SHAUN Dobson had plenty to keep him busy during his sprintcar hiatus.
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The Tasmanian driver, who is competing in the 48th South West Conveyancing Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic, built a house, watched his first child Xavier, now 2, grow and married partner Bree in the past 18 months.
Dobson, 27, said it was the right time to jump back behind the wheel.
"It's good to be back, this weekend is one of the races you want to be at," he said.
"We had 18 months off just to spend a bit more time at home. I was on the road every weekend and travelling and it got a bit much for me and I think I needed that break," he said.
"It was good but it's good to be back. I still feel I am a little bit behind but hopefully we can get there."
Dobson said the break was required to reignite his passion for the sport.
He's done 11 races with the classic a high-point in his return.
"It gives you goosebumps every time," Dobson said.
"Last time we ran here we ran inside the top-10. It was nice but I feel it's one of those races that just means so much.
"If we can have a good weekend and get some good results, it will make a big difference to what we can lead into."
When you have got the Australian number one on your car then you would want to show it off.
And that is exactly what reigning national sprintcar champion Andrew Scheuerle is thinking too.
The 45-year-old Brisbane product was not going to miss a classic with the number one in his car.
"It was seven or eight years ago," he said of the last time he visited Australia's most prestigious race.
"We have concentrated up home a fair bit but with the one on the car we have done a bit of travelling.
"We will hit here and then we will go to Tasmania next week for the Australian titles."
With limited visits to Premier Speedway, Scheuerle will look to make the most of his 2020 trip.
"Every time we come here we come here to win so that's the goal," the father-of-two said.
"I don't feel any real extra pressure to have the one on the car but I can't see it from inside the car so it's all good and an honour to have it.".
Kirkstall's Brayden Cooley realised a childhood dream when he took out a win in heat eight.
"I am loving every minute of it," he said. "I was a little fat kid with a can of Fanta watching the classic and now I am in it it's pretty cool."
Other heat winners included Scott Bogucki, Jock Goodyer, Ben Atkinson, James McFadden, Tim Kaeding, Brock Hallett (heat six and 12), Brenten Farrer, Jack Lee and Buddy Kofoid.