FROM JUNIORS TO ELITE: SOME OF THE BIG NAMES AT THE CLASSIC

Feature photo by: Bill Mann… Cody Maroske feels privileged to drive the #Q16 for one of the biggest names in the industry.

Speedway’s career path model is under the spotlight this weekend as the sport’s largest annual event coincides with a major title race exclusively for juniors.

The Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic in Warrnambool is considered the biggest event on the Australian speedway calendar with a mammoth $250k prize pool, and will feature at least nine former Junior Sedan drivers, while Grafton Speedway in New South Wales will host the SSA Australian Junior Sedan Title also this weekend shining a glaring light on the stars of the future, and the path that can take them there.

Sprintcar stars Jamie Veal, Lockie McHugh and Cody Maroske are just some of those who began their speedway careers racing in Junior Sedans, with Maroske claiming a National Junior Sedan Title in 2010 in addition to a Queensland and Northern Territory State Title.

“Junior Sedans is the perfect breeding ground for a speedway racing career,” Maroske said, while preparing his ride for this weekend in Warrnambool. “The competitor numbers at major events are always big, which teaches you how to race in big fields and you end up racing a lot of different people from all over Australia, so it’s very national feel as well.”

“Winning the Australian Junior Title led to being offered a ride in a Microsprint with Napper Motorsport and we loved that, and that inspired our family to get a Formula 500, and I had a great run in them with a few decent wins before we bit the bullet and the family bought a Sprintcar. Since then, I’ve been very privileged to have some really good rides and now I’ve got a dream deal with Bill Mann, so Speedway has been very good to me. I never thought I’d ever have an opportunity like this, and it all started in Junior Sedans!”

Maroske has also found a niche in the motorsport industry crafting seat inserts, learning the skill for his own use before growing to helping colleagues, and now has established a fully-fledged business.

“SeatWorx has really grown I the last twelve months, and I’m doing work for racers all over Australia across multiple motorsport disciplines, so not only has speedway given me an amazing hobby that I do with my family, it’s also provided me the opportunity to build a business in an industry that I’m very passionate about.”

Other former Junior Sedan competitors including Jy Corbet, Andrew Priolo, Corey Sandow, Kris Coyle, Peter Doukas and Blake Walsh will also compete this weekend at “The Classic,” with Corbet drawing attention for some standout runs at the elite level in the past week, highlighted by racing from 20^th in the Borderline Speedway Kings Challenge to finish an impressive 3^rd to Sheldon Haudenschild and Kerry Madsen.

Both the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic and the SSA Australian Junior Sedan Title can be viewed online through Speedway streaming service, ClayPerView.com