![\"Major](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/NAPA-Sprintcar-032.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSprintcar drivers Max Guildford, James McFadden and Thomas Meseraull on the new grandstand in Adelaide. Image: Supplied<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSprintcar drivers Max Guildford, James McFadden and Thomas Meseraull on the new grandstand in Adelaide. Image: Supplied<\/p>\n
The NAPA Sprintcars in the City concept debuted at the Supercars finale last year and returns with a number of important improvements.<\/p>\n
Spectator viewing has changed dramatically with the addition of a grandstand on the west side of the track, which doesn\u2019t feature any natural earth banking.<\/p>\n
That has effectively increased spectator capacity by 1220 people given viewing wasn\u2019t possible from there last year.<\/p>\n
Lessons were also learnt regarding surface preparation with an additional 1000 tons of dirt added in a bid to ensure the racing holds up across all three nights of Sprintcar action.<\/p>\n
That decision was based on a slight degradation in the racing product on the Friday compared to Thursday last year.<\/p>\n
The temporary fencing is now higher, to address some safety concerns.<\/p>\n
The Sprintcar paddock has also moved, although that was based on a major reshuffle around the parklands venue given a need for two concert stages, with AC\/DC not sharing with other acts.<\/p>\n
According to Sprintcars SA president Adam Currie, the changes have come off the back of increased government support for the project through the South Australian Motorsport Board.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been very, very fortunate that the government has identified that the speedway is a great thing,\u201d Currie told Speedcafe.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re investing a heap more into it, because they can see the benefit of it. They\u2019ve seen how many people are involved in speedway and Sprintcar racing. So they\u2019ve doubled down this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve invested more money in bringing over a bigger, higher fencing, as there was some concerns last year. They\u2019ve invested in the crowd, putting up extra grandstands for viewing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve brought in another 1000 tons of surface material, so we\u2019re going to have a better racing surface as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been very fortunate that they\u2019ve done that just to make the meeting bigger and better than it was last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd it\u2019s all from what we learned last year. I don\u2019t think there were any mistakes last year, but just learning what we could do better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another change for this year is the introduction of The Chase to the NAPA Sprintcars in the City, a three-round series with the prize of an additional entry to the Adelaide event to the best-scoring driver who wasn\u2019t already invited.<\/p>\n
The Chase started with the SA Sprintcar Title at Murray Bridge on November 15, then went to Mount Gambier last Saturday night (which was washed out), and finished with a star-studded show at Tolmer Raceway on Sunday night.<\/p>\n
The remaining invite for Adelaide went to Queenslander Kinser Claridge.<\/p>\n
Currie explained the concept of the Chase was to both support the permanent South Australian tracks and offer increased incentive for crews travelling from interstate to make the trip.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe concept of that was for this event to give back to other tracks here in South Australia,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe took that to the SA Motorsport Board and asked if we could take an invite from this event as a prize and they were all for it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt definitely brought a lot more interest into these events. At Mount Gambier this time last year, we had 20-odd cars there. This weekend just gone, we had 42, 43 cars.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo doing that has brought more focus to our regional tracks.\u201d<\/p>\n
One potential curveball for this week is a lingering threat of rain, particularly on Friday evening.<\/p>\n
However Currie is confident the weather won\u2019t spoil the fun, particularly with Sprintcars now running across three nights, from Wednesday to Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not really worried about it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way that we\u2019ve done it this year, with putting the qualifying on the Wednesday night, that opens our program on Thursday and Friday up a lot more, so we can be more flexible.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust time trials alone takes over an hour, so we\u2019ve taken that out of the Thursday night and Friday night programs and it gives us a little bit more leniency on that Thursday and Friday in case we do have anything.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we\u2019re pretty confident that we\u2019ll be all right with the amount of rain on the forecast. It won\u2019t affect the track. We\u2019ll be able to bring it back in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sprintcar action kicks off on Wednesday night at 6pm with qualifying for both the Thursday and Friday night racing.<\/p>\n
Thursday action starts at 6pm again and includes heat racing, a Dash, a Lance Chance Qualifier and a Feature.<\/p>\n
Friday is the same program but starting at 6:30pm.<\/p>\n
There is a $140,000 prize pool on offer for the two nights of racing.<\/p>\n
Sprintcars will be joined by Speedcars on Wednesday-Friday nights, before Junior Sedans and Junior Formula 500s share the track on Saturday and Sunday during the day.<\/p>\n
NAPA Sprintcars in the City schedule<\/p>\n
Wednesday November 26<\/p>\n
Time
\nSession<\/p>\n
18:10<\/p>\n
Sprintcars Engine Start Night 1 \u2013 Flight 1<\/p>\n
18:20<\/p>\n
Sprintcars Engine Start Night 1 \u2013 Flight 2<\/p>\n
18:45<\/p>\n
Sprintcars Hotlaps Night 1 \u2013 Flight 1<\/p>\n
18:55<\/p>\n
Sprintcars Qualifying Night 1 \u2013 Flight 1<\/p>\n
19:15<\/p>\n
Sprintcars Hotlaps Night 1 \u2013 Flight 2<\/p>\n
19:25<\/p>\n
Sprintcars Qualifying Night 1 \u2013 Flight 2<\/p>\n
20:20<\/p>\n
Sprintcars Night 2 \u2013 Flight 1 to track<\/p>\n
20:25<\/p>\n
Sprintcars Hotlaps Night 2 \u2013 Flight 1<\/p>\n
20:35<\/p>\n
Sprintcars Qualifying Night 2 \u2013 Flight 1<\/p>\n
20:55<\/p>\n
Sprintcars Hotlaps Night 2 \u2013 Flight 2<\/p>\n
21:05<\/p>\n
Sprintcars Qualifying Night 2 \u2013 Flight 2<\/p>\n
21:40<\/p>\n
Sprintcars Feature Race \u2013 NAPA Adelaide Showdown<\/p>\n
Thursday November 27<\/p>\n
Start
\nSession<\/p>\n
18:00<\/p>\n
Sprintcars Engine Start Heat 1 and 2<\/p>\n
18:08<\/p>\n
Sprintcars Engine Start Heat 3 and 4<\/p>\n
18:16<\/p>\n
18:24<\/p>\n
Sprintcars Hotlaps Heat 1 and 2<\/p>\n
18:37<\/p>\n
Sprintcars Hotlaps Heat 3 and 4<\/p>\n
19:10<\/p>\n
19:20<\/p>\n
19:30<\/p>\n
19:40<\/p>\n
20:30<\/p>\n
20:40<\/p>\n
Sprintcars \u2013 Last Chance Qualifier<\/p>\n
20:55<\/p>\n
Sprintcars \u2013 Last Chance Qualifier<\/p>\n
21:25<\/p>\n
Friday November 28<\/p>\n
Start
\nCategory<\/p>\n
18:24<\/p>\n
Sprintcars Hotlaps Heat 1 and 2<\/p>\n
18:37<\/p>\n
Sprintcars Hotlaps Heat 3 and 4<\/p>\n
19:10<\/p>\n
19:20<\/p>\n
19:30<\/p>\n
20:15<\/p>\n
21:05<\/p>\n
21:15<\/p>\n
Sprintcars \u2013 Last Chance Qualifier<\/p>\n
21:30<\/p>\n
Sprintcars \u2013 Last Chance Qualifier<\/p>\n
22:00<\/p>\n
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