A SWEET STORY FOR McFADDEN AND WARRNAMBOOL

Feature photo by: Trent Gower

Article courtesy Premier Speedway media release and Auto Action. (Thanks also to Mark Neale).

International star pedigree will return to Australian speedway racing next year with some of the biggest drivers in the sport lined up to take on the 50th Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic in Warrnambool.

Australian ace James McFadden will be coming back to race in front of his home fans and joining the ride will be legendary American World of Outlaws driver Brad Sweet at the famed Victorian circuit.

The pair will be racing in different teams, but both with NAPA Auto Parts support in what will be a true Australia v United States battle.

Sweet is one of the biggest names on the American speedway scene and the driver the entire World of Outlaws field has been trying to stop, albeit unsuccessfully.

The 36-year-old from California known as “The Big Cat” has clawed his way to four straight World of Outlaws titles and shows no signs of slowing down.

Sweet recorded five wins on his way to this year’s championship, to edge him closer to a century of A-feature wins at the top level.

His entry in the Classic will be his first race outside of America for half a decade and the winning machine cannot wait to take on the new challenge down under.

Sweet will run under the Landrigan Motorsport banner as he aims to follow in the footsteps of other Americans to win the Classic such as Danny Smith, who entered victory lane six times.

“I’m really looking forward to heading back down under, it’s been a few years and I love Australia and its fans,” he said.

“James and I are pretty good friends and have a few friendly wagers going, I’m trying to get him to agree to shave that beard he’s got going on, if I beat him.

“The 50th Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic is definitely a race I’d love to win. It’s a great event with a lot of great fans.”

The 32-year-old Aussie is pumped to race his American rival on home turf.

“The tables have turned – he’s on my side of the world now so hopefully that means I have the upper hand over him, including the fan support – so welcome to my jungle,” said McFadden.

“Obviously he is a champion of this sport – his results show that – and his consistency is staggering really, so I admire and respect what he has achieved enormously.”

Although Smith is the king of America, he will be racing in a different environment in Australia with McFadden a fan favourite everywhere he goes in his native nation.

McFadden will race under the Hodges Motorsport banner and is no stranger to the Victorian race.

The NT native with Warrnambool connections has won the most prestigious Sprintcar race in Australia twice in 2017 and 20.

McFadden has still been racing in Australia each summer even after becoming a World of Outlaws star last year.

He is fresh from his second World of Outlaws season, where he finished seventh in the standings and is already locked away for 2023 by Roth Motorsports.

In his short world of outlaws career, McFadden has taken the chequered flag five times and would love to achieve the ultimate success again at a race that means so much to him.

“The Classic is one of the biggest races in the world. It’s a race I grew up watching on the hill at Premier Speedway, so it’s always on my schedule to be back home in Warrnambool for Australia Day week,” he said.

“I love the event, I love the speedway, I love the town and I love how big the race has become right around the world. Everyone here in America either wants to come home to compete in it or to come and watch it.

“I love the opportunity Tim Hodges offered with this unique deal. He’s a local boy and he knows how much the Classic means to this town, and like me this race means a hell of a lot to him and his crew – so I hope we can do something really special in its 50th anniversary running.

“I’d love nothing more than to win a third Classic crown in a year where it means so much.”