Townsville, Queensland (July 10, 2016) – Former IndyCar competitor E.J. Viso of Caracas, Venezuela captured his first SPEED Energy Stadium Super Trucks Presented by TRAXXAS victory of the 2016 season Sunday afternoon in the SST TRAXXAS trucks finale of the Townsville 400 on the Reid Park temporary street circuit in the North Queensland town of Townsville.

Viso driving the Mount Margaret Residential Estate No. 5 would grab the lead from Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia driver Rob Whyte on Lap-3 and would hold the lead comfortably until Orange, Calif. driver Robby Gordon driving the Hot Wheels/Toyo Tires/Castrol Edge No. 2 for injured SST driver Matt Mingay would advance from his eighth starting position to challenge Viso for the lead on Lap-5 with heavy pressure.

After the competition caution waved Gordon would set up Viso and work his way past for the lead. Working his way thru the field and knocking on the door of the leaders 2015 SST Champion Sheldon Creed looked to battle Viso for second spot from his twelfth starting position. Applying heavy pressure to Viso the two drivers would collide with one other sending Creed spinning into the grass losing track position and sight of the leaders.

As Gordon would remain out front alone, TRAXXAS driver Matt Brabham of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia would slip into position to challenge Viso for the second position. Racing hard with one another making contact on multiple occasions the two drivers had no idea that they were shortly would be racing for the lead as Gordon would encounter a power steering failure and would see the No. 2 slam the outside wall suddenly.

The damage to Gordon’s vehicle was severe enough to drop him back in the pack and off the pace of the lead. As Viso and Brabham now battled for the lead, Brabham would continue to look inside Viso for the pass but Viso would continue to hold him off until Brabham would make heavy contact with the rear bumper and loose tremendous ground to Viso.

Viso would go on to win his first SST race of the 2016 season followed by Brabham, and Royal Purple Synthetic Oil driver Arie Luyendyk Jr. of Scottsdale, Ariz. who would round out the top three.

Creed would recover from the contact with Viso on Lap-8 to work his TRAXXAS truck back up to finish in the fourth position.

Erik Davis from Burbank, Calif. finished fifth in the Always Evolving/AERNow/Replay XD truck, while Penola, South Australia driver Greg Gartner claimed the sixth position in his R&J Batteries/ Delkor Calcium Battery No. 410 truck.

Park City, Utah driver Todd Romano was credited with the seventh position in the Arctic Cat/ Toyo Tires/ KMC Wheels No 33 after making contact with various trucks and falling back in the field various times.

Bill Hynes of Nazareth, Penn. would be credited with the eighth position in the World Gym No. 76 after beating Positive Automotive/Positive Trailers driver Shaun Richardson from Scunthrope, United Kingdom back to the finish line in a close side-by-side battle. Richardson would be credited with the ninth position to conclude his first weekend of SST competition.

Gordon with the power steering pump failure would limp his battered truck to the finish in the tenth spot to gain valuable championship points.

Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia driver Rob Whyte in the AVA Performance Tuning/Motul Oil No. 11 ran a great first three lap’s leading the race from his front row starting position, but would end up getting passed after encountering a broken axle and retiring from competition. Whyte would be scored in the eleventh position.

Paul Morris from Norwell, Queensland, Australia driving the SuperCheap Auto truck was credited with the twelfth position after breaking a rear end housing on Lap-5 and unable to finish the scheduled amount of laps.

TRAXXAS driver Sheldon Creed would capture the overall win for the weekend with the lowest average between all three races with his win, second, and fourth place finishes, Second was claimed by TRAXXAS teammate Matt Brabham, while the overall podium was completed by Paul Morris in the SuperCheap Auto truck.

The next event in the season-long SST World Championship will see the thrills and spills of the SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks Presented by TRAXXAS head north of the United States border to Canada for the Honda Indy Toronto July 15-17.

Advance ticket sales to Rounds 13 & 14 are available through the Honda Indy Toronto website at http://www.hondaindytoronto.com

Photos Courtesy of DirtComp Magazine

SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks Presented by TRAXXAS
Round No. 12 Results
July 10, 2016
Townsville, Queensland, Australia

