Former World Champions McGrath and Bolton Star At Tullyroan

Two former National Banger World Champions were the stars of the show at Tullyroan Oval on Sunday, June 7th on an afternoon of top class international race action. In the Unlimited National Bangers, Dublin’s Stevo McGrath finally got his hands on the Shamwreck title after a fine drive, whilst Ballymoney’s Steven Bolton took a simply superb win in the 1600 Bangers Irish Open Championship.
Richhill’s Jack Murphy won a well subscribed Ninja Karts Golden Helmet Award, whilst the other feature race wins went to Limavady debutant Luke Goligher (Junior Productions) and Aaron Rogers from Dundalk (Lightning Rods).

The first race for the Unlimited National Bangers was the coveted Shamwreck 2026 race, with Gordy McKee the early leader until a stoppage for a loose wheel on track. At the resumption a puncture thwarted McKee’s progress, allowing Stevo McGrath to power through to win the Shamwreck title ahead of his nephew Deano McGrath, with Steven Reynolds in third for an all-Dublin top three.
The Allcomers race saw a huge wreck for Leonard Dunn after he was smashed up by Mark Hughes, with McKee getting the win this time ahead of Stevo McGrath and Paul Compelli. The Showdown race completed proceedings, with Stevo taking another win ahead of Reynolds and Compelli. The race finished with some huge hits on the Annaghmore Bend to send the fans home happy. Hughes took the honours as Entertainer of the Day with Dunn claiming Best Wreck.

34 cars came under starters orders for the opening 1600 Bangers heat, with England’s Daniel Croskell out front despite a stoppage. Steven Bolton tracked his every move though, and thundered him wide into the final bend to claim a superb victory ahead of Jack Botfield and Andy Farley. Heat two was another action packed encounter, with England’s Charlie Barwell taking the win over Josh Goligher and Luke Farrington.
The final was right from the top drawer, with Barwell ahead from Goligher early on, until Bolton dispatched Goligher superbly into a parked car to take up second. Steven and Alan Haugh then went past Barwell, and nudged each other back and forth as they swapped the lead. Bolton was ahead on the final lap, and just overcame a last bend assault from Haugh to take the flag in fantastic style. Haugh was a gallant runner up for the second event in a row, ahead of Barwell, Stephen Boyd and Farrington. A full field of Ninja Karts from across the British Isles required split qualifying heats, and they fell to Richhill’s Jack Murphy, Magherafelt’s Jordan Davis and Ballymena’s Matthew McNeill. The Golden Helmet final saw a huge field on track, with England’s Johnny Wheeler disputing the early lead with McNeill, until Murphy arrived to challenge. Jack swooped past to take the honours after a great drive, with East Anglian’s George Cooper and Mason Carberry completing the top three.

The opening Lightning Rods heats saw a sublime wet weather performance by Andrew Woods as he took a great win over Irish Champion Ross Houston, with Mark McBurney then taking heat two ahead of Conor Doherty.
The feature race saw Dundalk driver Aaron Rogers set the pace out front, with McBurney and Doherty chasing him down in the closing stages. Aaron was equal to them all though, holding his nerve to keep them at bay and record his first ever victory in the formula in some style. McBurney, Doherty and Stuart Agnew followed Aaron home.

The Junior Productions were joined by welcome Scottish visitors Nicole Innes and Adam Donnelly, but it was king of the scene Leyton Hughes who dominated the dry first heat to win from Casey Cherry and Noah Teggart. Heat two saw a runaway victory in the wet by newcomer Luke Goligher, as he impressed with a runaway victory over Donnelly and Cherry.
The final was once again all about novice Goligher, and he showed great car control to edge further and further clear. Luke took his second win of the day in some style to end a dream debut meeting, with Jack Morrison and Jake Barnett next home.

Added 08/06/2026