By Justin Newman
MABELVALE, Ark. (Nov. 22, 2022) – Arkansas IMCA STARS Mod Lite hotshoe Blake Wilson is poised and ready to take his talents to the “Land of the Long Weekend” in late December, where he will compete in three events in Queensland, Australia.
Locally and nationally, Wilson is a perennial favorite any time he unloads his STARS Mod Lite. Wilson has raced with and beat some of the United States and Canada’s best racers in the Mod Lite division. It was only fitting he head down under to see how the Aussies stack up.
Just the same, the racing surfaces and facilities are not quite like the wide-open racy tracks here.
Wilson will be hosted by Australian Mod Lite race team ABI2RACE from North Queensland. Abi Meehan, who drives the no. 23 Mod Lite, and her family have been planning this trip with Blake for a couple years now and are keen to see how the young USA racer handles their unforgiving Aussie tracks.
Wilson will be thrown into the mix with some veteran drivers including multiple track and series champions.
“It will be great to race with Blake, and we hope to travel to the USA ourselves next year,” said Abi. “It will certainly be a challenge for Blake to work out our tracks over here, where most are like bullrings rather than the wide-open tracks he is used to over there.”
Don’t expect any of them to go easy on Wilson though as the competition is fierce. The Mod Lite Queensland Club is happy to welcome Blake and is always eager to host other international drivers as well.
While in competition, Wilson will pilot the no. 7 Mod Lite owned by Collins Racing Queensland Australia. Bevan Collins, team owner, has a wealth of experience in race car setup so Blake can be assured he will have all the guidance he needs. Wilson and the ABI2RACE team want to thank Collins Racing for giving the Arkansas driver a once in a lifetime opportunity.
“I was initially invited back in 2012 by Clint Kratzmann and Merv Tennant but high school got in the way of that opportunity. Fate presented itself again when my wife connected with Mickey and Abi and set it up for me again,” said Wilson. “This has long been a bucket list item since I started in this division 13 years ago.”
“The drivers race each other hard and I wanted to be one of the few USA drivers who have gone over and given them a run for their money,” he continued. “Covid set things back a few years, but the time is right, and the seat is open, so it’s time to go and chase a dream (and) some checks.”
Wilson’s three race schedule will begin on Dec. 26 at Archerfield Speedway followed up by the two-day DAVKAT Heavy Haulage Mod Lite Dirt Nationals.
Round one of that event will be held Dec. 28 at the iconic Mothar Mountain Speedway in Gympie, Queensland. True to iconic lore, the track features decreasing radius turns, a dog leg, hairpin turn, and 17 feet of elevation changes. The only track like this in the country – Wilson will have his work cut out for him; the last stop will be on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, at Maryborough Speedway.
Of course, when not racing, Wilson and wife Breanna plan to take in as many sights and local fares as possible. Plans to visit the famed Australia Zoo created by the late Steve Irwin and enjoying some vegemite sandwiches are just a couple of the extra’s planned for the Wilsons.
Race fans can follow the journey live on www.ClayPerView.com and www.speedwayaustralia.tv.