Australian Sprintcar Championship
Encyclopedia
The Australian Sprintcar Championship is a Dirt track racing
championship held each year to determine the Australian national champion. The single championship meeting runs in either late January or early February and has been held year after year since 1963. After the first nine championship meetings were held in New South Wales
, the Sprintcar
Control Council of Australia (SCCA) now holds the meeting in a different state on a rotational basis. The Australian Sprintcar Title is only open to Australian drivers and is run and sanctioned by the SCCA.
The championship has gone by different names over its 49 years as in that time Sprintcars have evolved from crude modified 'hot rods' to the dual winged, 410 cubic inch engined monsters that we see today. From 1963-64 the title was known as the Australian Sportsman Hot rod Championship. In 1965 this changed to the Australian Hot Rod Championship. This was again changed in 1966 to the National Super Modified Championship but the 1965 name re-appeared in 1967. From 1968-1970 the meeting was known as the Australian Super Modified Championship while from 1971-1978 the title was then called the Australian Modified Sprintcar Championship before changing one more time in 1979 to its current name, the Australian Sprintcar Championship.
The Australian championship, along with the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic
(held exclusively at Premier Speedway in Warrnambool), are seen the two most important single Sprintcar meetings on the Australian speedway calender.
The championship is separate to Australia's national Sprintcar
series, the World Series Sprintcars
which has been running since 1987.
Retired Sydney
driver Garry Rush holds the record with 10 Australian championship wins and 18 podium finishes between 1966 and 1998. New South Wales
based drivers have dominated the title with 35 wins from 49 championships, including current and four-time champion Brooke Tatnell. Six drivers were from Victoria
, three each from South Australia
and Western Australia
while two winners have been from Queensland
.
On January 25–28, 2012 Speedway City
in Adelaide
will host the 50th Anniversary Australian Sprintcar Championship.
** 1987 championship was actually run early in the 1986/87 season rather than its traditional late January time and thus there was no actual championship run in the 1987 calender year
Dirt track racing
Dirt track racing is a type of auto racing performed on oval tracks. It began in the United States before World War I and became widespread during the 1920s and 30s. Two different types of racecars predominated—open wheel racers in the Northeast and West and stock cars in the South...
championship held each year to determine the Australian national champion. The single championship meeting runs in either late January or early February and has been held year after year since 1963. After the first nine championship meetings were held in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, the Sprintcar
Sprint car racing
Sprint cars are high-powered race cars designed primarily for the purpose of running on short oval or circular dirt or paved tracks. Sprint car racing is popular in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa....
Control Council of Australia (SCCA) now holds the meeting in a different state on a rotational basis. The Australian Sprintcar Title is only open to Australian drivers and is run and sanctioned by the SCCA.
The championship has gone by different names over its 49 years as in that time Sprintcars have evolved from crude modified 'hot rods' to the dual winged, 410 cubic inch engined monsters that we see today. From 1963-64 the title was known as the Australian Sportsman Hot rod Championship. In 1965 this changed to the Australian Hot Rod Championship. This was again changed in 1966 to the National Super Modified Championship but the 1965 name re-appeared in 1967. From 1968-1970 the meeting was known as the Australian Super Modified Championship while from 1971-1978 the title was then called the Australian Modified Sprintcar Championship before changing one more time in 1979 to its current name, the Australian Sprintcar Championship.
The Australian championship, along with the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic
Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic
The Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic is an Australian Dirt track racing meeting for Sprintcars that takes place at the Sungold Stadium Premier Speedway in Warnambool, Victoria every year in late January....
(held exclusively at Premier Speedway in Warrnambool), are seen the two most important single Sprintcar meetings on the Australian speedway calender.
The championship is separate to Australia's national Sprintcar
Sprint car racing
Sprint cars are high-powered race cars designed primarily for the purpose of running on short oval or circular dirt or paved tracks. Sprint car racing is popular in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa....
series, the World Series Sprintcars
World Series Sprintcars
World Series Sprintcars is a Dirt track racing series held in Australia for Sprintcars. It is the richest and best known Speedway series in Australia....
which has been running since 1987.
Retired Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
driver Garry Rush holds the record with 10 Australian championship wins and 18 podium finishes between 1966 and 1998. New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
based drivers have dominated the title with 35 wins from 49 championships, including current and four-time champion Brooke Tatnell. Six drivers were from Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, three each from South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
and Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
while two winners have been from Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
.
On January 25–28, 2012 Speedway City
Speedway City
Speedway City is a Dirt track racing venue located 26 km north of Adelaide in Virginia, South Australia, adjacent to the Adelaide International Raceway...
in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
will host the 50th Anniversary Australian Sprintcar Championship.
