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The Week According to Skip –Top Ten at Burlington
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(Bill W) May 12, 2008 – It wasn’t a win, but Skip Jackson’s visit to the 34 Raceway near West Burlington, Iowa last Friday night could be chalked up as a success nonetheless. Skip is always aiming for victory lane in the J&S Auto Sports #2, but held his own against some of the best in the sprint car business.
With the Interstate Racing Association in town, 35 sprint cars were in the pits. Six were World of Outlaws regulars who were washed out in Illinois, and wanted some laps at the 3/8 mile banked oval. Skip registered a disappointing 18th fastest time trial lap to start things off. “We didn’t qualify very well, but we were good in the heat race,” says the Sydney, New South Wales native. After starting second in the heat race, Skip paced the field the entire 10-lap distance in the Slideways Karting Center/Turfwerks #2 and earned a ninth place starting spot for the 30-lap main event in the process.
When Jim Barr’s green flag fell on the feature, Skip was sorted back a bit. “(Sam) Hafertepe had a good start,” says Skip. “He started right behind me, and passed me right away in turn one, and got Lucas Wolfe (who started in front of Skip) in turn three. We moved back a couple of spots right at the start there.”
It was a battle in the middle of the pack, with the racing lending to a lot of side by side action. In the end, the ebb and flow of the race saw Skip finish a respectable ninth. “We were o.k. in the feature,” says Skip. “We were able to hang with everyone; we just weren’t able to move forward like we wanted. That was a bit disappointing; we just need to get a little better this weekend! We were o.k., nothing to whine about, for sure.”
Skip explains the frustration he had in the two-wide racing happening in front of him. “Sometimes the biggest problem in the feature, was a guy on the top and a guy on the bottom in front of me,” he says. “There wasn’t a way to keep my momentum when I caught up to them. I really didn’t have anywhere to go, and everyone was pretty fast. It’s pretty much that way anywhere with two grooves though. That’s just kind of the way it was.”
Skip was impressed with WoO regular Daryn Pittman, who registered a clean sweep of the event on Friday. “I really have to give credit to Daryn Pittman for getting quick time, winning his heat and winning the feature from eighth. That’s not easy to do!”
This week, Knoxville Raceway will try again. After another rainout last Saturday night, the track is scheduled to run their first regular show of the season this week. It is Slideway Kartings Center/Pella Printing Night!
For more information on Skip and his racing season, visit www.SkipJackson.net!
J&S Auto Sports would like to thank the following sponsors: Slideways Karting Center, Housby Trucks, Davis, Equipment, Turfwerks, NPRS National RP Support, Acheson Auto Body, Graffiti Graphics, KLK Construction, Knoxville Lazer Car Wash, Sundance Realty, HDA Inc. Bell Helmets,BDG Pumps, Central Iowa Fasteners, Crane Cams, DMI Racing Components, Donovan Engineering, Goodridge, Hoosier Tires, ISC Racers Tape, J&J Auto Racing, Joe Gibbs Driven, K&N Filters, Mark Burch Motorsports, Pro Shocks, PWR Radiators, Real Racing Wheels, RPM Racegear, Reviwear,Vortex Wings, WRT Web Designs, Wypall Towels
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The Week According to Skip –OFF AND RUNNING!!
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(Bill W) May 5, 2008 – It’s been a long spring for Skip Jackson and the J&S Auto Sports #2 team. With three practice nights and two race nights called off due to weather at Knoxville Raceway, he couldn’t have been more ready to hit the track last Saturday night! At the end of the night, the car was performing well and he had a respectable run against the best drivers in sprint car racing, the World of Outlaws.
In the WoO format, the top 16 qualifiers are inverted in the first two rows of the heat races, with the top two finishers qualifying for the dash. Skip sat on the bubble for awhile, but a lap by Joey Saldana at the end of time trials bumped him out and he ended up 17th quick, a development that probably changed the course of his night. "It would have been great (to make the heat invert)," says Skip. "But we should have been a little bit better."
