LARA, Australia -- Castrol Edge-backed V8 Dirt Modified Racer Mark Robinson captured an emotional Australian Championship victory at the Avalon Raceway in Victoria on Saturday night.

The victory was Robinson's second Australian Title triumph, having won the event in 2005 in Brisbane. But his victory this past weekend was special. While he was in Victoria competing, his two-year old daughter Allie was in Brisbane, having been diagnosed with Leukaemia just before Christmas.

" The win was definitely for Allie" said Robinson, who made a last minute decision to compete at Avalon. " It was a pretty tough weekend with everything that has been going on, but to be able to come away with the win definitely made it worth while."

Robinson qualified his Castrol Edge Troyer on pole for the Championship final and lead every one of the 35-laps.

" It was one of those weekends where everything just came together. We made the most of our heat races, the crew did a great job on the setup and in the Feature it was just a case of driving a smart race and trying not to make any mistakes. The car was great, I could put it anywhere on the track, it was just about the perfect race from our point of view."

Robinson's first race as the 2012 Australian Champion will be the upcoming Modified Masters at his home track, the Lismore Speedway, next Thursday and Saturday nights. (Jan 26 & 28).

" I'm definitely looking forward to wheeling the car out with a big number one on the side in Lismore" he said. " But beyond next week end I am not quite sure how much racing we will be doing for the rest of the season. It all depends on how well Allie is progressing with the treatment. So far she's doing ok, so we'll just take it one day at a time. As much as I love racing, family is the number one priority at the moment."

Thankyou...
Mark Robinson would like to thank the many people who made his victory in the Australian V8 Dirt Modified Championship possible.

" Firstly I'd like to thank my wife Chloe for her support, I wouldn't have even considered going to Avalon if she wasn't 100% behind me. And to everybody who gave Chloe a hand while I was away, thankyou."

" I can't thank my crew enough for their work over the weekend. Dad, Larry, Ben, Bud and Micka, they did an awesome job all weekend and deserved the win."

" A huge thanks to the Victorian V8 Dirt Modified Club for helping raise money over the weekend for the Leukaemia Foundation. That was pretty unexpected and is something Chloe and I are very thankful for."

" To the Dirt Modifieds Australia officials who accommodated our late arrival and allowed our car to be scrutineered on Friday, thankyou. And a huge thankyou also to the drivers, crews and fans for their support and encouragement over the weekend."

" Thanks to Troyer Racecars and JBR Motorsport for a great race car and for all their help so far this season."

" And to our major sponsor Castrol Edge, without whom our racing would not be possible, thankyou."