What You Need to Know About the Australia and New Zealand Sprint Car Scene

It’s that time of year again when the sprint car season comes to an end in the United States and begins in Australia and New Zealand. Per usual, we can expect a handful of U.S. drivers to make the trip down under to continue to stay sharp for their upcoming 2024 season. Just like we see guys like Marcus Dumesny, Lachlan McHugh, Cody Maroske, Ryan Newton, Jamie Veal and others travel to the U.S. during peak sprint car season, Australia and New Zealand will get their invaders from the states as well.

As I planned to write this article, I realized that I needed to learn a lot more about the sprint car scene in Australia and New Zealand. I always enjoyed watching Ian and Kerry Madsen, James McFadden and others compete against the best drivers in America. Those drivers have had so much success over their careers in the states that you can’t help but appreciate the level of skill and competition that exists in Australia.

Big Races

Does Australia have a version of the Knoxville Nationals? Yes, they have the Grand Annual Sprint Car Classic that takes place every year at Sungold Stadium Premier Speedway. The event began in 1973, and has seen winners from both the United States and Australia. Since 2016, no U.S. driver has been able to win the event, with Sheldon Haudenschild coming so close last season before being passed on the last lap by Brock Hallett.

The Australian Sprintcar Championship is held each year to determine a national champion for Australian winged sprint car drivers. The championship changes venues, with the 2023 event being held at Perth Motorplex.

Another big event in Australia is the annual USA vs. WA Sprint Car Speedweek. The six round series includes stops at Perth Motorplex and Bunbury Speedway in Western Australia.

• Round 1 – December 26, 2023 – Boxing Night – Perth Motorplex
• Round 2 – December 28, 2023 – Merger Contracting Sprintcar Muster – Perth Motorplex
• Round 3 – January 1, 2024 – USA v WA Sprintcar Speedweek – Bunbury Speedway
• Round 4 – January 2, 2024 – Totally Workwear New Year Derby – Perth Motorplex
• Round 5 – January 6. 2024 – Maddington Toyota Summer Slam – Bunbury Speedway
• Round 6 – January 13, 2024 – USA v WA Speedweek Finale + Late Model Nationals – Perth Motorplex

In New Zealand, sprint car racing might not be as popular as Australia, but they still hold their own when it comes to the dirt. The 2023 New Zealand Sprint Car Championship was held at Ruapuna Speedway and was won by Daniel Thomas. Michael Pickens, a guy we are familiar with in the midget scene in the United States, was runner up. Sammy Swindell won the NZ Sprint Car Championship in 2011/12.

Some other tracks in New Zealand hosting sprint car racing include BayPark Speedway and Western Springs Speedway. Western Springs has cancelled the remainder of their season due to flooding. BayPark will continue to host events through April 2024.

Young Talent

As we watch the young talent of Corey Day, Ryan Timms and others compete in 410 sprint car competition regularly, who should we be looking out for on the Australian side of the sport?

Jock Goodyer is the reigning Australian Sprint Car Championship winner. The 22 year old Tasmanian started racing at age 15, and quickly developed into one of Australia’s best young sprint car drivers. His team includes a former member of Paul Silva’s no. 57 as his car chief.

If you follow Central Pennsylvania sprint car racing and the PA POSSE, you may have noticed a young driver in the pits at Lincoln. That driver was Australian standout Ryan Newton. In 2016, Newton ran his first kart race at just 12 years old and has already moved over to sprint cars. Newton almost won in weekly competition at Lincoln, finishing runner up to Freddie Rahmer during a summer race.

A familiar last name in sprint car racing is Dumesny. Max Dumesny won both the Australian Formula 500 and the Australian Sprintcar Championship, while enjoying some success in the states as well. Now, all eyes are on his son, Marcus. We have seen Marcus Dumesny compete on U.S. soil a handful of times, grabbing a top 10 with the World of Outlaws in 2022 at Pevely. Marcus won the Australian sprint car title in 2022. The 24 year old was injured in a nasty wreck at the Queensland Sprintcar Title at Toowoomba Speedway during the 2023 season. He did not return to action after the wreck.

United States Invaders

Rico Abreu was one of the first U.S. drivers to announce their plans to travel to Australia. Abreu plans to compete in all of the US vs. WA Speedweek with his own no. 24 machine. This is an unusual occurrence, as U.S. drivers usually link up with Australian car owners to race.

Rico will be joined by High Limit owner and World of Outlaws champion Brad Sweet. Sweet has confirmed his plans with the Landrigan Racing Team and will be wheeling his familiar NAPA Auto Parts no. 49.

Cory Eliason and Brock Zearfoss have also been confirmed as two drivers planning on competing in the US vs. WA Speedweek. Zearfoss will be teaming up with the USA95 owned by Sean Carren. Eliason will be wheeling the Monte farms #17, a car that we saw Jamie Veal driving during the Knoxville Nationals and other summer events in 2023.

As for some other drivers making a trip down under, Joel Meyers Jr. and Brenham Crouch look to be headed to New Zealand. Meyers, who enjoyed a successful 2023 campaign, is teaming up with Anderson Motorsports. Crouch will be driving the no. 75N machine and will have his familiar Hi-Plains Building Division sponsorship on board.

Stay tuned for more Australia and New Zealand driver announcements and updates.