Skip started inside row three in the Slideways/Turfwerks/NRPS #2 for the heat and quickly got by WoO point leader Craig Dollansky in turn one. "Craig sort of got shuffled back there at the start and we were able to get by," says Skip. "Unfortunately, he got it going and got by me the next lap." With the top five transferring to the A main, Skip would miss the cut by two and head for the B.
Skip had the Housby Trucks/Shaver Engines/Acheson Auto Body #2 out front in the B main most of the way, giving way late to Terry McCarl. The runner-up finish put Skip inside of row nine for a 25-lap main event that took three starts to get going. "The first start was really good, the second so-so, and the third we got shuffled back, so the one that finally went green is the one we really didn’t need," says Skip.
Skip fell as far back as 22nd, but started moving his way forward, gaining momentum as the non-stop affair went on. "At first we weren’t that strong, but I got into a bit of a rhythm and a groove as the race went on," he says. "The track was very good too, considering it was the first night out and all the hassles Knoxville has had." In the end, an 18th place finish was his reward for a hard night’s work.
The Aussie turned Knoxville resident slept well on Saturday night. "We had a good workout," he says. "We got to run the 12-lap B, and then the 25-lap A main went non-stop. Overall the car was working well…no worries. If anything is a tick off, it really shows up when those guys (WoO) are in town. We’ll just try to get it better for this weekend, because it’s going to be tough every week."
Skip will get a chance to keep his winning streak going at 34 Raceway near West Burlington, Iowa this Friday night when the Interstate Racing Association (IRA) visits. Last September, Skip won an open 410 race at the 3/8 mile banked oval. The IRA will also visit Knoxville Raceway on Saturday.”
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The Week According to Skip –Everything’s a Go for 2008!
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(Bill W) March 27, 2008 – The J&S Auto Sports #2 team is ready and willing to get going on the 2008 racing season. Driver Skip Jackson will be trying to garner his third track championship at the Knoxville Raceway this year. There aren’t many changes for the team that finished fourth in last year’s 410 point standings at the famed ½ mile oval.
One thing that will change is the quantity and quality of the competition at Knoxville Raceway week in and week out. Preseason plans for many heavy hitters include a weekly schedule at Knoxville, and that’s something that Skip is excited about. “It seems like we’ll have more 410’s at Knoxville, which is a great thing!” he says.
Last season marked year 14 out of 15 that Skip has finished in the top five in the Knoxville 410 standings. That number means little to him, but a strong end to last year including a win at 34 Raceway in West Burlington bodes well anyway. “That really means nothing (past top fives),” he says. “It really doesn’t, as far as today goes. It was great to end last year running well. That should give us some momentum heading into this season. We’re not changing much as far as the team goes; we’re going to try to keep at it. Slideways Karting Center, Housby Trucks and Turfwerks are back with us as our major sponsors and we’ll still be using J&J cars, Shaver Engines, Hoosier tires and Real Wheels.”
Skip’s 2007 season included a handful of “horseshoes and hand grenades” moments. Close, but not quite there. On a couple of occasions he was passed late in the going by 2007 track champion, Brian Brown. “Obviously, last year, Brown was the fastest car most nights,” he says. “We’ve got to get a little bit better so we can catch him!”
The honors followed Skip last year. He was named to the top 100 list of the Greatest Drivers in Australian History by the respected publication, Auto Action Magazine. “I appreciated that Award tremendously,” he proudly states. “It was just a great honor.”
In addition, Skip was named the Knoxville Junior Fan Club Driver of the Year, voted on by young sprint car fans. “Hopefully, the kids can push me a little bit faster along the way this season!” he jokes. “I think it’s important. I can remember when I was a little kid, and looking up to Garry Rush and others. They were always really good to me, so it’s really easy to return that favor. 99.9% of the kids are really nice and really polite. Usually, when they come down they’re a little scared, so I try to make them feel welcome, I guess.”
Skip spent some time at his home track in Australia, Parramatta City Raceway this past winter. He captured the January 12 feature. “It’s always good to win,” he says. “I hadn’t won there for awhile, so that’s always good.”