1. E.J. Viso; No. 5; Caracas, Venezuela; Mount Margaret Residential Estate
2. Matt Brabham; No. 83; Gold Coast, Queensland, Queensland, Australia; TRAXXAS
3. Arie Luyendyk Jr.; No. 30; Scottsdale, Arizona; Royal Purple Synthetic Oil
4. Sheldon Creed; No. 1; Alpine, Calif.; TRAXXAS
5. Erik Davis; No. 75; Burbank, Calif.; Always Evolving/ AERNow/ Replay XD
6. Greg Gartner; No. 410; Penola, South Australia, Australia; R&J Batteries/ Delkor Calcium Battery/ Fuchs
7. Todd Romano; No. 33; Park City, Utah; Arctic Cat/ Toyo Tires / SPEED Energy/ TRAXXAS
8. Bill Hynes; No. 76; Nazareth, Penn.; World Gym Australia
9. Shaun Richardson; No. 12; Scunthrope, United Kingdom; Positive Automotive/ Positive Trailers/ Savino Del Bene/ Master Tow
10. Robby Gordon; No. 2; Orange, Calif.; Hot Wheels/ Toyo Tires / Castrol EDGE
11. Rob Whyte; No. 11; Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia; AVA Performace Tuning/ Motul Oil/ Drift School Australia
12. Paul Morris; No. 67; Norwell, Queensland, Australia; SuperCheap Auto/ Hungry Jack’s

Townsville, Queensland (July 9, 2016) – Robby Gordon driving the Hot Wheels No. 2 truck for injured SST driver Matt Mingay captured Saturday’s thrilling second round of the SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks Presented by TRAXXAS (SST) at the Townsville 400 in Townsville, Queensland, Australia beating Alpine, Calif. driver Sheldon Creed to the line by less than a truck length.

SuperCheap Auto/ Hungry Jack’s driver Paul Morris of Norwell, Queensland, Australia finished third, holding off the hard charging TRAXXAS driver Matt Brabham whom spun early in the event and would work his way back to fourth position.

Gordon, a veteran off-road racer from Orange, Calif., started second on the grid after encountering mechanical issues in Friday’s opening round, but wasted no time jumping out to the lead after making a strong move early in the event to work past early leader Rob Whyte of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

From Lap 1 Gordon drove a smart and conservative race to keep the aggressive driving of Creed and Morris behind him. Creed Friday afternoons winner on a last lap pass raced through the field from his twelfth starting position to be knocking on the door of race leader Gordon by Lap-7.

The final two circuits saw the TRAXXAS driver Creed apply heavy pressure to Gordon as he attempted everything in his bag of tricks to work his way past the ultra quick Gordon.

The last lap saw Creed try to make the same last corner pass he did one day prior, but would ultimately come up a few inches short as the Hot Wheels No. 2 of Gordon and the TRAXXAS No. 1 went side by side down the front straight to the checkered flag.

Gordon would capture his first victory of the 2016 season ahead of Creed, and Morris.

Following Saturday’s second SST race of the Townsville 400, Gordon considered Saturday’s victory special as not only was he racing for fellow injured competitor and friend Matt Mingay, but the victory snapped an eleven race winless streak dating back to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2015.

“It’s great to be back on top of the box, and to capture my first victory of the year in the Hot Wheels Castrol EDGE No. 2 driving for Matt is something special. We all are wishing Matt the best of luck in the recovery process, and hope to see him back out here competing with us again real soon.” Gordon Stated after the win.

As thousands of spectators lined the 13-turn 1.78-mile (2.85 km) Townsville Street Circuit to watch 12 TRAXXAS-branded trucks launch off of man-made ramps on the same DOT-approved Toyo Tires that consumers can buy. The loud raucous cheers of disbelief from the thousands of Australian SST fans could be heard over the trucks as fans of traditional newly renamed Supercar racing saw the trucks literally fly through the air side by side beating and banging in complete racing chaos.

Arie Luyendyk Jr. from Scottsdale, Ariz. finished fifth in the Royal Purple Synthetic Oil truck for his second consecutive top five finish, while Penola, South Australia driver Greg Gartner claimed the sixth position in his R&J Batteries/ Delkor Calcium Battery No. 410 truck.

Caracas, Venezuela driver E.J. Viso driving the Mount Margaret Residential Estate No. 5 would run in the second position behind Gordon for the first five laps of the race until trouble would strike him spinning on his own after getting passed by Morris and Creed. Viso would be go on to be credited with the seventh position.

Rob Whyte of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia driving the AVA Performance Tuning No. 11 would have a better luck than Friday finishing in the eighth position.

Burbank, Calif. driver Erik Davis would encounter a late race spin, and would be scored in the ninth position at the finish of the ten-lap event.

Shaun Richardson from Scunthrope, United Kingdom making his second SST start driving the Positive Automotive/ Positive Trailers No. 12 would feel more comfortable behind the wheel of his SST today running with the lead pack for a good portion of the event before a tangle with Paul Morris would send him to the back, ultimately finishing in the tenth position.

Park City, Utah driver Todd Romano was credited with the eleventh position in the Arctic Cat/ Toyo Tires/ KMC Wheels No 33 after making contact with the wall and falling back in the field.

Bill Hynes of Nazareth, Penn. would be credited with the twelfth position after encountering transmission issues on Lap-7 in the World Gym No. 76, and would not complete all of the scheduled laps.

