For the second successive year New Zealand Sprintcar drivers are looking down the barrel of seeing their national title head overseas when it is contested at the Ruapuna Speedway, Christchurch next weekend. (February 3 and 4)
Last summer American Jonathan Allard led two of his his fellow countrymen to sweep the major placings when the New Zealand crown was contested at Bay Park.
Next weekend there are four American entries with Allard being joined by American legend Sammy Swindell, who will race for Auckland trucking company owner Ron Salter.
Swindell, a three time winner of the World of Outlaws Sprintcar Championship, which races throughout the USA, is also a five time winner of the celebrated Chili Bowl Midget Car event, and although he has competed on North Island tracks in recent years, this is his first visit to Christchurch.
He still competes regularly throughout the USA, although he no longer concentrates entirely on the World of Outlaw Series. Despite that, he still won four feature races on the 2011 World of Outlaws circuit , and was twelfth in the year end standings,out of the 408 drivers who raced in the series.
Swindell is not the sole American entrant, with defending New Zealand Champion Jonathon Allard from Chico, California defending his crown, while Washington state drivers Austen Wheatley and Barry Martinez will also race, having met the eligibility clause by contesting the recent South Island Sprintcar Speedweek..
If any of the kiwis had been a little unconcerned about the presence of Wheatley and Martinez, alarm bells will be ring after the two dominated the recent South Island Sprintcar Speedweek.
Wheatley set lap records at Dunedin and Invercargill, while Martinez won the main event at those two shows.
Further international presence comes from Australian Allan Woods, who finished second in the recent Ruapuna Sprintcar Gold Cup. Woods has shipped his complete race car and spares over for the meeting, and will acquit himself well with his aggressive style likely to be a useful tool at the championship event.
No fewer than four former winners of the crown have entered with Rodney Wood (Tauranga), Dean Brindle (Hamilton) and Aucklanders Carl Wilson and Jamie McDonald all keen to see that the trophy stays in New Zealand.
Christchurch driver Jamie Duff is the most likely of the South Island drivers to make an impression. The 21 year old is contracted to race at Western Springs where the more intense competition' has helped hone his race craft. Duff won last weekends Gold Cup event, and has hit good form at the right time.
Thirty drivers have entered the meeting.