Winners since 1963
| Year | Venue | Winners | Runner-up | 3rd place |
| 1963 | Windsor RSL Speedway | Bill Willis (Vic) | Ray Forrest (NSW) | Graham McCubbin (Vic) |
| 1964 | Windsor RSL Speedway | Dick Britton (NSW) | Bill Willis (Vic) | George Polley (NSW) |
| 1965 | Windsor RSL Speedway | Bill Warner (NSW) | Dick Britton (NSW) | Graham McCubbin (Vic) |
| 1966 | Westmead Speedway | Dick Britton (NSW) | Bill Warner (NSW) | Garry Rush (NSW) |
| 1967 | Westmead Speedway | Dick Britton (NSW) | Garry Rush (NSW) | Ray Brett (NSW) |
| 1968 | Sydney Showground Speedway Sydney Showground Speedway Sydney Showground Speedway, originally known as the Speedway Royal and later the Speedway Royale but often referred to as just The Royale or The Showground, was a dirt Dirt track racing venue at the old Sydney Showground used from 1926 until 1996.... |
Bob Tunks (NSW) | Ray Brett (NSW) | Tony Ward (NSW) |
| 1969 | Morriset Speedway | Jim Winterbottom (NSW) | Ray Skipper (NSW) | Peter Dickerson (NSW) |
| 1970 | Morriset Speedway | Bill Wigzell (SA) | David Lander (NSW) | Les Harrower (Vic) |
| Year | Venue | Winners | Runner-up | 3rd place |
| 1971 | Sydney Showground Speedway Sydney Showground Speedway Sydney Showground Speedway, originally known as the Speedway Royal and later the Speedway Royale but often referred to as just The Royale or The Showground, was a dirt Dirt track racing venue at the old Sydney Showground used from 1926 until 1996.... |
Dick Britton (NSW) | Joe Scruise (NSW) | Les Harrower (Vic) |
| 1972 | Premier Speedway | Graham McCubbin (Vic) | Phil Hereen (SA) | Wayne Fisher (SA) |
| 1973 | Rowley Park Speedway Rowley park speedway Rowley Park Speedway is a former Dirt track racing venue that was located on Torrens Road in Brompton, South Australia, The speedway was named after Mr Enoch Procter Rowley, an English-born Dentist who moved to Adelaide from Kalgoorlie in 1908 where he had forged a reputation as being Western... |
John Moyle (SA) | Alan Jones (SA) | Ron Clark (Vic) |
| 1974 | Tralee Speedway Tralee Speedway The Tralee Speedway was a Dirt track racing venue located in Jerrabomberra on the New South Wales side of the ACT/NSW border near Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The speedway was home to several drivers who went on to become Australian national and state champions... |
Jim Winterbottom (NSW) | Les Harrower (Vic) | Ron Smith (Vic) |
| 1975 | Archerfield Speedway | Dick Britton (NSW) | Graham McCubbin (Vic) | Garry Rush (NSW) |
| 1976 | Latrobe Speedway | Noel Bradford (WA) | Graham McCubbin (Vic) | David Conlon (Vic) |
| 1977 | Bunbury Speedway | Garry Rush (NSW) | Noel Bradford (WA) | George Tatnell (NSW) |
| 1978 | Parramatta City Raceway | Garry Rush (NSW) | Jimmy Sills ( ) |
Steve Brazier (NSW) |
| 1979 | Premier Speedway | Steve Brazier (NSW) | Bill Wigzell (SA) | Tim Moncrieff (Tas) |
| 1980 | Speedway Park Speedway City Speedway City is a Dirt track racing venue located 26 km north of Adelaide in Virginia, South Australia, adjacent to the Adelaide International Raceway... |
Steve Brazier (NSW) | Alf Barbagello (WA) | Graham McCubbin (Vic) |
| Year | Venue | Winners | Runner-up | 3rd place |
| 1981 | Archerfield Speedway | Garry Rush (NSW) | Bill Barrows (SA) | Dick Britton (NSW) |
| 1982 | Tralee Speedway Tralee Speedway The Tralee Speedway was a Dirt track racing venue located in Jerrabomberra on the New South Wales side of the ACT/NSW border near Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The speedway was home to several drivers who went on to become Australian national and state champions... |
Garry Rush (NSW) | Bob Kelly (QLD) | Ian Samms (NSW) |
| 1983 | Newcastle Motordrome Newcastle Motordrome Newcastle Motordrome was a Dirt track racing venue located on the Old Punt Road in Tomago, New South Wales, just north of the Hunter River and north of the city of Newcastle. The ¼ Mile speedway operated from its opening in 1977 until it was sold in 2002... |
Garry Rush (NSW) | Brett Lacey (Vic) | Ray Lacey (Vic) |
| 1984 | Rockhampton Speedway | Garry Rush (NSW) | George Tatnell (NSW) | John Walsh (NSW) |
| 1985 | Claremont Speedway Claremont Showgrounds The Claremont Showgrounds were built in 1905 in the Perth suburb of Claremont. The Showgrounds are home to the annual Perth Royal Show. They were also the original home of Claremont-Cottesloe in its first year in the WAFL before moving to Claremont Oval.... |
