the chequered flag, as Dungannon’s Derek Martin took the honours in a dramatic finale. On a night a quality racing throughout the five formulas on show, sixteen-year-old Portadown driver Callum Doak marked his debut in the 2.0 Hot Rods with a very impressive heat and final double, whilst Loughgall’s Jamie McCann scooped the Tullyroan Challenge Cup for the Superstox.
Ballymena’s Conor Doherty held on to take the Lightning Rods final victory, whilst a hard fought Rookie Bangers session saw Garvagh’s William McFaul score a hat-trick to win the Spring Classic.

An outstanding field of 21 National Hot Rods came to grid for Round 9 of World Series NI – a sight and sound to behold under the floodlights of the Tullyroan bowl. Johnny McCloy has had all sorts of mechanical issues over the past number of outings, but it all came together for the Garvagh driver as he took the opening heat win at a canter ahead of the evergreen Keith Martin and Nigel McAuley. The spectacle was outstanding with such a big field, and McCloy repeated the feat in heat two with another victory, this time ahead of the new Ginetta of Thomas Dilly, Dean McCrory and Gary Woolsey.
McCloy again set the pace in the feature race final, and looked odds on to complete his hat-trick until a late caution period was called for the stranded Dilly car on turn two. The double file NASCAR style restart gave Allen Cherry the opportunity to power ahead, but he clipped McCloy and ended up in the Annaghmore End wall, bringing out another caution. This time former World Champion Derek Martin pulled off the perfect restart to hit the front, taking his new Maxda MX5 to a great win to complete a sensational session of National Hot Rod racing. McCauley, Shane Murray and Ian Riordan completed the top places.

An excellent entry of 2.0 Hot Rods broke the 20-car barrier, with Junior Productions graduate Callum Doak showing the rest of the field the way home in the opener to take the win after a very solid drive indeed for a sixteen year old. Ally Neill and Adam Weir completed the top three. Doak again led heat two from the front, but this time Neill pulled clear of the pack to chase him down and take the win. Doak held on superbly for second with Dean McFarland in third spot.
Doak once again stepped off the line to lead the final, with Rodgers and Ronan McNally jousting for second spot. It’s quite a step up from a Junior Production to a 2.0 Hot Rod, but Callum showed experience way beyond his years to romp home to his second success of the night, and in some style too. Behind the flying teenager, Rodgers, Weir and McNally could all be pleased with a good night’s work as they filled the places.

The local Superstox were joined by welcome Scottish visitors Aaron Riddell and Kenny McKenzie for the Tullyroan Challenge Cup. Neil Hyndman led most of the way in the opening heat before he lost out to fast moving former World Champion Kyle Beattie. Beattie was originally docked two places for jumping the start, but was re-instated to the win following a successful appeal. Hyndman again led heat two for a distance, but this time it was an impressive Paddy Murphy who roared through to take the flag ahead of Hyndman and Steven Haugh.
The closed grid final paired Murphy and Hyndman on the front row, and the bumpers clattered in during the opening exchanges which sent most of the field out to the wall. Through the melee Jamie McCann hit the front from the fourth row of the grid, and he would go on to take an impressive win in his new car. Haugh chased him down for all he was worth but just couldn’t get on terms, with Beattie taking third spot.

Dermot Tynan led the opening Lightning Rods heat for much of the distance before losing out midway to Nigel Jackson who went on to take the win over Ross Houston and Mark Corry. Heat two saw Houston go one better, taking the win over World title holder Stuart Agnew and Jackson.
The final saw Ian McCune take a healthy early lead, chased by Conor Doherty. Doherty soon went ahead, with Houston chasing him down in the closing stages. Doherty held on for a great win, with Houston, McCune and Jackson filling the places.

The 1600 Rookie Bangers were lively all evening, with William McFaul racing clear to win the opening heat ahead of Stephen Boyd. The action continued apace in heat two as McFaul again took the flag ahead of Gavin Gamble and Stephen Goligher.
The Spring Classic Final saw Chris Herron and Jason Goodman get their noses ahead early on, but there was no stopping McFaul who powered past to take the win to complete his hat-trick for the night. Steven Bolton and World Champ Lucas Goligher filled the places.

Cherry On Top In National Hot Rods Season Opener

Despite some very inclement weather, the 2025 race season at Aghadowey Oval kicked off in fine style on Saturday night, March 22nd. It was a night of great racing and last gasp victories, as the fans who braved the cold and wet evening were treated to some fantastic action.

