Ask any fan or driver in NSW Sprintcar circles to name the two most prestigious races on the calendar and you can bet one of them will be the NSW Championship and the other will be the Valvoline Australian Sprintcar Grand Prix.

The Valvoline AGP is an institution on the calendar and has been contested by the world’s best Sprintcar drivers in its 35 year history.

This Friday night, a new chapter will be written into the book that is the Valvoline AGP. A massive field has entered for the event including American drivers Jac Haudenschild, Brad Sweet and Tim Kaeding. There is also the usual array of interstate stars including Trevor Green, Danny Reidy and more.

You can’t forget Ian Madsen who was due to kick off his Australian season at Valvoline Raceway three weeks ago, but cruelly, the meeting was washed out. There is also a host of the NSW regulars including current track championship leader James Thompson, Marty Perovich, Ben Atkinson, Max Dumesny and Toby Bellbowen.

The event winner’s list reads like a who’s who of Sprintcar racing world-wide.

Garry Rush win the inaugural AGP, held on January 19, 1979. He beat Tasmanian Tim Moncrief and Rob Worthington to the line. Rush would repeat wins in 1984 and 1997.

As much as it is an Australian race, from the 34 previous events held, it is split straight down the middle with seventeen wins going back to America and seventeen wins staying on home soil.

The American victories started off on January 21, 1983 when Rick Ungar took the victory over fellow countrymen Jack Hewitt and Danny Smith. Danville, Indiana’s Smith went two spots better and took the win in 1985 and 1986. His performance so dominant in ’85, he lapped up to second place.

Steve Kinser has also had success in this event, winning in 1991, 1993 and 2008, before finishing runner-up to his son, Kraig, last season.

The driver with the most wins in this event is, no surprise, Donny Schatz with five victories. Wins in ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07 and ’09 makes him the only five-time winner of the event.

It will be a fascinating race on Boxing Night. Make sure you don’t miss it. Gates open from 2 and racing is from 6.

Valvoline Australian Sprintcar Grand Prix winners:

1978/79: Garry Rush
1979/80: Bob Blacklaw
1980/81: Bob Blacklaw
1981/82: NOT HELD
1982/83: Rick Ungar (USA)
1983/84: Garry Rush
1984/85: Danny Smith (USA)
1985/86: Danny Smith (USA)
1986/87: Max Dumesny (VIC)
1987/88: Bob Tunks
1988/89: NOT HELD
1989/90: Brooke Tatnell
1990/91: Brooke Tatnell
1991/92: Steve Kinser (USA)
1992/93: Steve Kinser (USA)
1993/94: Skip Jackson
1994/95: Brooke Tatnell
1995/96: Joey Saldana (USA)
1996/97: Steve Kinser (USA)
1997/98: Garry Rush
1998/99: Brooke Tatnell
1999/00: Robbie Farr
2000/01: Max Dumesny (VIC)
2001/02: Kerry Madsen
2002/03: Joey Saldana (USA)
2003/04: Joey Saldana (USA)
2004/05: Donny Schatz (USA)
2005/06: Donny Schatz (USA)
2006/07: Donny Schatz (USA)
2007/08: Donny Schatz (USA)
2008/09: Steve Kinser (USA)
2009/10: Donny Schatz (USA)
2010/11: Garry Brazier
2011/12: Jason Meyers (USA)
2012/13: Ian Madsen
2013/14: Kraig Kinser (USA)