Ron Krikke (WA) | Lee Foster (WA) | Max Dumesny Max Dumesny Max Dumesny is an Australian professional Sprintcar driver. Dumsney was born and raised in Victoria but has resided in Nelson, New South Wales since the mid-1990s, although his Sprintcar carries the number V5 that he has used throughout his career, although he has changed that to Australia 1 when... (Vic) |
| 1986 | Premier Speedway | Garry Rush (NSW) | Bob Tunks (NSW) | Ian Lewis (Vic) |
| 1987** | Northline Speedway | Brett Lacey (Vic) | Steve Brazier (NSW) | Garry Rush (NSW) |
| 1988 | Speedway Park Speedway City Speedway City is a Dirt track racing venue located 26 km north of Adelaide in Virginia, South Australia, adjacent to the Adelaide International Raceway... |
George Tatnell (NSW) | Garry Rush (NSW) | Max Dumesny Max Dumesny Max Dumesny is an Australian professional Sprintcar driver. Dumsney was born and raised in Victoria but has resided in Nelson, New South Wales since the mid-1990s, although his Sprintcar carries the number V5 that he has used throughout his career, although he has changed that to Australia 1 when... (Vic) |
| 1989 | Tralee Speedway Tralee Speedway The Tralee Speedway was a Dirt track racing venue located in Jerrabomberra on the New South Wales side of the ACT/NSW border near Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The speedway was home to several drivers who went on to become Australian national and state champions... |
Garry Rush (NSW) | George Tatnell (NSW) | Brett Lacey (Vic) |
| 1990 | Archerfield Speedway | Garry Rush (NSW) | Max Dumesny Max Dumesny Max Dumesny is an Australian professional Sprintcar driver. Dumsney was born and raised in Victoria but has resided in Nelson, New South Wales since the mid-1990s, although his Sprintcar carries the number V5 that he has used throughout his career, although he has changed that to Australia 1 when... (Vic) |
George Tatnell (NSW) |
| Year | Venue | Winners | Runner-up | 3rd place |
| 1991 | Carrick Speedway | Max Dumesny Max Dumesny Max Dumesny is an Australian professional Sprintcar driver. Dumsney was born and raised in Victoria but has resided in Nelson, New South Wales since the mid-1990s, although his Sprintcar carries the number V5 that he has used throughout his career, although he has changed that to Australia 1 when... (Vic) |
David Anderson (Vic) | Brooke Tatnell (NSW) |
| 1992 | Parramatta City Raceway | Garry Rush (NSW) | Max Dumesny Max Dumesny Max Dumesny is an Australian professional Sprintcar driver. Dumsney was born and raised in Victoria but has resided in Nelson, New South Wales since the mid-1990s, although his Sprintcar carries the number V5 that he has used throughout his career, although he has changed that to Australia 1 when... (Vic) |
Rod Bowen (NSW) |
| 1993 | Claremont Speedway Claremont Showgrounds The Claremont Showgrounds were built in 1905 in the Perth suburb of Claremont. The Showgrounds are home to the annual Perth Royal Show. They were also the original home of Claremont-Cottesloe in its first year in the WAFL before moving to Claremont Oval.... |
Ron Krikke (WA) | Garry Brazier (NSW) | Mark Wells (WA) |
| 1994 | Premier Speedway | Garry Brazier (NSW) | Brooke Tatnell (NSW) | Robert Farr (NSW) |
| 1995 | Borderline Speedway | Garry Brazier (NSW) | Brooke Tatnell (NSW) | Garry Rush (NSW) |
| 1996 | Archerfield Speedway | Todd Wanless (Qld) | Paul Lindberg (Qld) | Garry Rush (NSW) |
| 1997 | Parramatta City Raceway | Garry Brazier (NSW) | Kerry Madsen (NSW) | Peter Murphy (NSW) |
| 1998 | Bunbury Speedway | Max Dumesny Max Dumesny Max Dumesny is an Australian professional Sprintcar driver. Dumsney was born and raised in Victoria but has resided in Nelson, New South Wales since the mid-1990s, although his Sprintcar carries the number V5 that he has used throughout his career, although he has changed that to Australia 1 when... (Vic) |
Garry Rush (NSW) | Skip Jackson (NSW) |
| 1999 | Premier Speedway | Phil March (SA) | Kerry Madsen (NSW) | Max Dumesny Max Dumesny Max Dumesny is an Australian professional Sprintcar driver. Dumsney was born and raised in Victoria but has resided in Nelson, New South Wales since the mid-1990s, although his Sprintcar carries the number V5 that he has used throughout his career, although he has changed that to Australia 1 when... (Vic) |
