Western Springs Speedway Promoter Bill Buckley has said race fans can expect a record turnout of international drivers for the four-round 2012/13 International Midget Series, which kicks off on Boxing night.
A former competitor himself, Buckley has already announced four top American drivers to take on the best New Zealanders, with Buckley also confident that he will be adding another three American drivers and an Australian by this time next week, which will create record numbers of international drivers.
Buckley, who was recently announced as a semi-finalist in the New Zealander of the Year award, can announce that top up-and-coming driver Kyle Larson will top the international line-up, with Jerry Coons Jr., Dave Darland and Cory Kruseman completing a star-studded line-up that is set to be added to.
Twenty-two year old Kyle Larson is hot property in American motorsport at the moment, having been signed up to Earnhardt Ganassi Racing as part of their driver development programme, which saw the Elk Grove, California resident add several lower-level NASCAR races to his already packed speedway schedule.
Whilst recently in New Zealand, Sprintcar legend Donny Schatz suggested New Zealand fans take the opportunity to see Larson in action for what will probably be the last time before he moves into either a NASCAR or IndyCar drive in the not too distant future, claiming that Larson “is going places”.
But Larson will face top opposition, not only from his BSL Racing team-mate Michael Pickens, who is the pick of the New Zealand drivers at the moment, but also his fellow Americans.
Dave Darland is known as ‘the people’s champ’ in the USA and is one of only five drivers to have won all three USAC (United States Auto Club) speedway series for Sprintcars, Midgets and Silver Crown cars not seen in New Zealand, known as the ‘Triple Crown’. On top of that, Darland has previously won the Herman Tros Memorial Shield awarded to the winner of the International Midget Series.
Darland’s feats are quite impressive but have been replicated entirely by Jerry Coons Jr., and surpassed. Coons is the only overseas driver to have won the New Zealand Midget Championship back in 2010/11 amongst much other success at Western Springs Speedway.
Cory Kruseman comes to New Zealand as the only driver to have won America’s Chili Bowl nationals, having done so in 2000 and 2004.
The International Midget series kicks off with a 25-lap Feature race on Boxing night, with the World 30-lap Derby following on December 29. The 40-lap ‘King of the Springs’ runs on January 1 with the series concluding with the ultimate test of man and machine, the Crown Plaza Auckland World 50 Lapper, held on January 3. Each night will also see action from Sprintcars and TQ Midgets.
Race day sees gates open at 5pm with the first race getting underway at 6.30. Adults are $30 with kids under the age of 16 free with a paying adult. For more information, check out www.springsspeedway.com.
