Picture: SNAPPERIFIC PHOTOGRAPHY
THE Borderline Speedway will roar into action tonight with the time-honoured Kings Challenge.
One of the best fields for many years has been assembled, capped at 48, which should provide plenty of entertainment throughout the night.
It will pan out as a three-pronged attack, with Limestone Coast drivers facing some of the best in Australia, plus a strong contingent of Americans ready to take the title home.
One of the bigger American names is Kyle Larson, a well-credentialled driver on both tarmac and dirt.
The NASCAR driver has plenty of experience on oval tracks, including dirt where he has performed at the highest level in the USA.
He will be joined by fellow Americans Carson Macedo, Cory Eliason, Buddy Kofoid and Kalib Henry, along with “The Steel City Outlaw” Tim Shaffer and World of Outlaws star Shane Stewart.
They will face some of the best in the country, including Kerry Madsen, James McFadden, Marcus Dumesny and a host of others.
The Limestone Coast has its own crop of quality drivers, with reigning World Series Sprintcars champion Steven Lines at the head of the group.
The current top four in the WSS will be on track – McFadden, Madsen, Jock Goodyer and Brooke Tatnell.
Lines will look to defend his 2018-19 Kings Challenge title and will be joined by Glen Sutherland, Scott Enderl and Jake Tranter, while Tatnell will race the Scott Motorsport sprintcar and look for his second win of the season at the Borderline Speedway.
According to club president Cary Jennings it will be a high-octane night of entertainment, especially with some of the young drivers going up against their idols.
“Kalib Henry is an 18 year old American and his idols were Tim Shaffer and Shane Stewart,” he said.
“All he wanted to do was beat them and he beat both of them at Simpson Speedway last week.
“To see some of those young kids coming up against their idols will be fantastic.”
Jennings said drivers would need to be switched on from the first time trials if they are any chance of victory in such a strong field.
“The Kings Challenge is our premier event and we are really pleased to have such a strong calibre of drivers,” he said.
“I think it will be better than the World Series night.
“Time trials will be a big factor in where they start the heats.
“They have to get out there and trial well, to dial themselves straight in.
“The ones who trial well will be up the front of a heat race – they don’t want to get stuck in the middle of a heat.
“To get out and win a heat with that calibre of competitor, you have to go out and be on the money right from the word go.”
That in itself will ensure plenty of action from the start of the night.
To see the likes of Larson, Shaffer and Stewart up against McFadden, Madsen and Lines is a recipe for excitement.
Jennings said to have those drivers attend was a real bonus for the meeting.
“To have a driver like Larson come over is great,” he said.
“He won the Chilli Bowl last Saturday night.
“We thought he might be here and when we saw his name on the list we were over the moon.
“To know you have someone who not only does speedway, but does NASCAR and lots of other things as well, he is a big draw card.”
Jennings said the meeting had a real Australia v America feel, which was sure to delight fans.
“I think it is the strongest field for a long time,” he said.
“I think the show will be A-class.”
Just 18 drivers will make it through to the A Main and Jennings said he hoped to see a good mix of Australians and Americans, with plenty of “local” content as well.
The night will be supported by Junior Sedans and demonstrations from Classic Super Modifieds – the forerunners to sprintcars.
Gates open at 4pm, with action to kick off at 5pm.
