THE growth of the Lucas Oil Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic mirrors a surge in the sport’s popularity.
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For the second consecutive year, organisers have received more than 100 entries. The 107 nominations are 11 fewer than last January’s historic first three-night Classic, which attracted a record car count for a sprintcar race in Australia.
Premier Speedway general manager David Mills said the Classic was the biggest sprintcar race in the world in terms of entries, outstripping the unofficial world championship, the Knoxville Nationals in Iowa, which had 104 entries last August.
“The sport is in a pretty good state,” Mills said.
The 107 entries for this weekend is a far cry from the 45 which rolled into the Allansford circuit’s pits for the 2004 Classic. The field, which has been split in half for tonight and tomorrow’s qualifying events, is a who’s who of the sport in Australia and America.
A dozen American raiders are aiming to take home the $30,000 winner’s cheque on Sunday night, including defending champion Tim Kaeding.
He will be joined by two-time champion Jac Haudenschild, of Wooster, Ohio. Haudenschild, who won the Classic in 1981 and 1982, has a 100 per cent strike rate in the famous race, having not travelled Down Under since those triumphs. His long-awaited Classic return comes alongside his son Sheldon, a highly talented 21-year-old.
The overseas contingent is quality, according to Mills. Californian Brad Sweet, who has three wins in Australia this summer; Randy Hannagan, a winner of the Saturday night feature at the 1999 Classic; regular Daryn Pittman, who won the 2004 Australia-America Challenge Cup at the Classic; and hot shots Kyle Hirst, Terry McCarl, Lucas Wolfe, Jason Sides, Danny Holtgraver and Christopher Bell are all in the field.
The Australian line-up is headed by three-time Classic winners Max Dumesny, Brooke Tatnell and Kerry Madsen, Mount Gambier’s dual champion Steven Lines and former winners Ian Loudoun, Trevor Green and Garry Brazier.
Warrnambool’s Jamie Veal is one of the sport’s quickest drivers this season, having won a handful of times, including three in a row in Sydney. He leads the 14-member south-west contingent, which features Warrnambool chances Darren Mollenoyux, Tim Van Ginneken, Corey McCullagh and Stephen Bell, Portland’s Adam King, Luke Walker (Timboon), Simpson pair Tim Rankin and John Vogels, Quentin Tanner (Tower Hill), Peter Doukas (Mailors Flat), Jacob Smith (Allansford) and Terang duo Jack Lee and Brad Warren.
Mills said reserved seating for each of the three nights was sold out but general admission tickets were available at the gates for each night.
He said the build-up to the Classic began this morning with a breakfast at the Flying Horse Bar and Brewery from 9.30am before the opening night of racing.
Tomorrow, drivers and teams will fill the Flying Horse Bar and Brewery car park for the annual fan appreciation day.
Mills said the club would provide entertainment at the track tomorrow and Sunday afternoons for those arriving early at the Lucas Oil live site behind the grandstand. Local musicians The Doctor (tomorrow) and Richard Tankard (tomorrow) will perform, plus there will be a jumping castle set up for children.
The club’s charity kickball game normally played on Sunday will not be held this year, but Mills said it would still take donations through its merchandise outlets.
He said the popular innovation would return next year.
grbest@fairfaxmedia.com.au