The team plans on getting started April 12 at Knoxville with some practice time, and will stick mainly to the Sprint Car Capital again this year. “We’ll be out on practice night to work out the bugs. Hopefully, things will go just fine. I’m sure there will be a few other races that pop up here or there, whether it is Burlington or somewhere else. The car’s got a bit of a new look. Graffiti Graphics has done a sensational job in the way the car looks.
For more information on Skip and his racing season, visit www.SkipJackson.net! As always, Skip is gracious to those who help him. “I appreciate everyone’s help, especially Jimmy, Scotty and Rob. They’re the major players in what we do and how we do it. Brother Paul helps as much as he can, 10,000 miles away too.”
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The Week According to Skip –THANKS FOR THE HELP!
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(Bill W) February 22, 2008 – Skip Jackson returned to his homeland of Australia this off-season, and the result was a successful campaign that netted him a win at Parramatta City Raceway near his boyhood home of Sydney. He hopes to use that momentum and head into the racing schedule at Knoxville Raceway full bore!
“I’d like to thank everyone responsible for a great Australian trip!” says Skip, now back home in the U.S. “I had a great time down there! First off, I’d like to thank car owner ‘Mad’ Harry Delamont, his son Michael, and grandson Jack. They put a really good car under us, and everything worked out well.”
Skip had a lot of help when he returned to Australia for the planned 10-12 race campaign. “Bill Gibson of Gibson Freight, who has helped me for a long time, was there again,” he says. “Lehane Clutches and Fabcrete Concrete were there all the way as well, and I’d like to thank them all, as well as PWR Radiator and Revolution Racewear, and brother Paul!”
The trip saw most racing at PCR, but Skip also got back to the Premier Speedway in Warrnambool for the Grand Annual Classic. “Parramatta was really good, and we went to Warrnambool for the first time in several years,” he says. “It was good to get back there too. Everyone was really friendly and we had a good time. It had been a long time since we had won at Parramatta (World Series triumph in 2001), so that felt good.”
The win came on January 12. After winning the B main, Skip started 17th in the feature. Skip stormed toward the front in the 30-lapper, and capitalized on the misfortune of Steve Kinser, Kerry Madsen and Mark Dobmeier. Skip made his winning pass with three to go, blowing by both Dobmeier and Grant Anderson for the point.
Following his win, Skip had confidence heading into the ‘Outlaws Down Under’ events. “When the Outlaws came, we didn’t qualify as well as we would have wanted, and we had a mechanical breakdown in the steering the second night,” he relates. “I think we would have been able to hold our own pretty good without that, but it wasn’t meant to be.” Still, a fourth place finish in the event’s preliminary feature showed the strength of the team.
The Grand Annual Classic saw more misfortune triggered by qualifying woes. “It was the same at Warrnambool with the qualifying. The car was really good every night, so we moved forward, but the qualifying got us behind a bit. It looked like we were bad from the results at Warrnambool, when in reality; we were pretty good at the end.”
Heading into the U.S. racing season, Skip’s confidence is at a high level as preparations are in process for the J&S Auto Sports #2 quest for another Knoxville championship. “I think this trip was good for us,” says Skip. “Running well really gives us a jump on Knoxville, and we’re looking forward to it.” The Knoxville Season Opener is slated for April 19, and Skip will be aiming for track title number three!
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The Week According to Skip –The Australian Invasion!
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 After coming off of a high last week winning his first race of the 2008 season. Skip Jackson and the Harry Delamont team struggled this past weekend, and is one they would like to forget.
With opening night of the Outlaws Down Under at the Typrepower Parramatta City
Raceway, rain was in the forecast and was pretty much the whole week. Opening night was not good for the #14 Mad Harry’s sprinter. Going out early in a field of 64 cars, Jackson turned in a time of 42nd quickest. With not much passing during the night, Jackson was in for a long haul as Skip would start 11th in the heat race, and end up 12th sending him to the C-main. Starting 5th in the C-main and on a heavy track, Skip finished 4th and would start concentrating on Night 2 of the Outlaws Down Under.