| 2000 | Speedway Park Speedway City Speedway City is a Dirt track racing venue located 26 km north of Adelaide in Virginia, South Australia, adjacent to the Adelaide International Raceway... |
Garry Brazier (NSW) | Max Dumesny Max Dumesny Max Dumesny is an Australian professional Sprintcar driver. Dumsney was born and raised in Victoria but has resided in Nelson, New South Wales since the mid-1990s, although his Sprintcar carries the number V5 that he has used throughout his career, although he has changed that to Australia 1 when... (Vic) |
Nathan McDonald (Qld) |
| Year | Venue | Winners | Runner-up | 3rd place |
| 2001 | Brisbane International Raceway | Skip Jackson (NSW) | Garry Brazier (NSW) | Max Dumesny Max Dumesny Max Dumesny is an Australian professional Sprintcar driver. Dumsney was born and raised in Victoria but has resided in Nelson, New South Wales since the mid-1990s, although his Sprintcar carries the number V5 that he has used throughout his career, although he has changed that to Australia 1 when... (Vic) |
| 2002 | Parramatta City Raceway | Max Dumesny Max Dumesny Max Dumesny is an Australian professional Sprintcar driver. Dumsney was born and raised in Victoria but has resided in Nelson, New South Wales since the mid-1990s, although his Sprintcar carries the number V5 that he has used throughout his career, although he has changed that to Australia 1 when... (Vic) |
Robbie Farr (NSW) | Brooke Tatnell (NSW) |
| 2003 | Premier Speedway | Kerry Madsen (NSW) | Garry Brazier (NSW) | Brooke Tatnell (NSW) |
| 2004 | Bunbury Speedway | Robbie Farr (NSW) | Max Dumesny Max Dumesny Max Dumesny is an Australian professional Sprintcar driver. Dumsney was born and raised in Victoria but has resided in Nelson, New South Wales since the mid-1990s, although his Sprintcar carries the number V5 that he has used throughout his career, although he has changed that to Australia 1 when... (Vic) |
Mark Wells (WA) |
| 2005 | Riverview Speedway Riverview Speedway Riverview Speedway, sometimes referred to as Murray Bridge Speedway is a Dirt track racing venue that is located in the town of Murray Bridge, South Australia, only 66 km from Adelaide. Racing at the speedway generally takes place between September and May meetings are held every second... |
Brooke Tatnell (NSW) | Ryan Farrell (WA) | Cameron Gessner (Qld) |
| 2006 | Brisbane International Raceway | Brooke Tatnell (NSW) | Max Dumesny Max Dumesny Max Dumesny is an Australian professional Sprintcar driver. Dumsney was born and raised in Victoria but has resided in Nelson, New South Wales since the mid-1990s, although his Sprintcar carries the number V5 that he has used throughout his career, although he has changed that to Australia 1 when... (Vic) |
Cameron Gessner (Qld) |
| 2007 | Latrobe Speedway | Brooke Tatnell (NSW) | Max Dumesny Max Dumesny Max Dumesny is an Australian professional Sprintcar driver. Dumsney was born and raised in Victoria but has resided in Nelson, New South Wales since the mid-1990s, although his Sprintcar carries the number V5 that he has used throughout his career, although he has changed that to Australia 1 when... (Vic) |
Robbie Farr (NSW) |
| 2008 | Parramatta City Raceway | Garry Brazier (NSW) | Robbie Farr (NSW) | Ian Louden (NSW) |
| 2009 | Perth Motorplex Speedway Perth Motorplex Perth Motorplex is a motorsport venue located at Kwinana Beach, Western Australia. It caters mainly for drag racing and speedway, although other events are held there regularly. Over 275,000 patrons attend the venue each year to many varied events... |
Garry Brazier (NSW) | Adrian Maher (NSW) | Ryan Farrell (WA) |
| 2010 | Northline Speedway | James McFadden (Qld) | Stephen Bell (Vic) | Jamie Maiolo (WA) |
| Year | Venue | Winners | Runner-up | 3rd place |
| 2011 | Permier Speedway | Brooke Tatnell (NSW) | Kerry Madsen (NSW) | Steven Lines (SA) |
| 2012 | Speedway City Speedway City Speedway City is a Dirt track racing venue located 26 km north of Adelaide in Virginia, South Australia, adjacent to the Adelaide International Raceway... |
TBD | TBD | TBD |
** 1987 championship was actually run early in the 1986/87 season rather than its traditional late January time and thus there was no actual championship run in the 1987 calender year