Loughgall’s Allen Cherry won the feature race of the night, World Series NI Round 8 for the National Hot Rods, but every other final went right down to the wire. Leading lady Siobhan Martin (Dungannon) raced through late on to snatch the Stock Rods final, whilst Glenavy’s Joe Largey grabbed the Thunder Rods victory right at the death.
Donegal’s Andrew Russell was the victor in a great Junior Productions feature race having taken the lead on the back straight of the final lap, whilst young Larne star Denver Bevan was another to hit the front on the final lap as he won the Ninja Karts final.

A healthy field of 18 National Hot Rods took to the grid for their opening heat, with the conditions mandating wet tyres all round. Prior to the the race the racing fraternity paid a very fitting tribute to much loved DMC staff member Christine Kerr, who recently passed away.
Kells driver Derek McMillan revelled in the conditions to take a great win after a battle with Ahoghill’s Phil McCloy. Heat two was utterly dominated by European Champion Adam Maxwell, the Crumlin ace scything through the pack to win by a distance ahead of Allen Cherry and McCloy.
The final saw the track drying somewhat, and this time Cherry came into his own. He quickly put some distance between himself and the pack, building up a lead he would never lose. As he took his first feature race win in the elite formula in some style, Maxwell, Ian Riordan and Jeff Riordan filled the places.

Close and competitive as always, the Stock Rods fielded an excellent entry of 18 cars including debuts for Jamie Cardwell and Harry Minish. Rab Preston was a clear winner of heat one ahead of Sam Wilson and the impressive Siobhan Martin. Heat two saw a blistering drive from National Champion Jonny Cardwell, who found lots of grip out wide by the wall to storm through for an emphatic win over Declan O’Connor and Callum Magill.
After an early battle Magill found himself out front in the final, but he soon had a flying Martin bearing down on him. The Scottish lady driver, now based in Dungannon, was showing a great turn of pace and immediately hit the outside line looking for the victory. Siobhan dragged herself past Magill as the lap boards came out, taking a resounding success to really set down a marker for the 2025 campaign.

Over 20 Thunder Rods braved the poor conditions for their first outing of 2025, with Mark McLaughlin taking a clear win in the first heat over Nolan Wilson and James Steele. The action was fast and frantic all evening, with heat two seeing Jake Carson ahead before Josh Young hit the front. Adam McKinney came late though with a great outside run to take the win over Young and Steele.
The final was another cracker that you couldn’t take your eyes off for a second. Carson built a very healthy lead out front but, just when it looked like a debut win for the Ballymena driver, former Stock Rods European Champion Joe largey managed to break free from the pack. He chased Carson down, and executed the perfect outside pass on the last lap to win the drag race to the line for the silverware in arguably the drive of the night. Carson could be well pleased with a very gallant runner up slot, ahead of McLaughlin and Irish Champion James Goldie.

Seventeen Junior Productions bodes well for the season ahead, with Charlie Johnston taking the first heat ahead of Ryan Abernethy Jnr and Leyton Hughes. Heat two developed into a great battle as Abernethy held on out front, but he had no answer to the flying Ryan Berry who took a great win after a very polished drive indeed.
The final was another superb race, with Jake Barnett out front until demoted by a fast moving Jack Morrison. Jack looked all set to make it three final wins on the trot until he came under severe late pressure in the changing conditions. Donegal’s Andrew Russell managed to squeeze into a gap to take the lead on the very last lap, taking a great victory over Morrison, Hughes and Berry.

The young stars of the future in the Ninja Karts completed the programme, with Luke Grattan and Denver Bevan having spells out front before star man Jack Murphy swooped past for a great win over Bevan and William Brown in heat one. Birthday boy Harry Hoy and Bevan were both ahead at a stage in heat two, but once again it was Murphy who blasted through the 20-kart pack to take his second win of the night, with Bevan and Brown again the placemen.
With no caution periods in the final, Murphy found it much harder to get to the front and that left Bevan and Brown to battle it out. Brown led almost the full distance, only to be out-foxed by Bevan in backmarking traffic as they went into the final bend on the last lap! As Bevan took a well deserved win, Murphy and Eddie Fowler filled the top three as Brown spun out within sight of the flag.

Christine Kerr

We are all deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our much loved staff member Christine, sister of Doris McCall, after a brave and courageous battle with illness.

Christine was a bubbly and popular figure around the DMC circuits, the first face everyone met when they arrived at the gate on race day. She was a friend to everyone - drivers, spectators and staff members alike - with her outgoing personality and love for all things racing always shining through.

She was an ardent supporter of all our drivers when they headed off to compete in the major events, and there was no-one more proud when they returned home with championship trophies on a regular basis.

Christine fought her illness bravely, and still attended race meetings when able until recently. She was an inspiration to us all.