With night 2 being rained out, the final night would be ran 48 hours later. Finding some problems with the motor the night before, Skip timed in 18th quickest, and would put the former Australian Champion on the outside of row 1 for the heat race, and would took the heat race win easily ahead of McFadden, and team mate Jason Meyers. With more rain heading in, the night was on a roll and would skip the dashes and go straight to the feature event. Starting 10th in the feature, Jackson was pacing himself for the 30lap feature and with 8 laps into the feature suffered a steering problem, and would cause him to stop on the main stretch and would end his run at the Outlaws Down Under at Parramatta Raceway.
Up next for the Australian is the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic January 26th and 27th at Warnambools Premier Speedway, and won in 1998.
Skip Jackson Australia Race Schedule:
Dec. 29 Parramatta Raceway Sprintcar International Finished 9th
Jan. 1 Parramatta Raceway Sprintcar International Finished 3rd
Jan. 4 Parramatta Raceway $50,000 To Win - Night 1 Finished 6th
Jan. 5 Parramatta Raceway $50,000 To Win - Night 2 Finished 13th
Jan. 12 Parramatta Raceway Sprintcar International - Finished 1st
Jan. 17 Parramatta Raceway World of Outlaws - DNQ
Jan. 18 Parramatta Raceway World of Outlaws - RAIN
Jan. 19 Parramatta Raceway World of Outlaws - Finished 25th
Jan. 26 Premier Speedway Grand Annual Classic - Night 1
Jan. 27 Premier Speedway Grand Annual Classic - Night 2
Jan. 31 Parramatta Raceway Aust. Sprintcar Championship - Night 1
Feb. 1 Parramatta Raceway Aust. Sprintcar Championship - Night 2
Feb. 2 Parramatta Raceway Aust. Sprintcar Championship - Night 3
Impact Images Photo |
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The Week According to Skip –Skip Wins!
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In a race of high attrition and high drama, Sydney’s Skip Jackson broke through for his first main event win of the current international season when he took out the 30-lap feature race at Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway Saturday night, January 12
The action got underway on Saturday night with 55 sprint cars taking to the track and Jackson clocked off the 4th quickest time in qualifying. It put the No. 14 Mad Harry’s Furniture, Fabcrete Concrete Services sprinter inside row three for the heat race. On a very heavy track, Jackson did his best to try and grab the transfer spot, but came up short and had to settle for sixth, which put the Gibson Freight, Lehane Clutches sprinter on the outside front row for the B Main.
Starting second in the 15 lap B feature Jackson took the lead and never looked back and grab the B feature win.
As Jackson would be starting 17th in the feature. The Harry Delamont crew would make some changes for the feature as they would have a long journey head with the likes of Steve Kinser and American Jonathan Allard in the starting field.
Jackson reached the lead with only three laps remaining after 20-time American Champion Steve Kinser, former Australian titleholder Kerry Madsen and American Mark Dobmeier all had their turn in the lead before they fell by the wayside.
Jackson took full advantage of a slow start by leader Dobmeier whose ailing car headed to the pits on the run down the back straightaway at the show of the green light. Once in the lead Jackson survived yet another yellow light before he raced to a dramatic win in the remaining two laps over Victorian Grant Anderson and Northern Territorian Ben Atkinson who impressed on his first appearance of the season at TPCR Jackson maintained his advantage over the last few laps and raced to a deserving victory over Anderson and Atkinson. “I am really appreciative of Harry for giving me the opportunity to drive his car, and thank to Fabrcrete Concrete Services, Lehane Clutches and Gibson Freight.”
The Former Australian Champion and two-time Parramatta Raceway City track champion was on his game and charged through the field and paced himself to score another win at the Parramatta City Raceway which gives him a total of 23 wins at the race track.
