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World Series Sprintcars: Sydney Send-off for Series Finale

29 January 1998

(Adelaide, SA, )..... The 11th anniversary World Series Sprintcars Championship concludes its 16-race national trail this weekend with a "double-header" at Wynns Newcastle Speedway (Fri, Jan 30) and Parramatta City Raceway (Sat, Jan 31). While 29-year old Skip Jackson has already successfully defended his crown he first won a year ago in his Skilled Engineering/O'Brien Aluminium/Gibson Freight machine, plenty of interest surrounds the remaining two rounds.

Jackson and arch rival Brooke Tatnell (Shell Helix-Schnee) cannot be dislodged from the first two positions in the points standings however a three-way battle exists over third position between young Adelaide charger Trevor Green (Adrad Radiatord-J&J) and former national champions Max Dumesny and Brett Lacey. In the 14 rounds to date, there have been eight different A-Feature winners although neither Dumesny or Lacey have been among them.

NASCAR star Dumesny has twice had his Valvoline-J&J in a winning position only to be denied victory on the final lap each time, Green's sole win preventing a home-track win by Max by just half-a-car length at Warrnambool on New Years Day. Meanwhile Lacey's Spies Hecker-Maxim has been a consistent top-six runner for Tasmanian car-owner Robin Dawkins.

The Parramatta round will also signal a momentous occasion with the final WSS appearance of legendary 53-year speedway icon Garry Rush who bows out of the sport having been one of the directors of the company which originated the Series some 11 years ago. Rush exits World Series competition with the third-best career record of A-Feature victories (13) behind only former multiple champions Tatnell (27) and Dumesny (21).

An entry of forty-plus sprintcars is expected for the Series Grand Final from which there is every possibility of a new feature winner, additions to the 11 different A-Feature lap leaders or the eight AUTO ACTION Fast Time winners. To date the 1997/98 Series has established an all-time high in terms of number of competitors, average car counts per round, the greatest number of different winners in a season plus three new drivers registering maiden WSS victories.

Immediately following the Series Grand Final, the WSS Presentation Dinner will be held at the Rydges, Parramatta on Sunday, Feb 1 at 6.30pm. Last-minute tickets can be booked through the World Series Office on 08 8361 2522.