We would like to pass on our deepest condolences to her daughter Chandara, her sister Doris and the wider Kerr and McCall families at this difficult time.

Christine’s funeral will take place in St. Saviour’s Parish Church, Craigavon at 1.30pm on Friday 21st March.

Darren Black
DMC Race Promotions

2025 Season Starts With A Bang At Tullyroan Oval

The 2025 race season at Tullyroan Oval got off to a fantastic start on a sunny Sunday afternoon, March 9th. The Unlimited National Bangers saw Templepatrick’s Gordy McKee take the main event as he won the Tullyroan Masters, with the same title in the 1600 Rookie Bangers falling to Limavady’s John Goligher.
Broughshane’s Adam Weir showed great form to win the 2.0 Hot Rods final, whilst Portadown young gun Eddie Fowler won the Ninja Karts feature race.

The opening race for the Unlimited National Bangers was the feature race of the afternoon, the Tullyroan Masters. The action came thick and fast, with an enormous hit for Dave Haugh from the Lincoln Towncar Yank of Stevo McGrath which left Haugh’s car totally destroyed on the back straight. McGrath also stopped Sean Flaherty in style too, as Gordy McKee raced to a great win over Matthew Nicholl and Kieran McIvor.
There was another big hit from Steven Reynolds on Rodney Herron in the first Allcomers race, as McKee again took the win over Leonard Dunn and McIvor, with Gordy then completing his fine hat-trick for the day by winning Allcomers 2 ahead of Dunn and Nicholl. The Destruction Derby completed proceedings and went the way of Deano McGrath in his Jaguar, whilst Reynolds took the Entertainer of the Day Award and Best Wreck undoubtedly went to Haugh.

A very respectable field of 1600 Rookie Bangers came under starters orders for their opening heat, with Chris Herron the first to show out front. Gavin Gamble then surged ahead to take the win over Steven Bolton. Bolton then went one better in an action packed heat two, taking the victory over Gamble and Stephen Boyd.
The Tullyroan Masters final saw Irish and Irish Open Champion John Goligher quickly demote Leonard Dunn to hit the front, and he wouldn’t be shifted as he took the title in great fashion. William McFaul and Boyd completed the podium places ahead of Dunn and Gamble. The afternoon then finished off with an Allcomers event, which saw Bolton take his second win of the day ahead of McFaul and Gamble. Ashley Bodenham deservedly took the Entertainer of the Day award.

Alan Wilson set the early pace in the opening 2.0 Hot Rods heat, but he had no answer to the flying former World Champion Jordan Rochford who took the win ahead of the unlucky Adam Weir and Jake Devlin. Devlin impressed in heat two, winning from Weir and Adam Heatrick.
Wilson again led the final, but Weir this time was a man on a mission, as he hit the front before half distance. Despite the flying Rochford looming large in his mirrors, Broughshane lad Weir had all under control to scoop the silverware. Behind Rochford, Devlin and Wilson completed the top four.

An excellent field of over 20 Ninja Karts came to the grid for their opening heat, with no less than twelve novice graders ready to take the flag. Jack Murphy produced a stirring drive to come from the star grade at the back of the line up to take the win over Ollie Williamson and Jaxon Cairns. Luke Grattan produced perhaps his best ever drive to date to lead the second heat for most of the distance, only to be outfoxed in backmarkers within sight of the flag. Denver Bevan pounced entering the last bend to snatch the win in superb fashion ahead of William Brown and Grattan.
The final was another nail-biting encounter, with Grattan again the initial leader. Cairns and Ethan McQuillan raced past to take the flag, but both were penalised by the race stewards for contact during the race which elevated Eddie Fowler to victory lane for his first feature race win. Cahan Bradley and Tommy Johnston filled out the podium places.

Herron Wins Title At Outstanding Tullyroan Vans

An action packed afternoon at Tullyroan Oval on Saturday January 4th heralded in 2025 in some style. The huge crowd on hand were treated to some fantastic racing and wrecking, with the Big Van Bangers taking all the headlines. Lisburn’s Rodney Herron won the feature event, Van-dalism 2025, whilst in the exciting 1600 Rookie Bangers Steven Bolton came through to win the New Year Challenge.
In the non contact divisions, the Stock Rods final went to Randalstown’s Sam McNeice, the 2.0 Hot Rods were won by Kells driver Shane McMillan and long distance traveller Keith Kirwan from County Tipperary won the Lightning Rods feature race.