This is a good start towards next week’s races and will take the momentum with him as the Outlaws Down Under V take place this coming Thursday! (Story by Rob Sirfus)
Keep up to date with results at www.skipjackson.net
Skip Jackson Australia Race Schedule:
Dec. 29 Parramatta Raceway Sprintcar International Finsihed 9th
Jan. 1 Parramatta Raceway Sprintcar International Finished 3rd
Jan. 4 Parramatta Raceway $50,000 To Win - Night 1 Finished 6th
Jan. 5 Parramatta Raceway $50,000 To Win - Night 2 Finished 13th
Jan. 12 Parramatta Raceway Sprintcar International - Finished 1st
Jan. 17 Parramatta Raceway World of Outlaws
Jan. 18 Parramatta Raceway World of Outlaws
Jan. 19 Parramatta Raceway World of Outlaws
Jan. 26 Premier Speedway Grand Annual Classic - Night 1
Jan. 27 Premier Speedway Grand Annual Classic - Night 2
Jan. 31 Parramatta Raceway Aust. Sprintcar Championship - Night 1
Feb. 1 Parramatta Raceway Aust. Sprintcar Championship - Night 2
Feb. 2 Parramatta Raceway Aust. Sprintcar Championship - Night 3
Impact Images Photo |
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The Week According to Skip –The Australian Invasion!
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 In a race of high attrition and high drama, Sydney’s Skip Jackson broke through for his first main event win of the current international season when he took out the 30-lap feature race at Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway Saturday night, January 12
The action got underway on Saturday night with 55 sprint cars taking to the track and Jackson clocked off the 4th quickest time in qualifying. It put the No. 14 Mad Harry’s Furniture, Fabcrete Concrete Services sprinter inside row three for the heat race. On a very heavy track, Jackson did his best to try and grab the transfer spot, but came up short and had to settle for sixth, which put the Gibson Freight, Lehane Clutches sprinter on the outside front row for the B Main.
Starting second in the 15 lap B feature Jackson took the lead and never looked back and grab the B feature win.
As Jackson would be starting 17th in the feature. The Harry Delamont crew would make some changes for the feature as they would have a long journey head with the likes of Steve Kinser and American Jonathan Allard in the starting field.
Jackson reached the lead with only three laps remaining after 20-time American Champion Steve Kinser, former Australian titleholder Kerry Madsen and American Mark Dobmeier all had their turn in the lead before they fell by the wayside.
Jackson took full advantage of a slow start by leader Dobmeier whose ailing car headed to the pits on the run down the back straightaway at the show of the green light. Once in the lead Jackson survived yet another yellow light before he raced to a dramatic win in the remaining two laps over Victorian Grant Anderson and Northern Territorian Ben Atkinson who impressed on his first appearance of the season at TPCR Jackson maintained his advantage over the last few laps and raced to a deserving victory over Anderson and Atkinson. “I am really appreciative of Harry for giving me the opportunity to drive his car, and thank to Fabrcrete Concrete Services, Lehane Clutches and Gibson Freight.”
The Former Australian Champion and two-time Parramatta Raceway City track champion was on his game and charged through the field and paced himself to score another win at the Parramatta City Raceway which gives him a total of 23 wins at the race track.
This is a good start towards next week’s races and will take the momentum with him as the Outlaws Down Under V take place this coming Thursday! (Story by Rob Sirfus)
Keep up to date with results at www.skipjackson.net
Skip Jackson Australia Race Schedule:
Dec. 29 Parramatta Raceway Sprintcar International Finsihed 9th
Jan. 1 Parramatta Raceway Sprintcar International Finished 3rd
Jan. 4 Parramatta Raceway $50,000 To Win - Night 1 Finished 6th
Jan. 5 Parramatta Raceway $50,000 To Win - Night 2 Finished 13th
Jan. 12 Parramatta Raceway Sprintcar International - Finished 1st
Jan. 17 Parramatta Raceway World of Outlaws
Jan. 18 Parramatta Raceway World of Outlaws
Jan. 19 Parramatta Raceway World of Outlaws
Jan. 26 Premier Speedway Grand Annual Classic - Night 1
Jan. 27 Premier Speedway Grand Annual Classic - Night 2
Jan. 31 Parramatta Raceway Aust. Sprintcar Championship - Night 1
Feb. 1 Parramatta Raceway Aust. Sprintcar Championship - Night 2
Feb. 2 Parramatta Raceway Aust. Sprintcar Championship - Night 3 |
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The Week According to Skip –The Australian Invasion!