The SST trucks will return to the Townsville Street Circuit for their third and final round of the Townsville 400 on Sunday at 2:10 pm local time in front of an anticipated capacity crowd.

Photos Courtesy of DirtComp Magazine

SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks Presented by TRAXXAS
Round No. 11 Results
July 9, 2016
Townsville, Queensland, Australia

1. Robby Gordon; No. 2; Orange, Calif.; Hot Wheels/ Toyo Tires / Castrol EDGE
2. Sheldon Creed; No. 1; Alpine, Calif.; TRAXXAS
3. Paul Morris; No. 67; Norwell, Queensland, Aus.; SuperCheap Auto/ Hungry Jack’s
4. Matt Brabham; No. 83; Gold Coast, Queensland, Queensland, Australia; TRAXXAS
5. Arie Luyendyk Jr.; No. 30; Scottsdale, Arizona; Royal Purple Synthetic Oil
6. Greg Gartner; No. 410; Penola, South Australia, Aus.; R&J Batteries/ Delkor Calcium Battery/ Fuchs
7. E.J. Viso; No. 5; Caracas, Venezuela; Mount Margaret Residential Estate
8. Rob Whyte; No. 11; Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia; AVA Performace Tuning/ Motul Oil/ Drift School Australia
9. Erik Davis; No. 75; Burbank, Calif.; Always Evolving/ AERNow/ Replay XD
10. Shaun Richardson; No. 12; Scunthrope, United Kingdom; Positive Automotive/ Positive Trailers/ Savino Del Bene/ Master Tow
11. Todd Romano; No. 33; Park City, Utah; Arctic Cat/ Toyo Tires / SPEED Energy/ TRAXXAS
12. Bill Hynes; No. 76; Nazareth, Penn.; World Gym Australia

Townsville, Queensland (July 8, 2016) – 2015 SST Champion Sheldon Creed left off right where he did the last time he was on Australian soil (March/Clipsal 500 Adelaide) racing to the SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks Presented by TRAXXAS victory in thrilling fashion Friday afternoon in the opening race of the Townsville 400 weekend.

With this weekend being the first visit of the SST trucks to fast and technical temporary street circuit that makes up the 13-turn 1.78-mile (2.85 km) street course built for the newly re-named SuperCars series many drivers would struggle to hit their marks throughout the race.

However, two drivers that would have no issues making there way through the field would be Paul Morris of Norwell, Queensland and Alpine, Calif. driver Sheldon Creed aggressively charged past truck after truck from their eleventh and twelfth starting positions to the withstand a plethora of contact and spinning trucks to place themselves in a shootout for the win the final two laps.

The final lap would see Morris and Creed put on driving clinic for the ecstatic fans as Creed would stalk Morris to the last corner to set up a pass for the lead. In which Creed completed a daring move to the inside of Morris moving him up the track with a bit of contact. Creed would go on to capture the win much to the delight of thousands of screaming Australian Stadium SUPER Truck fans.

TRAXXAS racer Matt Brabham of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia never paid a ticket, but had the best seat in the house to view the Morris/Creed duel. Brabham would cross the finish line behind Morris in the third position.

Arie Luyendyk Jr. from Scottsdale, Ariz. making his third SST start of 2016 finished fourth in the Royal Purple Synthetic Oil backed entry, while Penola, South Australia off-road veteran Greg Gartner rounded out the top five in his R&J Batteries/ Delkor Calcium Battery No. 410 truck.

Making his first ever SST start Park City, Utah driver Todd Romano was sixth in the Arctic Cat/ Toyo Tires/ KMC Wheels No 33, followed in seventh by Bill Hynes with his best finish of the year driving the World Gym No. 76 truck.

Burbank, Calif. driver Erik Davis driving the Always Evolving/ AERNow/ Replay XD truck would run in the top five for the first half of the race, but would encounter a late race spin, and would be scored in the eighth position at the finish of the nine lap event.

Shaun Richardson from Scunthrope, United Kingdom making his first SST start driving the Positive Automotive/ Positive Trailers No. 12 would struggle a bit getting the handle on his SST truck crossing the line in the ninth position.

Former IndyCar racer E.J. Viso of Caracas, Venezuela raced out to the early lead for the first half of the race from his first starting position, but that would all change as veteran off-road racer Robby Gordon would make contact with the Mount Margaret truck of Viso going for the lead. Viso would drop back in the running order, and eventually be credited with the tenth position, as damage to his hood would hinder his vision.

Gordon driving the Hot Wheels/ Castrol EDGE colors this weekend for injured SST driver Matt Mingay would go on to lead two laps after passing Viso. Morris and Creed would pressure Gordon for the lead and Gordon would get into the wall causing damage to his No. 2 truck. Gordon would not finish the race and be credited with the eleventh position.

Australian drifting legend Rob Whyte driving the AVA Performance Tuning truck would roll over in Friday mornings practice would encounter more mechanical failure and go on to be credited with twelfth finishing position after failing to complete the scheduled laps.

