Credit: Courtesy of Bill Smotrilla

Threepeat. That’s the word on the lips of the Hotrod Honeys. The local 2008-2009 flat-track Roller Derby champions are undefeated at home since 2007, but the ladies in pink and black face their toughest threat to date. For championship challengers and 2008 silver medalists the Hustlers, it’s a chance to rewrite history. All season, the purple terrors seemed the team most likely to break the Honeys’ hold on the trophy. In this year’s opening round-robin in February, the Hustlers held the Hotrods to a knife-edge 16-13 win. When they met again in March, the points disparity of the 62-38 Hotrod win doesn’t reflect how close the quality of play was. With veteran Hustler Cheap Trixie back off the injury roster to rejoin a squad that got tougher with every bout, the Hotrods better tighten their wheel bearings for this rematch. Plus, as if that weren’t enough, the third-place bout between the Hell Marys and the Honky Tonk Heartbreakers screams slobber-knocker, as the rookie-heavy Hells aim to break the curse of a winless season.

Sun., July 25, 6:30-10pm, Playland Skate Center, 8822 McCann. $15 ($12, advance). www.texasrollergirls.org.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.