STOCK car and banger racing will continue into the autumn period at Smeatharpe Stadium in the Blackdown Hills, with a selection of race dates through late September and early October.

The first of these is the Speed Weekend tomorrow and Sunday, which will see more than 100 drivers racing across two days. Some of those drivers are set to travel great distances, in particular Bradley McKinstry, from Belfast. The young Northern Irish star has already raced twice at Smeatharpe during August and is set to return once more.

Reigning National Series Champion Luke Wrench from Crewe will also head to the Westcountry, where he is involved in a three-way battle for the Track Championship with Jon Palmer of Plymouth and former World Champion James Rygor of Wedmore.

Matt Stoneman of Uffculme will defend the Autospeed Rosebowl on Monday, September 28. The return to racing this summer has seen Stoneman struggle for results, but a subsequent demotion from superstar to star grade for September will see him start each race a little closer to the front of the grid, and that could well kick-start his season.

The non-contact Stock Rods will return to Smeatharpe on Friday, October 2, for the first time in almost four weeks. On their last appearance in early September, female racer Jody Hawkins from Gosport swept to a brace of victories.

Dates to note: Saturday, September 19 (5pm), Sunday, September 20 (1pm), Monday, September 28 (7pm), Friday, October 2 (7pm), Friday October 9 (7pm).