The SST trucks will return to the Townsville Street Circuit for there second round of the Townsville 400 on Saturday at 2:315 pm local time in front of an anticipated capacity crowd.

SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks Presented by TRAXXAS
Round No. 10 Results
July 8, 2016
Townsville, Queensland, Australia

1. Sheldon Creed; No. 1; Alpine, Calif.; TRAXXAS
2. Paul Morris; No. 67; Norwell, Queensland, Aus.; SuperCheap Auto/ Hungry Jack’s
3. Matt Brabham; No. 83; Gold Coast, Queensland, Queensland, Australia; TRAXXAS
4. Arie Luyendyk Jr.; No. 30; Scottsdale, Arizona; Royal Purple Synthetic Oil
5. Greg Gartner; No. 410; Penola, South Australia, Aus.; R&J Batteries/ Delkor Calcium Battery/ Fuchs
6. Todd Romano; No. 33; Park City, Utah; Arctic Cat/ Toyo Tires / SPEED Energy/ TRAXXAS
7. Bill Hynes; No. 76; Nazareth, Penn.; World Gym Australia
8. Erik Davis; No. 75; Burbank, Calif.; Always Evolving/ AERNow/ Replay XD
9. Shaun Richardson; No. 12; Scunthrope, United Kingdom; Positive Automotive/ Positive Trailers/ Savino Del Bene/ Master Tow
10. E.J. Viso; No. 5; Caracas, Venezuela; Mount Margaret Residential Estate
11. Robby Gordon; No. 2; Orange, Calif.; Hot Wheels/ Toyo Tires / Castrol EDGE
12. Rob Whyte; No. 11; Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia; AVA Performace Tuning/ Motul Oil/ Drift School Australia

High octane V8 Supercars, iconic Australians bands ICEHOUSE and Choirboys and the spectacular Stadium Super Trucks will be part of the biggest and best Castrol EDGE Townsville 400 in July. V8 Supercars stars Chaz Mostert and Scott Pye today joined Stadium Super Truck star Paul Morris to officially launch the event in Townsville.

Created by former IndyCar racer Robby Gordon, the 600hp V8 Stadium Super Trucks will make their first visit to North Queensland, with their 200kmh plus speeds and massive jumps sure to thrill the crowds at Reid Park. General admission trackside tickets for the event start at $46, with Saturday Rock ‘n’ Race tickets starting at just $81, including access to the concert featuring ICEHOUSE and Choirboys. Children aged 12 and under are admitted free with a paying adult.

V8 Supercars Managing Director Matt Braid said the event would be the biggest and best since it started in 2009. “The Castrol EDGE Townsville 400 is the premier motorsport and entertainment event in North Queensland and that is thanks to the people who have supported it from the start,” he said. “From the Stadium Super Trucks and the Saturday night concert to the Disney Zone for our younger fans, we have everyone covered. But most of all it is sensational value for the fans and a show the people of North Queensland won’t want to miss.”

Queensland Minister for Tourism and Major Events Kate Jones said the on and off-track entertainment would help promote North Queensland as a premier events destination. “The Castrol EDGE Townsville 400 showcases the city as a world class sporting events destination, boosting tourism and creating jobs in the region,” Ms Jones said. Castrol Marketing Director Diana Hall said that Castrol was proud to again be the naming rights sponsor of the Castrol EDGE Townsville 400, North Queensland’s premier motorsport and entertainment event.

“V8 Supercars is such an iconic sport, where the cars and the drivers battle it out each and every time they hit the track. Endurance and strength are pivotal and together with the dynamic crowds that the event draws each year, make this event such a massive success,” she said. Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said the Castrol EDGE Townsville 400 would bring excitement and entertainment to the region. “In our 150th year, it’s appropriate that it looks like this year could be the best one yet. The event has always been very well supported by Townsville residents, and brings a huge influx of visitors and offers a fantastic boost to the local economy,” she said.

DJR Team Penske racer Scott Pye had a top-five finish in Townsville last year and said he was looking forward to returning to the unique ‘street and park’ layout. “I enjoy Townsville as spectators can get up really close to the racing and there is a great party atmosphere,” said Pye. Supercheap Auto Racing young gun Chaz Mostert agrees, saying that the North Queensland fans are some of the most passionate in the country. “The Castrol EDGE Townsville 400 is always an awesome event. It’s one of the great atmosphere rounds with the rock ‘n’ race aspect of the weekend and it’s always good to get back to some warmer weather,” he said.

On track the V8 Supercars will be complemented by quality support categories including the V8 Supercars Dunlop Series, V8 Utes and Australian GT Championship. The Castrol EDGE Townsville 400 will be held from 8-10 July and is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland as part of the It’s Live! in Queensland major events calendar.