Ever since the introduction of the 360ci / Pro Sprintcar class in Australia there have only been 2 drivers who have managed to win both the Open and Pro Sprintcar Australian Championships. Robbie Farr was the first driver to do so (2004 (410) & 2013) while the other was Jamie Veal, who will be competing this weekend, won his Pro Sprintcar Championship at the Perth Motorplex in 2017 before securing the double at Latrobe in 2020.
This weekend a further five drivers will attempt to accomplish the double with multiple Champions Ryan Jones and Kaiden Manders leading the charge.
Jones of course leads the all-time list with four National Championships (2008, 2009, 2011 & 2012), while Manders also secured back-to-back titles at the Perth Motorplex and Kalgoorlie in 2018 and 2019. Jones is a feature winner this season, claiming the Bill Wigzell battle of the Bridge while Manders has been concentrating on racing Speedcars back in Perth, but he did secure a podium result on Boxing Day during the WA V USA Sprintcar Speedweek at the Perth Motorplex and finished an impressive fifth overall in points.
On recent form South Australian Luke Dillon would appear to be the most likely to join the exclusive club having enjoyed several strong results at the recent Kings Challenge and Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic. Dillon claimed his Australian Championship at the Borderline Speedway in 2016 before finishing runner-up in his title defence to Veal in 2017.
Fellow South Australian Chad Ely is also a previous 360ci / Pro Sprintcar Champion as he was victorious at Murray Bridge. Ely has been in career best form this season and he is coming off an A-main start in the Classic and he has been on podium this season at Warrnambool during the SRA Series.
The final former Champion in the field is Victorian Brett Milburn, who won a great Championship decider at the Simpson Speedway in 2020. Last weekend Milburn qualified for the Classic’s opening night A-Main while he managed a 14th placing in the rescheduled President Cup at Avalon on Wednesday night.
The 2024 Locked Down Australian Sprintcar Championship will be held at the Premier Speedway in Warrnambool this weekend with the event beginning on Friday January 26 before the Championship finale on Saturday night (January 27).