Local Murray Bridge Sprintcar driver Ryan Jones leads the nomination list of Australia’s best 360 Sprintcar competitors for the running of the Murray Machining & Sheds Australian Championship this weekend.

Thirty two cars will compete at Murray Bridge Speedway on Saturday and Sunday night in the event, but Jones has had the perfect lead up.

Jones is the defending two-time Australian 360 Sprintcar Champion, winning the prestigious title in 2008 and 2009 and is also a last start winner, taking the win two weeks ago at Murray Bridge in the warm up event to this weekend.

In that win, Jones was triumphant in a three way battle over the 20 lap final, with the lead changing eight times at the Murray Bridge bowl. This weekend should provide similar action, whatever the outcome.

The forty lap final will certainly advantage Jones. While others are just as fast, stringing together a perfect race lap after lap adds a whole different slant to the competition. Craig Vanderstelt was one such driver two weeks ago. While he was the fastest car on the night, a last corner mistake saw him spin the car and fail to finish.

Vanderstelt is sure to learn from the experience and it will almost certainly be his key motivation this weekend. However Jones is full of confidence having dominated this race for the past two years. Last season Jones started from position seventeen last year and drove past every other car to win his second championship.

“I am under no illusions this year” Jones said from his workshop on Tuesday. “It will be very difficult to win three in a row. Everyone has stepped up their game, they all have good equipment and have the laps on the board and will be tough to beat.”

Another local driver Darryl Wright is also in contention for the event. Wright has qualified his car on the front row for the past two years to only crash out of the event. If he can stay out of trouble, he certainly will be a contender.

Victoria also has a host of in-form hopefuls. Darren Hickman and Ricky Barrand have both has solid seasons, as has Phil Lock. Three cars have travelled from Darwin, with Jason McIver who finished second to Jones two weeks ago and Alan Barlee.

The Murray Machining and Sheds 2010 Australian 360 Sprintcar Championship will kick off at 6.00pm tonight and tomorrow at Moore Engineering Murray Bridge Speedway, with gates open from 3.30pm.