Willowbank Celebrity Challenge preview

The V8 one tonners will be beefed up this Saturday afternoon during the Ross Llewellyn Holden Drag Race Challenge at Willowbank Raceway as part of a packed program that features round two of the Australian Championships in Top Fuel and Top Alcohol brackets.

Olympic shot-putter Justin Anlezark and Queensland rugby league centre Justin Hodges will fire up horsepower as opposed to their natural athletic ability, in an all out assault over Willowbank Raceway's quarter mile.

"The fact I've come off a big loading period during the festive season and had plenty of Christmas cheer may tip the scales in Justins favour," said an excited Anlezark who is gearing up for an assault at the Athens Olympics later this year.

"This is a great way to start off what I hope will be a very successful year in my athletics career.

"I've been pumping some big weights and getting plenty of throws in before the Grand Prix meet in Brisbane on January 23, then it's a packed program until the end of February.

"The first International hurdle will be the World Indoors during the first week of March in Hungary and then I'll have another 12 week block of solid training before heading to the United States for a meet in June.

"Then it's the big one, the Athens Olympics in August so it's great to get in as much social activity as possible now and who knows I might capture my first win behind the wheel of the Holden V8 one tonners."

Anlezark is riding a wave of confidence, having remained in the World top ten for the past two years and was placed 4th during last years World Championships but it's a totally different story for Hodges who is looking to resurrect a promising sports career after suffering a major knee injury during last year's first State of Origin encounter.

"We've been back in solid training with the Sydney City Roosters for more than four weeks now and I haven't had any dramas," said Hodges.

"I've still been receiving physio but it won't slow me up when I get behind the wheel of the V8 one tonners.

"I had the chance to drive a race prepared V8 at Queensland Raceway last year but this will be up against someone over the quarter so it should be a real buzz."

Hodges and Anlezark will be joined by Channel 10 News reporter Dan Nolan in the Ross Llewellyn Holden Celebrity Drag Race Challenge which will run as a preliminary to the finals in all drag racing brackets that is headlined by Australia's top two professional categories Top Fuel and Top Alcohol.

Raceway officials are anticipating a huge turnout for their annual New Year program and expect many families to take advantage of their cut price ticketing deal that allows children 13 and under to attend the event free of charge.

January 3, 2004 -- Featuring Top Fuel and Top Alcohol

Other racing includes: Supercharged Outlaws, SuperComp, Competition Bike, Modified, Super Sedan, Super Street, Modified Bike, Junior Dragster, Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson

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