BRETT STEVENS AND TEN YEAR OLD JESSE KICK BUTT AT WILLOWBANK RACEWAY

Ten-year old Jesse Skinner achieved his junior dragster licence with his first passes in a Junior Dragster supplied by KickButt Racing at Willowbank Raceway last night, with none-other than Drag Racing legend Brett Stevens looking on.

Jesse was given the chance to gain his ANDRA competitive licence after his mum, Toni, won a competition run by school-based anti-smoking program KickButt Racing, which seeks to promote the benefits of not smoking through motorsport.

The Silkstone State School student has now had his recently acquired licence endorsed by officials which were on-track last night to view his passes, qualifying him to compete at any future ANDRA (Australian National Drag Racing Association) events in the future.

“”It was cool,” enthused Jesse after his first passes.

“It was really great, I was nervous at the start but then it was fun because I did a burnout – that’s the really fun part.”

There to lend a hand and a kind word of advice was Jesse’s long time idol and friend, Brett Stevens, who was neighbours with Jesse’s family at Narangba some years ago.

“Brett wasn’t just watching, he guided me into the staging lights and pulled my visor down for me, and afterwards he said congratulations,” said Jesse, who even has his hair styled to match his champion drag racing hero.

“It was good having Brett there, because he isn’t just my idol, he is my best friend.”

Stevens seemed just as chuffed with his young protégé’s performance as Jesse was to have him looking on.

”It is very important for any sport that there are systems in place to attract competitors, develop skills and move up the ranks, whether it be in a professional or amateur capacity,” said Stevens.

“This is especially important when encouraging kids into our sport as they are our future Champions and is exactly the reason we have the Junior Dragster bracket in Australian Drag Racing.

“I have met Jesse on a number of occasions out at the race track, he is a very keen young guy and it is fantastic that he had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a race car.

“When I was invited to come along to watch him take his first steps in his racing career out at Willowbank Raceway I was more than happy to make time for him and lend a hand.

“I would also like to pay special mention to the guys at Kick Butt Racing who have given this opportunity to Jesse to follow his dreams, and in the process are also sending very important health messages to school age children about the dangers of smoking.”

KickButt Racing’s Brett Batterby uses motorsport to promote the benefits of being smoke free to Queensland primary-school aged kids (10-12 years of age).

“For over 40 years tobacco companies have been using all forms of motorsport to promote their brands as well as the image of smoking, so I don’t see why if motorsport can be used to promote this unhealthy habit it can’t also be used to turn the tide against it,” said Batterby.

“The aim of our program is to visit 100 plus primary schools a year, but with slim funding available I also run a membership page through my website www.kickbuttracing.com.au – which is how Jesse’s mum won the prize for her son, and I also lease out the KickButt Racing dragster to aspiring young racers.

“Using various display materials and images, I speak to the kids about the effect smoking has on our health, the cost of smoking and the impact the habit has on our environment.

“I was really glad to be able to offer Jesse the drive, as he is a really talented kid and hopefully he will be able to continue his racing career past his passes of last night.

“Hopefully in the future with more funding, I will be able to further assist young stars like Jesse by providing the KickButt Racing junior dragster for their use free of charge to further their careers.”

Willowbank Raceway is located in Ipswich, approximately 30 – 45 minutes west of Brisbane, Queensland. Offering a year-round program of drag racing entertainment for the whole family, the raceway holds four major events annually with a variety of features including Top Fuel, Top Doorslammer, Supercharged Outlaws, Pro Stock vehicles, Top Fuel Motorcyles, Pro Stock Bikes and the Funny Car and Dragster excitement of Top Alcohol, with the next big event set for April 18-19 with the Tin Top Titles seeing the Top Doorslammers and Pro Stock categories duke it out with plenty other drag racing action on the bill.