A quality field of drivers from South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales will ensure the battle for the winner’s $10,000 cheque will be fierce.

Sadly, the rescheduling of the 2012 Queensland Sprintcar title has resulted in a clash of dates, but Dubbo has a lot of the best drivers in Australia coming to vie for the huge first-place payout, as well as being the first to etch their name on prestigious Digger’s Cup trophy.

Later this week there were 17 nominations - made up of Q7 Robbie Farr, N21 Garry Brazier, N6M Matt Young, Q54 Richard Morgan, N51 Kim Becker (the only female driver), N52 Mark Attard, N48 Jackson Delamont, N69 John McCorkindale, N9 Steve Caunt, N14 Peter Gordon, S4 Trevor Green, N92 Sam Walsh, N28 Darryl Campbell, N18 Ian Loudoun and S27 Daniel Pestka, along with locals N39 Jeremy Cross and N47 Mark Blyton.

Promoter Leanne Anning said she was more than happy with the nominations so far.

“The inaugural Digger’s Cup was rained out last season. We had a huge double-header with the Cup the night before the NSW Sprintcar Title. Unfortunately, we are still yet to engrave a name on the Digger’s trophy as the heavens were against us then too,” Anning explained.

A major contributor to the speedway fraternity, Steve Caunt races in every division from Formula 500s to Sprintcars. There’s not an open wheel machine that he hasn’t made his mark in.

Eager to tackle the turns of 93.5 StarFM Stadium, he will certainly be a driver to watch.

Robbie Farr is one of Australia’s best sprintcar drivers. The 2011 World Series Sprintcars Champ has frequented Morris Park on a few occasions now and he is getting to know the strengths and pitfalls of this oval track. The East Coast Pipeline transporter will bring his cars to Dubbo, while he flies over from his home in Western Australia to be a part of the Digger’s Cup.

From the age of 16, Garry Brazier piloted his first sprintcar at Parramatta City Raceway. Along-side legends, George Tatnell and Gary Rush, Brazier soon made a name for himself in his rookie season as a force to be reckoned with. He is now regarded a legend in his own right, and will definitely be a crowd pleaser.

Brazier’s Cowin Family Racing teammate, Matt Young, is also a strong contender. Young took to the track in December in round two of the World Series Sprintcars.

He is keen to get to the front of the pack and be on the podium come night’s end.

Jackson Delamont is the youngster of the pack. He debuted in the sprintcar division last season and has been gaining experience behind the wheel. Not afraid of a challenge, Delamont will do his best to make the final unscathed, and like Brazier has a passion and enthusiasm for racing. He is definitely a rising star of the future.

South Aussies Trevor Green and Daniel Pestka will make their way to Dubbo in an effort to take the winner’s cheque. Green, a WSS experienced driver has a no-holes-barred approach to racing. He’ll be making sure he gains enough heat points to put himself in a good starting position for the feature.

Pestka has heard great things about the track and he is eager to ‘take it to the finish line’.

Queenslander Richard Morgan has committed to the event. He will miss his state title for the opportunity to take home the prestigious Digger’s Cup.

New South Wales has the largest contingent of drivers, with John McCorkindale, Sam Walsh, Ian Loudoun, Mark Attard, Darryl Campbell and Peter Gordon all wanting to be the first name etched on the Digger’s Cup.

However, Kim Becker says she’ll drive just as hard and fast, to make them work for their points.