Earl McCallum is looking forward to getting in amongst the competition at this weekend’s opening round of the 2019 Summit Racing Queensland Championship at Roma’s Ironbark Raceway (April 20 and 21).

McCallum competed in two of the Championship’s three events last year in the Super Sedan bracket and took out two event victories in the process.

Now, he is hoping to continue his winning streak aboard his HK Premier, this time in the Sportsman bracket, amid a growing love for eighth mile racing.

“I never used to be that keen on eighth mile racing but a friend of mine came over from New Zealand last year and he wanted to go drag racing, so we decided to go to the Palmyra Drag Racing event which was a round of the Summit Racing Queensland Championship,” McCallum explains.

“When we won that one and given that I always race at Benaraby Raceway, I thought we would go to the next round as well and then I won that one too!

“Since then I have done a few eighth mile events and I am really starting to like it, I think the Series is a great idea too.

“The competition is really tough which I enjoy. I have been drag racing for 45 years and it is competition that drives me more than anything.

“There were a lot of sharp racers in last year’s Series and already there are some tough competitors signed up for this weekend.”

McCallum isn’t just a fan of the Series concept, he also likes the race tracks involved.

“Roma’s Ironbark Raceway is a really good venue, it is a top venue to race at and they are really nice people,” said the Rockhampton based racer.

“The people are really friendly and I think the track is one of the best regional tracks around – it is a pleasure to go there and race.

“I am looking forward to this weekend for sure, and I want to thank my really good sponsor JB Race Engines – he keeps my motor going all the time with whatever updates and refreshes it needs and I really appreciate his support.”

The three-round state-based Summit Racing Queensland Championship develops and promotes drag racing in regional Queensland, and will take in Ironbark Raceway (round one – April 20/21), Benaraby Raceway (round two – August 31) and Palmyra Dragway (final round – October 4/5) across 2019. The winning competitors will be announced as the ANDRA Queensland Champion for their class with the awarding of a prestigious ANDRA Copper Christmas Tree trophy.

For more information on the Summit Racing Queensland Championship, please visit www.facebook.com/andra.QLD.Champs/

Image: Rogue Snapper Photography