Californian keen to keep national sprintcar title | Canterbury Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Canterbury

For the second successive year NZ sprintcar drivers are looking at seeing their national title head overseas when it is contested at the Ruapuna Speedway tonight and tomorrow.

Californian Jonathan Allard led two of his fellow countrymen to sweep the major placings when the New Zealand crown was contested at Bay Park last summer.

This time there are four American entries with Allard being joined by Sammy Swindell, a three-time winner of the World of Outlaws sprintcar championship and a five-time winner of theChilli Bowl midget car event. This is his first visit to Christchurch.

As well as Swindell and titleholder Allard, Washington State drivers Austen Wheatley and Barry Martinez will also race.

Further international presence comes from Australian Allan Woods, who finished second in the recent Gold Cup.

No fewer than four former winners of the crown have entered with Rodney Wood (Tauranga), Dean Brindle (Hamilton), and Aucklanders Carl Wilson and Jamie McDonald all keen to see that the trophy stays in New Zealand. Twenty-six cars are entered for this weekend's event.