THE Borderline Speedway continues its action-packed season tonight with the time-honoured Kings Challenge Sprintcar event.
It is the 24th running of the event, which is sure to provide plenty of action as teams prepare for the prestigious Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic in Warrnambool, Victoria the following three nights.
The two meetings always attract big fields, with 48 cars nominated for the Kings Challenge.
Borderline Speedway president Cary Jennings said the venue is in top condition, with a big crowd expected.
“The district council has been out there and line marked it for the crowd, so they have a walk way around the venue,” he said.
“We have done a bit of painting on the track fence to tidy it up and the grass is cut.
“The track itself looks good, so it is all ready to go.”
Reigning title holder Steven Lines has been on the pace in the World Series Sprintcars season and is sure to bring that intensity to his home track.
He would love nothing more than to go back-to-back at Mount Gambier, but will have plenty of challengers along the way.
“Lines is sitting second in the World Series and has been very consistent,” Jennings said.
“I think he would be a favourite, but another one who might stick his head up is Brooke Tatnell.
“He is starting to improve since he has been back home and was on the podium the other night.”
Tatnell had a disrupted start in his home country after delays coming out from the USA, but he will be keen to make his mark in his first time at the Borderline Speedway this season in the Scott Motorsports 55 car.
He has certainly shown plenty of pace in his limited runs and will be one to watch.
Another to watch out for is Australian champion Kerry Madsen.
Madsen and Lines have gone head-to-head throughout the WSS season so far, with the former claiming the lead in the series just last round.
Third in the WSS is another Limestone Coast favourite in James McFadden.
He has shown some electric pace this season, with storming drives through the field.
McFadden finished second behind Lines last season and would be gunning for the Limestone Coast star.
Also on the card are Americans Carson Macedo, Corey Eliason, Gio Scelzi and Parker Price-Miller.
Eliason has been on the pace in the WSS season and showed a liking for the Borderline Speedway in round two of Speedweek, before he was forced high out of turn four dicing with Madsen for the lead and hit the wall, ending his night.
He would certainly like to move into podium contention on a track he clearly enjoyed.
Macedo is no stranger to Australian tracks and will look to add to his list of achievements, with plenty of pace through the WSS so far.
He claimed a podium in last year’s Kings Challenge and will want to go better than his third place then.
Scelzi and Price-Miller are two young guns who would be keen to show their abilities at such a big event.
Apart from the international flavour and the top three contenders in the WSS season, there is no shortage of quality drivers throughout the field.
That includes the likes of Brad Keller, Danny Reidy, Darren Mollenoyux, Marcus and Matthew Dumesny and many more capable of a podium finish.
Unfortunately Glen Sutherland will not be racing, with Grant Anderson now in.
Limestone Coast driver Rory Button will be on track, along with Chad Ely in the Starks car out of Port MacDonnell, while Eddie Lumber will fly the flag for Ferguson’s Diesel.
The format will see a small change, with time trials incorporated into the hot laps, rather than run separately.
The fastest of the hot laps will count towards the drivers points on the night.
Jennings said that should help look after the track and provide more entertainment value as well.
He said the quality of drivers in the field would provide a night of high-octane entertainment for spectators.
“When you see the list of competitors, these guys are here to take home the money,” he said.
“They are not coming here for fun and will be serious competitors at the end of the day.”
The main program will be supported by Junior Sedans and demonstration runs by the old Super Modified cars, which were the forerunners of the current Sprintcars.
The cost to attend has been reduced to assist families, with 12-16 year olds now $10, rather than the previous $20.
“We have dropped the 12-16 year olds entry price down to look after the families with a couple of children,” Jennings said.
“We are going to maintain that from now on.”
Traffic control will be in place, with speed limits on the highway dropping down to 60kph and police to attend after the meeting to direct traffic.
Gates open from 4pm, with hot laps from 5pm and racing kicks off in earnest from 6pm.
Driver’s list:
4 Adrian Cottrell; 43 Alex Orr; 96 Andy Caruana; 3 Ben Morris; 19 Brad Keller; 96 Brendan Guerin; 13 Brock Hallett; 22 Brodie Minchin; 55 Brooke Tatnell; 99 Carson Macedo; 72 Chad Ely; 26 Corey Eliason; 5 Danny Reidy; 50 Darren Clarke; 52 Darren Mollenoyux; 88 Dave Murchott; 17 Dennis Jones; 2 Domain Ramsay; 36 Eddie Lumbar; 71 Gio Sceizi; 49 Ian Madsen; 72 Jacob Smith; 80 James Inglis; 17 James McFadden; 24 Jamie O’Neil; 14 Jason Pryde; 53 Jessie Attard; 22 Jock Goodyer; 2 Kerry Madsen; 59 Kevin Titman; 27 Kyle Angel; 38 Lachlan McDonough; 4 Lisa Walker; 81 Luke Dillon; 40 Marcus Dumesny; 57 Matthew Dumesny; 97 Mitchell Wormall; 12 Parker Price-Miller; 98 Peter Doukas; 83 Peter O’Niel; 7 Robbie Farr; 57 Rory Button; 63 Ryan Jones; 27 Scott Bogucki; 83 Steve Lines; 62 Tate Frost; 7 Tim Hutchins.
