There is some amazingly positive sentiment in the speedway world ahead of the inaugural NAPA Speedway – to be run in conjunction with the 2024 VAILO Adelaide 500 this November.
Never before has a temporary Sprintcar track been built for a major event in Australia, let alone as part of an already huge event in the middle of a capital city! So, what does this mean for the sport of speedway in Australia?
Speedway Australia’s Ben Bishop says that if people didn’t know what Sprintcar racing was before Adelaide, they will certainly know after Adelaide.
“The thing that Sprintcars delivers is shock and awe. It’s so intense, and everything happens right in front of you,” Bishop told NAPA Auto Parts. “There’s something primal about Sprintcar racing. In motorsport terms, it’s hard to compare it to anything else. “This is why the sport has garnered so much respect from drivers in Supercars and NASCAR. “Neil Crompton once said that Sprintcars “are the greatest vehicles known to man” … that’s some high praise and an indication of how much respect there is for them.”
But what should fans look out for at NAPA Speedway? Bishop says that you’ll need to be there to believe it.“The unpredictability is the biggest thing with Sprintcar racing,” he said. “Even people who have been around the sport for a long time, they don’t know what’s going to happen at any particular event.
“There are more than 20 blue ribbon events around Australia each year, and they are always unpredictable. No one can tell you who is going to win. Whoever gets a handle on the track first is in the box seat, but that’s no guarantee of a win either.
“Look at Supercars – we are enjoying an unpredictable year, but for Sprintcars, they have enjoyed unpredictability their whole life.” So, what should fans of Sprintcar racing at the NAPA Speedway expect in Adelaide in November? Come prepared for everything and anything!
