Sammy Swindell wins qualifier at New Zealand’s WXC Speedway!
KNOXVILLE, Iowa — November 26, 2013 — The first of three qualifying races for the 2014 SPEED SPORT Knoxville World Challenge was held on Saturday, November 23 at WXC Speedway in Auckland, New Zealand at the track’s World Sprintcars show.
Sammy Swindell, of Tennessee, won the feature with local driver Dean Brindle taking the runner-up spot. Californian Jonathan Allard finished third despite having spun out early in the race while leading and having to restart at the tail of the field. Seven-time Knoxville Nationals winner Donny Schatz started 14th and raced his way through the field to claim the fourth position to give the American drivers three of the top four finishers.
Australian Jamie Larson rounded out the top five. Twenty sprint cars were entered for the event that was marred by several accidents as nine cars did not finish the race.
After competing in the World Sprintcars event three drivers — Swindell, Allard and Schatz — have become eligible for the SPEED SPORT World Challenge on Friday, Aug. 8, during the FVP Knoxville Nationals.
WSX World Sprintcars Top 10 Feature Finish: 1. 1USA, Sammy Swindell (4); 2. 2NZ, Dean Brindle (3); 3. 0USA, Jonathan Allard; 4. 15USA, Donny Schatz (14); 5. 82A, Jamie Larson; 6. 55A, Daniel Thomas (7); 7. 51M, Rodney Wood (17); 8. 54A, Michael Pickens (15), 9. 18A, Greg Pickerill (10); 10. 5A, Daniel Rogers (16).
Video highlights of the event are at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8k3V4DQz1Y&feature=share&list=UUYgiCmTvTgudN2cg2cjT5qg.
The next qualifying race will be held on December 14 at Robertson Holden International Speedway in Palmerston North, New Zealand. The final international qualifier will take place on January 24-26 when Premier Speedway in Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia, hosts the 42nd annual Lucas Oil Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic, which will pay $30,000 to the winner. Combined with twin $10,000-to-win Australia/America Challenge Cup preliminary night mains, both presented by Oval Express.
For more information on the Knoxville Raceway and its 21st annual SPEED SPORT Knoxville World Challenge during the 54th FVP Knoxville Nationals, fans are urged to visit http://www.knoxvilleraceway.com. For information on SPEED SPORT magazine, fans can visit http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.com. For news on the three international qualifiers, they can visit: WXC Speedway - http://springsspeedway.com, Robertson Holden International Speedway – http://www.pnspeedway.co.nz, Premier Speedway - http://www.premierspeedway.com.au.
- Admin Account on Nov 27, 2013
- Article Date: 11/27/2013