AUSTRALIAN SPEEDWAY: USA DRIVERS HERE FOR A FRANTIC FORTNIGHT
Feature photo by: Skene Media…Warrnambool’s James McFadden has returned to his homeland after a 90 event calendar in the USA throughout 2023 and he will face a huge field from both Australians and Americans throughout the summer.
Speedway venues across Australia are gearing up for a huge summer calendar, rolling out the red carpet for at least fourteen American drivers across Sprintcars, Formula 500s and Late Models over the next two weeks.
Australian Speedway venues will host almost 40 events in the next fortnight alone, bolstered by eight tracks across six states hosting Boxing Day events, before a further 24 events are held across the remainder of the week in the lead up to the new year.
The Sprintcar Speedweek through South Australia and Victoria will present four rounds over five nights at Murray Bridge, Mount Gambier, Avalon and Warrnambool featuring five American stars, while the USA versus WA Sprintcar Speedweek will feature another three United States exports on Boxing Day at the Perth Motorplex before another two join the challenge on December 28.
The Late Model USA Summer Speedweek will be a major focus in Queensland, starting their three-round series with two USA guests at Toowoomba on Boxing Day before venturing north to Bundaberg on December 27 and the brand new Gladstone Speedway on December 29.
Formula 500 racing will also enjoy a sprinkling of American talent across their seven round Speedweek with two of the country’s best Microsprint exponents joining the Victorian and South Australia based series as well as the stand-alone Ken Willsher Classic at Laang Speedway on December 29.
Meanwhile, Australia’s native sedan classes will continue with their respective events, highlighted by the $10,000-to-win Super Sedan Ian Boettcher Classic that will double as the first of fifteen rounds of the rebirthed National Super Sedan Series along with the $10,000-to-win Modified Sedan TBar Nationals at Toowoomba on December 30 and New Years Eve.
Speedway Australia CEO Darren Tindal was excited by the busy calendar and the mix of traditional events and series along with some high-paying one-off shows.
“This is our favourite time of the year! Everyone loves the traditional Boxing Day events around the country and the different series that are so popular around the turn of the new year, but we’re also really excited for some other venues who are hosting one-off events like the Tasmanian Sprintcar Title at Latrobe in Tasmania, Wahgunyah in Victoria, Lismore, Maryborough and all the way across to Nickol Bay in WA running a show. It really is a sport that’s embraced across the nation, that offers the best family night out especially in these warmer months.”
The calendar will continue to roll out a vast range of events when the new year begins, including the three-round Pro Speedcar Week starting at Murray Bridge, before multiple blue ribbon events and Australian Titles are run throughout January.
TEN DAY SPEEDWAY FORECAST
BOXING DAY – TUESDAY DECEMBER 26
Cranes Combined Carrick Speedway TAS
Autobarn Carina International Speedway QLD
Hi-Tec Oils Toowoomba Speedway QLD – Late Model USA Summer Speedweek Rnd 1
Murray Bridge Speedway SA – Sprintcar Speedweek Rnd 1, Night 1
Perth Motorplex WA – WA v USA Sprintcar Speedweek Rnd 1
Avalon Raceway VIC
Wahgunyah Speedway VIC
Lismore Speedway NSW
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 27
Autobarn Carina International Speedway QLD – Late Model USA Summer Speedweek Rnd 2 and Super Sedan Summer Slam
Murray Bridge Speedway SA – Sprintcar Speedweek Rnd 1, Night 2
Simpson Speedway VIC – SRA Round 7
THURSDAY DECEMBER 28
Perth Motorplex WA – WA v USA Sprintcar Speedweek Rnd 2
Laang Speedway VIC – F500 Speedweek
Borderline Speedway SA – Sprintcar Speedweek Rnd 2
Gympie Speedway QLD – Super Sedan Summer Slam
FRIDAY DECEMBER 29
Gladstone Speedway QLD – Late Models Summer Speedweek Rnd 3 Final
Laang Speedway – F500 Ken Willsher Classic
Grafton Speedway NSW – DMA Super Dirt Series
SATURDAY DECEMBER 30
Avalon Raceway VIC – Sprintcar Speedweek Rnd 3
Southern 500 Speedway Portland – Modlite Vic Title
Hi-Tec Oils Toowoomba Speedway QLD – Ian Boettcher Classic/T Bar Nationals Night 1
Maryborough Speedway QLD – Sprintcars Australia
Autobarn Carina International Speedway QLD
Tyres & More Esperance Speedway WA – Super Sedan Summer Series Round 5
Geraldton City Speedway WA
West Coast Outlaw Karts WA
Riverland Speedway SA
Gilgandra Speedway NSW (PRACTICE)
Sapphire Speedway NSW (PRACTICE)
Nowra Speedway NSW – George Tatnell Speedcar Challenge
Grafton Speedway NSW – DMA Super Dirt Series
Gulf Western & Independent Oils Raceway Latrobe TAS – Tas Sprintcar Title
NEW YEARS EVE – SUNDAY DECEMBER 31
Hi-Tec Oils Toowoomba Speedway QLD – Ian Boettcher Classic/T Bar Nationals Night 1
Nickol Bay Speedway WA
NEW YEARS DAY – MONDAY JANUARY 1
@Premier Speedway Warnambool VIC – Sprintcar Speedweek Rnd 4
Bunbury City Speedway WA – WA v USA Sprintcar Speedweek Rnd 3
TUESDAY JANUARY 2
Perth Motorplex WA – WA v USA Sprintcar Speedweek Rnd 4
Premier Speedway Warrnambool VIC – 360 Sprintcar Allstars/F500 Speedweek Rnd 4
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 3
Murray Bridge Speedway SA – Pro Speedcar Week SA – Pro Speedcar Week Round 1
Avalon Raceway VIC – F500 Speedweek Rnd 5
McHUGH, JENSEN, FARMER, WILSON – TOOWOOMBA WINNERS