AUSTRALIAN SPEEDCAR CHAMPIONSHIP

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The annual Australian Speedcar Championship is run over two nights, typically in late January - early February. It is generally one of the highest prize money paying events of the race season and sees competitors from across the country and often from the United States and New Zealand battle it out for the sought-after crown. 

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The first event was hosted in 1935 in Melbourne and while formats and structures have evolved over the years, the championship has been awarded almost annually, excluding the years of World War II, in the event of wash-outs or similar, and the 2020/21 event as a result of Covid-19 restrictions.  

NSW's Andy McGavin and Ray Revell are the most successful drivers in the Australian Championship honour roll, both winning five championships (all won before 1964/65). West Australian Michael Figliomeni, Northern Territory's Warrenne Ekins and NSW's Adam Clarke have each won the event four times, all since 1989/90. Australia's first Formula One World Champion Sir Jack Brabham also won the Australian Speedcar championship in season 1948/49.

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NSW is the most winningest state of the Australian Championship, claiming the crown 32 times. West Australia has claimed 12 wins, while a Queenslander has taken the crown 5 times, as has the Northern Territory. South Australia has seen only 3 winners and despite hosting the inaugural event in 1935, Victoria has seen only 4 winners with a winning drought since 1938/39! Tasmania who joined Speedcars Australia in 2015/16 is yet to take a win off the mainland.

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Unlike many other national championships in Australian speedway racing, overseas drivers are permitted to compete in the Australian Speedcar Championship. Americans have won the championship fourteen times since it's inception, ten of which have been since season 2002/03. Michael Pickens made history in season 2015/16 by becoming the first winner of the event from New Zealand. 

American Brady Bacon is our current Australian Champion having claimed the win from Western Australian Kaiden Manders, and fellow American Thomas Meseraull at Sydney's Eastern Creek Speedway in March 2023.

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While Speedway historians have debated honour roll inclusions pre-1965 due to the amended formats (i.e. a national series and a three round series rather the single event seen in recent times) and conflicting sanctioning bodies resulting in dual events in the same season; below is the generally accepted list of winners.

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Australian Speedcar Championship Honour Roll, 1935 - today:

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