The 22-year-old Grovedale resident, who won his first national title at Goulburn Speedway on Easter Saturday, will suit up in the first edition of the tribute race against south-west sprintcar stars Jamie Veal and Darren Mollenoyux.

The latter won an Australian formula 500 title in 2004, while Veal is one of the world's most well known sprintcar racers.

Buckingham said he was confident with himself and his car heading into the first edition of the tribute race to the late Ken Willsher, who passed away in June last year.

"The car has been good to win the last two outings so the car is there," he said.

"But speedway is a tricky sport and each night can go different ways we just have got to make sure every element is right.

"That's what we have had in the last few weeks. It's taken a good six years to get this point and I feel I am at the peak of my game."

The floor and wall tiler said it was hard to predict who would be his main competition with a stacked field of over 60 entries competing for the $5000 winner's prize money, which is the richest in the history of the class.

"It's hard to know where everyone will land with those past guys in Veal, Molly (Mollenoyux) and the other 50 drivers. It's going to be a cool event to race in," he said.

"Also arguably two of the best drivers from America (Jake Hagopian and Stan Yockey) are coming over so I want to do my best to get the A1 at the front of the race.

"It will be interesting to see where we stack up. I'm hoping we can have the car somewhere in the pointy end."

Three-time Australian Formula 500 champion Luke Dillon will not be racing due to injury and will be replaced by 2018 Grand Annual Sprintcar champion Corey McCullagh.

The Warrnambool resident will be joined by fellow sprintcar drivers in Tasmanian ace Jock Goodyer, Bushfield's Grant Stansfield, Geelong's Terry Rankin, Terang's Jack Lee and South Australia's Brock Hallett, who is a two-time Australian Formula 500 champion.

Buckingham, who has raced in the class for the past six years after making the step up from junior sedans, said he felt confident about heading back to Laang.

And after coming off an emotional national title fight his confidence is at an all-time high.

"It was a tricky meeting as there were a lot of really good cars and being the Australian title it still had plenty of all the really competitive interstate guys so it's a good confidence booster," he said.

"I didn't believe I had won it (the national title) when I crossed the line but when I finally did I got quite excited in the car and since then it's still been a little surreal."

Buckingham said he was expecting Dion Bellman to prepare a great track for racing.

"It should be a great race track and have two lanes of racing to provide an exciting race," he said.

Cars will start to hit the track from 4pm at Laang Speedway.

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