Valvoline Raceway has today officially announced a stellar new night of Ultimate Sprintcar racing in 2016/2017 with a major twist.

On Thursday night, January 12 – the night before the Scott Darley Challenge – the first annual USC “Origin of Speed” State v State Teams contest will be held.

Teams of six drivers will represent WA, SA, VIC, NSW, QLD, TAS and NT in a specially designed format that will carry over $40,000 in prize-money.

“We’ve been working on the intricacies of this concept for some time now,” says VR Managing Director Steven Green, “we’re all well aware of the tribal appeal of State of Origin in Rugby League and previously AFL/VFL football as well. The idea is to really amplify the State rivalry and patriotism for drivers and fans alike with Origin of Speed. We’re excited about the enormous potential of this concept and we think it will turn out to be one of our huge annual blue-ribbon nights.”

“Origin of Speed” will certainly ignite the flames of passion amongst the Speedway fan fraternity with plenty of conjecture, discussion and social media meltdown, as driver line-ups and eligibility become a hot talking point.

“We anticipate that there’ll be a wide range of opinions on who is eligible for which team and the like,” Green admits, “and we think that by having people so passionate about their respective State representatives will be the key to the Origin of Speed’s success. State pride is an important part of Australian sport and even culture, there’s no reason why that fanatical tribalism won’t spill over into our event.

It’s the perfect curtain raiser to the Scott Darley Challenge and indeed the Australian Sprintcar Championship two weeks later.”

Each team will be assigned a “Manager” who will be responsible for their driver placements in the grids for the Origin of Speed.

“Tactics will really come into play here,” admits Green, “the availability of passing points will mean that significant advantages may be gained during the racing by the effective placing of a hot driver further down the grid. We’ll reveal more about the format for all this very soon.”

The inaugural USC Origin of Speed will see the cream of Australia’s best Ultimate Sprintcar talent for the first time not seeking individual glory but success in fact for their TEAM and their STATE.

The night itself will be shaped into an entire entertainment medium with the Origin of Speed being the only Speedway competition conducted.

“The format and structure of this event will allow us to really develop the entertainment factor. In the past few years we’ve seen cricket for example really reinvent itself as a broader entertainment medium.

Origin of Speed is a great opportunity for us to do the same.”

“Thursday, January 12, 2017 – the first annual USC Origin of Speed.”
With even more dates to be added soon currently the month of January at Valvoline Raceway is:
Thursday, January 12 – USC Origin of Speed
Friday, January 13 – Scott Darley Challenge Night One
Saturday, January 14 – Scott Darley Challenge Night Two
Thursday, January 26 – 55th Australian Sprintcar Championship Night One
Friday, January 27 – 55th Australian Sprintcar Championship Night Two
Saturday, January 28 – 55th Australian Sprintcar Championship Night Three

More information on the event will follow soon.