Aston Rodriguez at the Compact Speedcars Victorian State title in Nyora. Photo: Napier Photography.
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Kyabram teenager Aston Rodriguez has become something of speed demon on the track, racing his way to a maiden Victorian Compact Speedcar State Title at Nyora Raceway on Saturday, Feburary 8.
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This is his first season racing in the senior division after a decade of competing in junior competitions since he was just six years old.
The young gun has made an excellent start to his senior career, taking out Compact Speedcars Victoria Speed Week, which was held over four nights and four tracks to bring in 2025.
He was the best and most consistent driver in that competition out of a pool of 18 from across NSW and Victoria.
He also won the Victorian Compact Speedcar ‘President’s Cup’ in November, and he won a heat in his first ever compact race after moving up from juniors at Rushworth Speedway in October.
“I was pretty nervous watching him, my legs felt like jelly because they are going so fast — they do 120km/h around a dirt track,” Aston’s mother, Anne Clarke, said.
“The guy that he beat that ended up coming second was the Australian champion and has been racing for years so it was a big achievement because he is still a kid, and it is his first year.
Aston hold his Victorian state title trophy after the race.
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“I was really proud watching him, he and his dad normally race compacts together; Aston actually broke a head gasket before the race, so he used his dad’s car instead, so it was impressive to see him win in a car he isn’t used to.”
Aston reflected on his Victorian state title win and emphasised his greater ambitions of racing internationally, particularly in the United States, the biggest and most popular market for speedway racing.
“It was awesome to win my first state title, especially to do it in my first year — I was pretty excited,” he said.
“I love to race, my aim is to race over in America, the speedway scene is a lot bigger over there.”
However, before he can travel internationally he’ll set his sights on the NSW state title on Thursday, Feburary 20 at Sydney International Speedway and the Australian title at Wangaratta Speedway on Saturday, March 1.
