The 22-year-old has been in career-best form leading up to the 40th Lucas Oil Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic, with a triumph in the renowned race at the top of his wish list.

“It’s been a dream of mine to win it, especially when you’re racing against some of the best in the world,” he said.

“It’s going to be tough because there’s a lot more cars and some better American drivers, but I hope we can live up to what other people are thinking.”

Speedway fans would be thinking that McFadden is one of Australia’s leading hopes in the $40,000-to-win event.

The 2010 national champion sits on the top perch of the World Series Sprintcars (WSS) leaderboard after six round victories, while he also claimed Speedweek honours after taking out the finale at Premier Speedway on New Year’s Day.

“This has been by far my best season,” he said.

“We’ve got good cars, good motors and we’re having fun. It gives you a lot more confidence when everything’s going right.

“We want to carry our form into the Classic.”

McFadden is one of 85 drivers nominated for the event and will come up against a record 14 Americans.

“This is the best race in Australia by far,” he said.

“This is the Knoxville Nationals of Australia.

“You’ve got all the good drivers from Australia and all the good guys from America.

“It’s obviously the one to win in Australia.”

The Brisbane-based driver’s best finish in the Classic came last year, when he placed fourth as another emerging Australian driver, Steven Lines, collected the coveted title.

McFadden believes getting to the front of his heats will be vital this weekend.

“If you can do that in a couple of heats, you’re pretty much right to get into the show,” he said.

“I’ll be looking to pick off a lot of cars in the heat races and hope that we’re starting somewhere near the front to have a chance.”

He believes any driver who qualifies for the A-main could be crowned champion.

“There’s the Americans, then you’ve still got Australians like Brooke Tatnell and Robbie Farr who are in good form,” he said.

McFadden would like to think that he is in the same company as the likes of triple-Classic winner Tatnell and reigning WSS champion Farr.

“You race against them every week and you stick it up them sometimes,” he said. “I just don’t have as much experience.”