Fresh from the World of Outlaws STP Sprintcar Series season opener in Florida, Tim Kaeding and Sydney racer, Kerry Madsen are jetting into Perth for the final round of the ENZED World Series Sprintcars Championship this weekend at the Perth Motorplex.
Madsen will take to the Kwinana highbanks in a new-look Keneric Racing machine, with it being updated to reflect the American Racing Custom Wheels livery the Bob Gavranich-owned team runs in the STP Outlaws Championship. He returns to the team's home full of confidence after a thrilling opening night third place behind Brad Sweet, then rounding out the DirtCar Nationals with 10th and sixth placed finishes.
This will be Kaeding's first race in Australia since taking out the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic at Warrnambool in sensational form over the Australia Day long weekend.
Madsen and Kaeding will be joined by fellow Americans – Shane Stewart (who remained in Australia at the wheel of the Monte Motorsport Milwaukee Power Tools machine) and Kody Kinser.
In a Championship sense, there is all to play for during the two nights, on what can be an at times unpredictable black clay Motorplex surface. Currently, Steven Lines is leading the Series by 129 points over Brooke Tatnell – who shot back into calculations last weekend playing his double point Joker and winning at Bunbury.
Still in contention in third placing in the Championship is defending Champ, James McFadden, who sits 243 points away from the Title lead. Fourth and mathematically still a chance at 317 points behind is Luke Dillon.
In all likelihood, however, the battle will be between between Lines – aiming for his maiden World Series Title and Tatnell – who is gunning for his record ninth WSS crown and first since 2009/2010.
Ironically, the top four cars are all West Australian owned – Lines in the Halls Motorsport Wilson Trailers car, Tatnell driving for the crack Krikke Motorsport team, McFadden on board the Totally Workwear Scott Milling-owned Cool Chassis and Dillon in the Diamond Bay Motorsport team out of Bunbury.
The ENZED World Series Sprintcars finals are being conducted Friday and Saturday night at the Perth Motorplex, with hotlaps starting at 5:25pm Friday and first round of heats at 7pm.
VIDEO: World Series Sprintcars Grand Final Preview: