The excitement, the tension, the pressure and the commitment are all the ingredients for the build up to the 2010 Australian Wingless Sprint Racing National Title. For drivers and their pit crew, the recent weeks of preparation have been essential for their shot at being Australia’s #1 Wingless Sprint driver.

The National Title is being held at Borderline Speedway, Mount Gambier on Saturday 06 and Sunday 07 March 2010 and has attracted more than sixty drivers from five Australian States. Drivers from Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland will make the long haul to Mount Gambier whilst drivers from Victoria and South Australia dominate the entry list.

For most of the competitors, the lead up weeks have gone according to plan, but for Western Australian driver Marshall McDiarmid, things turned sour last weekend when he blew his race engine. McDiarmid was making keen to contest the title and was considered by many critics to be a serious challenger for the title but his major engine destruction now has him waiting until 2011. Fellow Western Australian driver, Lee Nash will take his place in the Championship field and he comes to Mount Gambier in brilliant form, having swept all before him in his home State this season.

The Queensland contingent will be headed by experienced campaigner, Anthony Vanderreyden. Whilst his competitive record in the Wingless Sprints category is limited, Vanderreyden has vast experience in the sprintcar division.

Adam Butler is expected to be one of the leading contenders from New South Wales. He has won his home State title and along with fellow New South Welshmen Craig Skene and Daniel Flood are expected to make their mark on the title chase.

However, the strong list of competitors from Victoria and South Australia are the firm favourites to grab the title. South Australian Rory Button is the defending National Champion and the pressure will really be on him to make it back-to-back crowns. The two South Australian drivers who have been in hot form this season Mason Merritt and Todd Wigzell. Merritt won a lead-up race at Murray Bridge Speedway last weekend and is naturally confident that he can carry that form into the Championship chase. On the other hand, Wigzell won the South Australian Wingless Sprint Title this year taking the honour  from Rory Button and many critics believe that Wigzell’s driving record and style make him the early favourite for the event.

Victorian drivers dominate the nomination list with almost forty competitors indicating that they will contest the Championship. State champion, Jeffrey Judd, Steve Trigg, Mark Walsh and Phil Micaleff will head the strong Victorian contingent. One of the interesting facts from the nomination list from Victoria is that no less than four Balcombe family members will be hard at it on the racetrack. Leigh, Mark, Mathew and Brendan Balcombe will put family ties aside as they strive to win the coveted Australian Title.

Drivers will use Friday night 05 March practice sessions as their final preparation for the AWSR National Title, with qualifying heats to be run on Saturday night 06 March, with the last of the qualifying heats and the Championship Final to be contested on Sunday night 07 March.

Defending Australian Champion Rory Button looking to go back to back @ his home track in 2010....