With each state and territory represented, this Friday and Saturday night will see a quality field of drivers converge on Toowoomba’s Hi-Tec Oils Speedway, where they will attempt to stop defending champion Jeremy Moore from scoring back-to-back Australian AMCA National Title victories.

Having earned the Australia # 1 mantle last season at Ballarat’s Redline Raceway in Victoria, before going on to claim top honours in both the Victorian and NSW Titles during what was a stellar 2017-18 season for him, Moore, from South Australia, will be difficult to beat when he takes to the track this weekend amongst the tough 40-car field, but with drivers such as Tim Reidy (Vic) in attendance, he certainly won’t be an easy task.

Reidy, who is a former Australian Champion, is in fantastic form heading into the Australian Title, having recently pipped Moore to claim an impressive victory in the Victorian Title at Moama’s Heartland Raceway. Reidy is sure to leave nothing in the tank as he attempts to regain his Australia # 1 status.

2016 Australian Champion and multiple state titleholder in Matt Hardy (Qld) will be amongst the list of likely contenders. The 26-year-old racer, who also finished third in this season’s Victorian Title, will be joined by teammate and father Russ Hardy, who is a consistent front-runner and is another who shouldn’t be discounted.

The shining light throughout his home state of Tasmania current and four-time Tasmanian Champion Daniel Brooks will no doubt be a force to be reckoned with as he represents the Apple Isle, as will current Queensland champion Nathan Durston (Qld), who is no stranger to handling the pressure that comes with contesting a major event. Another driver from Tasmania is the quiet achiever in Rodney Bassett. There is no doubt that Bassett will be in contention for another top-10 finish.

The home state of Queensland has no shortage of proven contenders flying the flag, with Steve Price who has been in fantastic form leading into the Australian Title and is no doubt shaping up to be challenge at the front of the field, along with four-time Australian Champion Shane McKinnell and his son Lee, who finished second to Durston in last season’s Queensland Title, in the field, and consistent top-three finisher and former Victorian Champion Steve Potts.

The strong list of Queensland challengers who will be hoping to make an impression when they hit the track includes Thomas Vickery, Michael Mason, Cody Simmons, Stuart Jeffries, former NT Champion Gavin Wootton, Brock Lehfeldt, Nathan Tomkins, Chris Wright, Damien Groer, Michael Denning and Ben Manson.

After a standout performance during last season’s running of the event, which saw him come home in the runner-up spot, Paul Sullivan will be one to watch, as will fellow Victorians Neale Peachey, who is fresh from a feature-race victory over the Christmas-New Year period, and Trevor Thierry.

With a feature-race win and a runner-up finish to his name so far this season, Peter Markulin (NSW) is in good form and he will be hoping to continue this form during the Australian Title by backing up last season’s top-10 result, while Tony Blanch (NSW) and Shane Cartwright (NSW) are also expected to fare well. Blanch picked up a win earlier this season at Hi-Tec Oils Speedway and his confidence is high.

Other driver hoping to bring the title back across the border to their state of NSW will be Gamble brothers Lewis and Matt, Raymond Kime, Mark Chiplin, Paul Reeves, Darren Miller and Ken George.

Current NT Champion Spano Gutierrez, who is based in NSW, will be joined by strong local performer Jacob Belcher, with the pair eager to represent the Northern Territory in strong fashion, while Lachie Gwynne who joins defending Australian Champion Moore as the two representatives from South Australia and the Western Australian duo of David Boyes and Greg Horan are hoping to make their states proud. Boyes is a former WA Champion along with a minor podium Australian Title finisher, so he will certainly be more than an outside threat.

Drivers are set to contest three rounds of heat races on the Friday night following Thursday night’s practice sessions, with a fourth and final round of heat races set to take place on Saturday night, prior to the B main and the 40-lap Australian Title-deciding feature race.

To find out more about AMCA Nationals, visit their website at www.amcanationals.com.au or LIKE them on Facebook by searching AMCA Nationals.

2018-19 Season Australian Title Nominations (40):

A1 Jeremy Moore (SA)

New South Wales
N11 Shane Cartwright
N22 Raymond Kime
N23 Darren Miller
N24 Tony Blanch
N51 Ken George
N73 Lewis Gamble
N75 Matt Gamble
N91 Peter Markulin
N97 Mark Chiplin
N98 Paul Reeves

Northern Territory
NT27 Jacob Belcher
NT46 Spano Gutierrez

Queensland
Q1 Nathan Durston
Q3 Nathan Tomkins
Q6 Steve Price
Q7 Shane McKinnell
Q10 Michael Denning
Q12 Ben Manson
Q15 Matt Hardy
Q18 Russ Hardy
Q22 Michael Mason
Q28 Damien Groer
Q32 Steve Potts
Q56 Thomas Vickery
Q66 Gavin Wootton
Q74 Stuart Jeffries
Q75 Chris Wright
Q85 Lee McKinnell
Q93 Cody Simmons
Q96 Brock Lehfeldt

Tasmania
T13 Rodney Bassett
T22 Daniel Brooks

Victoria
V7 Trevor Thierry
V28 Paul Sullivan
V51 Neale Peachey
V79 Tim Reidy

South Australia
SA24 Lachie Gwynne

Western Australia
W4 Greg Horan
W 91 David Boyes