WANGARATTA City Raceway’s first meet of 2025 was a blockbuster affair, with two days chock full of high-octane racing. The first event on the schedule was the 2025 SSV Junior Victorian State Title, which featured 20 events over five rounds of heats. The massive turnout really shows what the future holds with these talented drivers with 14 different race winners. River Paterson (Vic1) was stand out with four heat wins, while Cruz Carlin (P12), AJ Macdonald (B29), Steane Cosson (AX8) all amazingly had two wins. The finals at Wangaratta City Raceway began with the B Main being called to the track shortly after the on-track appreciation hour. The 15-lap main event began with chaos as this year’s best presented Maddy Beach (AX88) spun sideways after contact was made, causing a chain reaction that ended her the race as well as those of Ryan Burns (MDA12) and Nathan Miles (N12). Further incidents included Blake Beach (AX18) being penalized for contact, Harry Dunn (BGO23) retiring with a flat tire, and a turn two collision involving Ellie Wilson (LAC26), Taijan Ussher (WANG98), and Arthur Hutchinson (DDA82). Despite the carnage, Benji Gordon (NSW96) drove a clean race to take the win, followed by hometown hero Zack Erickson (WANG28), who came back from a relegation earlier in the race. The 25-lap A-Main was an intense battle from the start, with Cruz Carlin (P12) and River Paterson (VIC1) trading the lead before Paterson pulled away with 19 laps to go. A terrifying rollover befell Zack Erickson (WANG28), who had made his way up into eighth position where he brought out the red flag with 18 laps remaining - Zack has been all cleared from the hospital. As the race resumed, Paterson maintained the lead while Jake Bradley (AV14), Harrison Beres (A1), Will Fallon (AX77), and Tyler Smith (TAS6) battled behind. Late-race chaos unfolded as Carlin suffered a mechanical failure, Luke Morrison (AX13) lost a wheel, Fallon held off a flat tyre but he and AJ Macdonald (BB29) made contact with three laps to go. Paterson held firm to secure the victory, with Harrison Beres (A1) strong in second and Jake Bradley (AV14) rounding out the podium. The action continued with the Street Stock SSV Victorian Title, with 14 different heat winners. Shane Roycroft (WNG82) and Nathan Thorne (V1) won three each, with Brad hill (NY36), Morris Ahearn (WNG4), Miller Throckmorton (C18), Travis Hutchison (Q1) and Nathan Fawns (s87) all snagging two. There was early drama B Main Odd (15 Laps) as Mathew Bishop (WANG93), Jack Jordan (W4) retired with 13 laps to go. Crowd favourite Zack Yeoman (B24) made contact with Mick Dann (RDL0), hit the fence, and brought out a yellow. Drew Flatman (SA112) transferred, and Mick Dann (RDL0) made the other transfer spot, with Peter Kinnear (W3) narrowly missing out by 0.189. Three-wide action in turns one and two set the tone for the B Main Even. Michael Hume (B85) and Ryan Watts (W55) both had spins and retired early, Shaun Henry (B23) and Tim Hutchinson (DDA88) dominated the race, pulling away from the pack and getting the last two transfer positions. With the A Main Street Stock VIC title race about to start, the local crowd was ecstatic having a total of five Wangaratta members make the big show. Shane Roycroft (WANG82) and Oggie Ahern (WANG4) were on the front row and they started strong. Early contact on the back straight led to a pile-up, with Hayden Glare (SH96) and this year’s Best Presented Car, Brodie Ardley (NY9), caught in the fence. Ricky Cornwall (WANG15) went infield under yellows with rear-end damage, while Shane Roycroft (WANG82) and Oggie Ahern (WANG4) battled side by side through turns one and two. Running order settled into Shane Roycroft (WANG82) and Oggie Ahern (WANG4), but Nathan Thorne (V1) in the Magna was ready to pounce when it's right. Ahearn passed Roycroft for the lead when Roycroft then went cross country before anther yellow. With nine laps to go, V1 passed WANG4 to take the lead. Jayden Blomeley (B62) caused a yellow with seven laps remaining as his car emitted heavy smoke due to powder steering failure. On the restart, WANG4 closed back in on V1, but Nathan Thorne began to extend the gap. Linken Paterson (AX48) joined the fight, challenging WANG4 with two laps to go. Thorne would take the title, with Oggie Ahearn and Linken Paterson rounding out the podium.
