Two days of action in the bullring

MORE than 5000 fans packed the Borderline Speedway to watch Gold Coast’s Lachlan McHugh take the chequered flag in the 32nd King’s Challenge – the Glenburnie track’s premier, stand alone event.

The King’s Challenge saw 61 cars line-up at the start line in what was the last hit out for national title aspirants, with the local club set to host the January 30 and 31 Australian Sprintcar Championships.

It was the second King’s Challenge title for McHugh, who also took the title in 2021.

He beat out US driver Ryan Timms, in a Victorian owned car, who has been competing on Australian shores on the back of winning Knoxville last year, and consistent performer Kerry Madsen.

McHugh led from start to finish, with Timms making one of the best runs in the A-Main, which also saw the four local hopes qualify for the feature final.

Daniel Pestka, in the Stark owned car, finished 10th, rising star Parker Scott finished 12th, Glen Sutherland 13th and Scott Enderl 16th, after qualifying for the final by winning the B-Main.

Borderline president Cary Jennings saw the weather was on organisers’ side and the crowd was fantastic.

“The racing was fierce and it was entertaining all night,” Jennings said.

Ther A-Main was not without incident with Dayne Kingshott, Dylan Jenkins and reigning champion James McFadden all ending up in the infield.

It all sets up an exciting two day national championships this Friday and Saturday, where organisers anticipate more than 10,000 spectators through the gates.

But before the dust even starts to fly, fans are in for a treat with a fan engagement event on Thursday from 4-7pm.

The event is a chance to rub shoulders with your favourite drivers with a merchandise alley, food vendors and a fully operational canteen.

It is the third time the Glenburnie track has hosted the national sprintcar championships and the field is star-studded, headlined by reigning Australian champion McFadden.

“James will be looking to keep the number one on his car and win it again,” Jennings said.

But he won’t have it all his own way with recent fellow Aussie champions part of the field including McHugh and Madsen, coming off their King’s Challenge podium finish, and Jack Goodyer.

Jennings is also excited by the emerging crop of talent that will certainly make their mark over the two days of racing.

“Parker Scott, our local hope, gets better every time he comes out on the track and Tasmania’s Tate Frost is another young talent that continues to improve, while Jy Corbet, another one just in his teens will also put on a good show,” he said.

Drivers from all across Australia, as well as Max Guilford from New Zealand, have nominated for the 2026 event, with on from Northern Territory, six from Western Australia and the same from Tasmania; nine from New South Wales; nine from Queensland; 11 from Victoria and 15 from the host state.

Other title contenders include brothers Marcus and Matt Dumsney; Adelaide’s Matt Egel, driving his Whyalla-based car, Brock Hallett, who has been making podiums recently and Daniel Pestka, driving the locally owned Stark’s car, who is coming off a podium drive last weekend.

New Zealander Guilford enjoyed his racing at the Borderline during Speed Week and he made podiums during that intense series of racing.

The 2026 event has been made possible through the generous support of naming rights sponsor City of Mount Gambier, as well as District Council of Grant, OGR, Barry Maney Group, The Print Market Gawler, South Central Trucks and Buses and Janda Carpenters and Builders, in Alice Springs.