The countdown to the 2017 Rod Bowen Prestige Smash Repairs Australian Sprintcar Championship at the Valvoline Raceway in Sydney is well and truly underway with the three-night event kicking off on Australia Day. Between now and the opening night of competition Sprintcarworld will be looking at some of the leading contenders from each state. With the official nomination list topping the 100 mark it is time to focus on the drivers from South Australia.

Unfortunately, the representation from South Australia is nowhere near as strong as it could be with only six drivers scheduled to compete. The line-up still includes some quality drivers with two times Classic Champion Steven Lines spearheading the South Aussies along with Craig Vanderstelt, Glen Sutherland, Jake Tranter and former Australian 360ci Sprintcar Champions Ryan Jones (4) and Chad Ely.

Mount Gambier’s Steven Lines will go into the meeting holding the hopes of the South Australian fans that he can break the drought and bring the #1 to South Australia for the first time since Phil March way back in 1999. Lines has stood on the podium three times in his career with his latest result being a runner-up two years ago, at Bunbury. In the past Lines has struggled a bit at Valvoline Raceway but he has spent some time there recently to gain some valuable track time.

Fellow Mount Gambier racer Glen Sutherland is having one of his best season’s behind the wheel and with Crew Chief Glen Beaton in his corner he could surprise many with a strong result.

Jake Tranter is another driver who has improved immensely this season having raced up and down the east coast all season racing against the best driver’s week in week out and he seems to have adapted to Valvoline Raceway well this year. Chad Ely, who is scheduled to drive the Jamie Stark #72, is another driver with previous VR Track experience but having only just picked up his new ride he may struggle.

Murray Bridge resident Ryan Jones is no stranger to winning Australian Championships having won 4 360ci Championship but they were all at his home track. Like Ely, Jones will be in an unfamiliar car as he will drive for Sydney car owner Anthony Jeffrey but at least it is still a Triple X Chassis, a chassis that Jones knows a lot about.

The final South Aussie will be Mount Barker resident Craig Vanderstelt who can be extremely fast on his night and he has previous VR experience. Craig has been out of the car for some time after sitting out the Christmas period but he will be racing again this weekend at the Classic.

The 2017 Rod Bowen Prestige Smash Repairs Australian Sprintcar Championship at the Valvoline Raceway will be held between January 26 and 28, 2017.