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 On opening night of the $50,000 to win race, Jackson qualified the #14 Harry Delamont 20th quickest in the field which put him on the front row of the heat race, Jackson was confronted by a spinning Adam Wray as he blasted off turn four on the run to the finish line to take the heat race win.
In the A-main Jackson lined up 10th and after and eventfull 30 laps, Skip was able to get the #14 Harry Delamont Mad Harry’s Furniture, Gibson Freight, Lehane Clutches, a 6th Finished in the prelim of the $50,000 to win race.
As the team was gearing up for the finally of the $50,000 to win race, rain set in and postponed the event for Sunday evening.
On the final night of the $50,000 to win, Jackson and the Harry Delamont #14 had a great starting position in heat two. Lining up outside of the front row, Skip charged to a commanding lead to get the #14 Gibson Freight, Lehane Cluthes another heat race win and into the dash for the evening. Starting out of four in the dash, Jackson would following Schatz for 3rd and with two laps to go a broken oil line would send the #14 to the pit area and get ready for the main event. With the oil line fixed Jackson would start 15th in the 40 lap feature, and end up 13th.
Next race will be this coming Saturday for the Sprintcar International Series, followed by the World of Outlaws Down Under as the Harry Delamont team will be fielding two cars for Jackson and Jason Meyers. (Story By Rob Sirfus)
Skip Jackson Australia Race Schedule:
Dec. 29 Parramatta Raceway Sprintcar International Finsihed 9th
Jan. 1 Parramatta Raceway Sprintcar International Finished 3rd
Jan. 4 Parramatta Raceway $50,000 To Win - Night 1 Finished 6th
Jan. 5 Parramatta Raceway $50,000 To Win - Night 2 Finished 13th
Jan. 12 Parramatta Raceway Sprintcar International
Jan. 26 Premier Speedway Grand Annual Classic - Night 1
Jan. 27 Premier Speedway Grand Annual Classic - Night 2
Jan. 31 Parramatta Raceway Aust. Sprintcar Championship - Night 1
Feb. 1 Parramatta Raceway Aust. Sprintcar Championship - Night 2
Feb. 2 Parramatta Raceway Aust. Sprintcar Championship - Night 3 |
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The Week According to Skip –The Australian Invasion!
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 Former National Sprintcar Champion Skip Jackson will make his season debut at Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway on Saturday, December 29. Jackson returns to his home town after spending another season in America. Jackson changed teams during the Australian off-season and for his Down Under commitments during the 2007-2008 term he will drive the black #14 Maxim for Harry Delamont.Skip jetted into Sydney on Friday morning and immediately headed to TPCR to help Delamont prepare the "black deuce" for Saturday’s debut. "I am really appreciative of Harry for giving me the opportunity to drive his car. " I am looking forward to racing for Harry over the next six weeks," Skip said today. Skip will contest all the lead up shows prior to the running of East Coast Pipeline-sponsored Outlaws Down Under V when he will vacate the seat for Delamont’s regular driver for the Outlaws engagements, Californian Jason Meyers. Skip will remain in Sydney to contest the three night Australian Sprintcar Championship on January 31, February 1 and 2. (Story by: Dennis Newyln)
Skip Jackson Australia Race Schedule:
Dec. 29 Parramatta Raceway Sprintcar International Finsihed 9th
Jan. 1 Parramatta Raceway Sprintcar International Finished 3rd
Jan. 4 Parramatta Raceway $50,000 To Win - Night 1
Jan. 5 Parramatta Raceway $50,000 To Win - Night 2
Jan. 12 Parramatta Raceway Sprintcar International
Jan. 26 Premier Speedway Grand Annual Classic - Night 1
Jan. 27 Premier Speedway Grand Annual Classic - Night 2
Jan. 31 Parramatta Raceway Aust. Sprintcar Championship - Night 1
Feb. 1 Parramatta Raceway Aust. Sprintcar Championship - Night 2
Feb. 2 Parramatta Raceway Aust. Sprintcar Championship - Night 3
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