The annual John Day Speedcar Classic at the Perth Motorplex in Western Australia has received an added boost with the announcement of American and newly-crowned USAC Midget Champion Tyler Courtney teaming up with the Australian duo of Trevor Jolly and Daniel Harding to contest next month’s event.
With a whopping $50,000 prize purse on offer, to say that the annual John Day Classic has received significant interest would be an understatement. However, it’s the injection of international talent, such as the Indianapolis (IN) based Courtney, that Jolly and Harding believe will add plenty of excitement to the event.
“Tyler has just come off a career-best year over in America which was highlighted by winning the USAC Championship and we are excited to have Tyler in our corner for the John Day Classic,” commented Jolly about the 25-year-old racer.
“The team and I have put together a great package for Tyler to run and we’re confident that he is as good of a chance as anyone in the field to challenge for the win.”
Despite having previously raced in the Southern Hemisphere on two occasions, making up a part of team USA during last season’s International Midget Series at Auckland’s Western Springs Speedway in New Zealand, Courtney has only competed in Australia once back in 2014 to run the Grand Annual Classic for 410 Sprintcars at Warrnambool’s Premier Speedway in Victoria.
With experience in his home country competing in Midgets and 410 Sprintcars, Courtney, who is also known by his nickname ‘Sunshine’, has proven his versatility, picking up numerous feature-race victories across both classes and most recently emerging victorious in this year’s USAC Midget Championship, which turned into a new career highlight for him.
Set to pilot the USA # 22 Hawk-powered Spike Speedcar owned by the Harding family for one night only on the Saturday night of December 7, Courtney is looking forward to flying the flag for his country against a formidable field of Australian natives.