A record entry of almost 30 Big Van Bangers came to grid for the Van-dalism 2025 title race, and the action didn’t take long in coming as big hits went in all around the track. Dave Haugh hit the front, but he was taken out by arch rival Stevo McGrath in his he camper van. The action continued apace, with Grandpa Rodney Herron storming through the chaos to take the chequered flag and the trophy ahead of Paul Gaffney and Alan Haugh. These were the only three finishers in what was a brutal race.
The carnage continued in the first Allcomers event with some more big crashes. Matthew Nicholl spent most of the event in the lead before he was taken out, and then Gordy McKee came a cropper trying to find a way through a turn two blockage. That left Leonard Dunn as the only finisher having dished out a number of huge hits.
McKee bounced back to win the second Allcomers event, before he fought out the Destruction Derby with Dunn in a David v Goliath contest. Dunn got the verdict and the win, and he also took a well deserved Entertainer of the Day award. The Best Wreck trophy went to Tony Gillespie for his totally destroyed minibus.

Over thirty 1600 Rookie Bangers took the first green flag of 2025, with Brendan Doherty leading until he was overhauled by William McFaul. McFaul took the flag but was docked by the Race Stewards for jumping a restart, which handed victory to former World Banger Champion Steven Bolton. Heat two saw McFaul make amends as he took the victory, with Bolton second this time ahead of Marc Morrell.
The final was another excellent affair, with Bolton quickly going ahead as he battled with Ryan Nixon and Morrell. Steven survived a mid race stoppage for a big back straight crash, continuing to hold off former World title holder John Goligher to take the win. McFaul had to be content with third this time.

A number of Tipperary Raceway visitors bolstered the Stock Rods field to over 20 cars, with Samuel Murphy taking a welcome flag to flag win in the opener ahead of Sam McNeice and Declan O’Connor. Young gun O’Connor took the win in heat two after a great dice with Murphy, with Callum Magill this time in third.
The final saw some great racing from the packed field under the floodlights, with O’Connor settling into the top spot but with McNeice chasing him down. They swapped places late on before McNeice stamped his authority on the battle to take a stylish victory ahead of O’Connor and Darragh O’Shea.

Andy Best took a brace of heat wins in the 2.0 Hot Rods, heading home Ally Neill and Jordan Rochford in the first heat before Shane McMillan and Adam Weir were his placemen in heat two.
A promotion to the star grade was always going to slow Best’s progress in the final, but he was again on form as he chased after long time leader McMillan. Best came up short though, with McMillan taking his maiden feature race win in the formula after a steady drive in the tricky conditions. Best was demoted two places for jumping the start, which elevated the fast finishing Rochford to second ahead of World and National Champion Adam Heatrick.

Rounding off the programme were the Lightning Rods, with Irish Champion Ross Houston winning the opener after a storming drive on the outside line to win over Ian MCCune and Nigel Jackson. Heat two went the way of World Cup Champion Stuart Agnew ahead of Jackson and Keith Kirwan.
Kirwan, from Cashel in County Tipperary, was a man on a mission in the final, revelling in the conditions to build a healthy lead. He took the victory with ease, leading home Jackson and the impressive McCune for a very popular win.

Smashing Into 2025 At Tullyroan Oval

The 2025 season at Tullyroan Oval quite literally starts with a bang on Saturday January 4th, with some huge fields of Bangers set to entertain the fans. Heading the programme is the annual Big Van Bangers Van-dalism event, alongside the 1600 Rookie Bangers who contest their New Year Challenge.

Big Van Bangers
25 Big Van Bangers are booked to appear for the ‘Van-dalism 2025’ title race, where the drivers will destroy their mounts in the chase for the honours. As usual the Ford Transit will be the weapon of choice for many, but each year we see some amazing entries from the drivers. We’ve had ambulances, ice cream vans, mini-buses and motorhomes in the past – what will drivers have in store this year?

Former National Bangers World Champion Stevo McGrath is always one to watch and he regularly entertains at this fixture, whilst Loughgall’s Jonny Murdock and
Donemana’s Leonard Dunn will be others in the midst of the carnage. Last year's winner David Gurney returns to defend his title, and reigning Irish Banger Champion Kieran Bowman from England is another scheduled to appear. The action and crashes will come thick and fast!

1600 Rookie Bangers
Also in action will be the 1600 Rookie Bangers, a formula dominated by the Vauxhall Astra and Ford Focus. Recently crowned World Champion Lucas Goligher from Limavady tops the entry which will see well in excess of 30 cars on track. Lucas is sure to receive a great welcome home following his big win back in November at Ipswich. Irish Champion Stephen Boyd, Josh and John Goligher and Phillip Farrell will be others chasing the silverware in this exciting formula.

