05/11/2026
WICKS CLAIMS ROUND ONE HONOURS AT BLUE RIBBON RACEWAY
VMPA All States Rigging Series Round 1
Presented by Squadron Energy
Saturday, 31 October 2026
The Victorian Modified Promotions Association (VMPA) kicked off its 2026/27 All States Rigging Series in style on Saturday night, with a high-quality field of Modified Sedans at Horsham's Blue Ribbon Raceway for the opening round of the championship.
A competitive night of racing saw reigning Victorian Champion Brad Wicks emerge victorious, claiming the feature win ahead of Horsham's Daniel Simpson and former series champion Andrew Blackwell.
With established contenders, returning competitors and newcomers in the field, the opening round delivered an exciting start to the championship season.
Daniel Simpson made an immediate impression, claiming victory in Heat 1A ahead of Darcy Wilson and Graham West. South Australian Brett Williams and Andrew Blackwell completed the top five.
Heat 1B belonged to Brad Wicks, who secured victory ahead of Stuey Robinson and Jeff Leahy, with Lachlan Fitzpatrick and Daniel Wilson rounding out the top five.
Michael Wicks claimed Heat 2A ahead of Daniel Wilson and Shaun Thompson. Graham West and Jeff Leahy completed the top five, with Brad Wicks finishing sixth.
Andrew Blackwell took the honours in Heat 2B, finishing ahead of Stuey Robinson and Daniel Simpson, followed by Andrew D**e and Lachlan Fitzpatrick.
With four different heat winners, the depth of competition was evident as drivers secured their positions ahead of the night's feature event.
Following mixed heat results, the Elite Shock Services A Dash proved fiercely competitive, with Darcy Wilson taking victory ahead of Graham West and Jeff Leahy. Wilson and West both progressed to the Norman Street Automotive Pole Shuffle.
Wilson defeated West in the opening challenge before overcoming Daniel Wilson, who had elected to start from the low line. Brad Wicks was next, also selecting the low line and successfully advancing, relegating Darcy Wilson to sixth on the feature grid.
Michael Wicks then challenged his brother Brad, choosing the low line and leading him across the T-line to take the green flag. Michael progressed, leaving Brad fifth on the starting grid. Returning former series champion Andrew Blackwell was next, selecting the popular low line against Michael Wicks. The pair entered turn one side by side before Blackwell gained the advantage and advanced.
With two challengers remaining, Stuey Robinson took on Blackwell, who was now positioned on the outside. Blackwell proved too strong, maintaining his advantage throughout the two-lap contest. The final challenge saw pole qualifier Daniel Simpson take on Blackwell's VF Commodore. Simpson selected the low line and challenged into turn one, but Blackwell held the advantage to cross the finish line first.
However, Blackwell was penalised for crossing the T-line at the start, relegating him to second and handing Daniel Simpson pole position for the 30-lap feature. As Simpson himself acknowledged, a little luck had played its part in securing pole position.
With Simpson and Blackwell starting from the front row, the pair battled side by side throughout the opening laps before Stuey Robinson took the lead on lap three. Robinson, Simpson, Blackwell and Brad Wicks continued fighting for the leading positions, while Michael Wicks and Darcy Wilson battled further back.
Andrew D**e retired on lap five, while Daniel Wilson and Lachlan Fitzpatrick contested seventh and eighth. By lap 14, Simpson and Brad Wicks had closed the gap to Robinson, with Simpson making his move into the lead on lap 17. As lap traffic came into play, Wicks passed Robinson with nine laps remaining and set his sights on Simpson.
Meanwhile, Darcy Wilson and Michael Wicks continued their battle for position, while Blackwell moved into third with five laps remaining. By lap 28, Simpson and Wicks had caught lapped traffic once again. In a dramatic conclusion, Wicks found a way past Simpson as they approached the white flag, snatching the lead on the penultimate lap.
Wicks held on to take the chequered flag, opening his championship campaign with a hard-fought victory. Horsham local Daniel Simpson secured second place after leading much of the closing stages, while Andrew Blackwell completed the podium in a welcome return to the VMPA.
Darcy Wilson capped off a consistent night with fourth place, while Michael Wicks finished fifth, placing both Wicks brothers inside the top five. Robinson finished sixth ahead of Fitzpatrick, West, Williams and series newcomer Mabbitt.
Rizzoli and Turner finished eleventh and twelfth respectively, both completing 29 laps. Daniel Wilson's feature came to a premature end after 25 laps, joining Andrew D**e on the list of non-finishers.
The Adam Holt Industries Hard luck award went to Drew Harrison, who had engine dramas, and the Fabhouse Hard Charger award went to Brad Wicks, progressing from 5th to 1st in the final.
The opening feature delivered close racing, multiple lead changes and a dramatic penultimate-lap pass, setting the scene for an exciting championship battle ahead.
With the first championship points secured, attention now turns to Round 2 to be held at Avalon Raceway on November 28th, 2026.
OFFICIAL FEATURE RESULTS
1. Brad Wicks
2. Daniel Simpson
3. Andrew Blackwell
4. Darcy Wilson
5. Michael Wicks
6. Stuey Robinson
7. Lachlan Fitzpatrick
8. Graham West
9. Brett Williams
10. Gerard Mabbitt
11. Bella Rizzoli
12. Bailey Turner
DNF: Daniel Wilson (25 laps), Andrew D**e (5 laps).
