The 56th edition of the Australian Sprintcar Championship will kick off this Thursday night (January 25, 2018) with the first half of the 80-strong nomination list taking to the Borderline Speedway clay. Of the 40 drivers drawn to race on Thursday there are two former Australian Champions featuring as the 2004 Champion Robbie Farr and dual Champion James McFadden (2010 & 2013) begin their quests for another Championship on Night 1.

Along with Farr and McFadden the line-up is very impressive with a number of possible Preliminary A-Main winners.

Leading the local South Australian charge on the opening night is a very strong contingent including Luke Dillon, Matt Egel, Ryan Jones, Brad Keller and Brock Hallett. All five of these “South Aussies” have been in great form with Dillon recoding a seventh placed finish in the Classic, Egel qualified for the Classic main, Jones has a feature win this season, Keller is inside the top 5 in World Series and Hallett has been one of most improved drivers anywhere in the country this year. It wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see one of these drivers in victory lane or at least on the podium.

New South Wales also has a few top-class drivers in the field including current Australia #2 Ian Madsen, who will be keen to bounce back from a disappointing Classic campaign in the Jamie Matherson owned #49, Jordyn Brazier and Matthew Dumesny.

Tim Van Ginneken, Peter Doukas and Darren Mollenoyux look to be Victoria’s best chances on night 1 with Peter Doukas in the best form of his short career with two front row starts at the Classic and Mollenoyux, who has been fast in the Steve Duggan owned W#41.

Of the remaining states Queensland’s Luke Oldfield, who was impressive last weekend, Tasmanians Shaun Dobson and Tim Hutchins, who are both coming off a Classic A-Main start, Northern Territorian Ben Atkinson and Western Australian hard chargers Taylor Milling and Mitch Wormall

Thursday 25th January 2018 Scrutineering Night 1 – Time Trials, Two rounds of Qualifying Heats, Preliminary B-Main – 20 Laps (18 cars, First 4 transfer) and Preliminary A-Main – 25 Laps (14 cars + 4 from Prelim B).