Support Racing
There is plenty of support racing during the afternoon, with the 2.0 Hot Rods, Stock Rods and Lightning Rods all in action. There will be a host of Tipperary Raceway visitors in the Stock Rods including Eoghan Burke, Ronan O'Brien, Milly O'Sullivan and Tom Meenehan, whilst Keith Kirwan makes the journey north in the Lightning Rods.

The first race leaves the Tullyroan Oval grid at 2pm.

Murray In A Hurry At Aghadowey Festive Cracker

Galgorm’s Shane Murray was on top form at Aghadowey Oval on Saturday December 28th, racing home to the final win in the headlining National Hot Rods division in his Murrays of Randalstown-sponsored Ginetta. On a day of big entries and great racing, young English visitor George Cooper won the Ninja Karts Stars of Tomorrow Challenge after an incredible 36 car final!
Other feature winners were Portadown duo Steven Haugh (Superstox) and Jack Morrison (Junior Productions), whilst Coleraine’s Mark McLaughlin won a frantic Thunder Rods final. The afternoon was completed by an excellent Ladies Only Caravan Destruction Derby that was won by Lexi Crooks.

The National Hot Rods were contesting Round 7 of World Series NI, and in a very slippery opening heat it was European Champion Adam Maxwell who powered through to take the win ahead of Ahoghill’s Philip McCloy and Nigel McCauley. Heat two saw Phil McCloy again setting the pace for much of the distance, before he was overhauled in the closing stages by Cork star Ian Riordan. As Ian celebrated his win, Scotland’s James Mooney and Gary Woolsey filled the places.
The final was an excellent race, with Garvagh’s Johnny McCloy this time breaking clear out front early on. He looked like he might just hold on all the way home, until he was caught out by the conditions and spun aside from the lead. Shane Murray got the run on McCauley in the aftermath of McCloy’s demise to hit the front, and he came home for a great win ahead of the Riordan brothers, series leader Jeff and Ian.

A huge entry of Ninja Karts from all across the British Isles arrived to contest the Stars of Tomorrow Challenge. Each of the three heats featured two thirds of the entry, with the opener falling to Loanends driver William Brown after a great drive ahead of Norfolk’s Thomas Cooper and West Midlands based British Champion Jaxon York.
Heat Two saw a win for England as Dolly Rae Keenan took the win ahead of Hampshire’s European Champion Charlie Weston and Jack Murphy, whilst Weston (in his last ever Ninja Kart meeting before hitting the age limit) then won heat three ahead of English Champion Mason Carberry and George Cooper.
The final saw a packed track as the young stars lined up in points order. Weston immediately went ahead until he was tipped into a spin mid-race by Murphy, which caused a race stoppage and earned the local driver a disqualification. On the restart there was a great battle for the lead all the way to the flag, with Norfolk’s George Cooper taking the win in style over York and his brother Thomas Cooper. Parker Smith made it an all-English top four, with World Champion Lewis Hazlett the first local home in fifth.

A healthy field of Superstox came to grid, with Neil Hyndman getting the better of his brother Gregg to win the opening heat, before Troy Crawford took a welcome win in heat two ahead of World Champion Jordan Robinson and Jamie McCann. The star grade battles had been superb all day, and in the final it was NI Points Champion Steven Haugh who broke clear, running down long time leader Gerard Hartley to take the win. Kyle Beattie and McCann filled the podium slots.

Portadown’s Ryan Jackson was the star turn of the Junior Productions heats, the teenager grabbing both wins in great fashion. In the opener he held off Andrew Russell and Leyton Hughes, before leading home Jack Morrison and Hughes in heat two.
An automatic upgrade for the final for Jackson allowed Owen O’Brien to set the pace out front until he lost out to Morrison. Ryan Berry then surged past to the lead, but despite taking the chequered flag he was docked by the Race Stewards for contact earlier in the race. That elevated Morrison to the win ahead of Russell and Hughes.

The Thunder Rods fielded a great grid of cars for an out of season meeting, and they produced some outstanding racing all afternoon. Ballymena’s Tyler McMaster took a clear win in the opening heat over Mark McLaughlin and Liam Wilson, before Liam Wilson took the honours in heat two after passing long time leader Liam Irwin. Nolan Wilson and McLaughlin filled the places.
The final was led for much of the distance by the impressive Jordan McFetridge, before McLaughlin went past with five to go to take the win. Joshua McMullan made a great effort for the lead over the closing laps but had to be content with runner up spot ahead of Norman Purdy.

Four ladies braved the challenge of the Caravan Destruction Derby. Lauren McCloy, Lesley-Ann McConnell, Lexi Crooks and Terri Murphy entertained in great style as they battled hard and blitzed through the caravans. In the end the last one moving was the impressive Lexi Crooks and she took the chequered flag and the winners trophy.