Tonight the 28th running of the Kings Sprint Car Challenge is set for action at Borderline Speedway in what an unmissable night of racing.

A high-quality field of 39 nominations is set to battle to see who will be crowned the King of Borderline for Season 2021/22.

Defending Kings Challenge champion Lachie McHugh will be one of the favourites.

Last year the in-form Queensland driver cruised to the chequered flag leading every single lap of the A Main after negotiating lapped traffic and a late-race restart without an issue.

The #NQ7 was untouchable that night and McHugh will be looking to unlock the same pace around the “Bullring” to be the fourth back-to-back Kings Challenge winner alongside Kerry Madsen, Robbie Farr and Donny Schatz.

Former Kings Challenge winners Steven Lines and Farr are also among the top contenders with the latter teaming up with Saller Motorsport from New South Wales.

Lines’ appearance will be a much celebrated one with the Mount Gambier pilot driving his first Kings Challenge in two years after making a comeback earlier this season.

He has lost none of his magic recording many top-five finishes already this season including at his return to Borderline late last year.

World Of Outlaws stars James McFadden and Carson Macedo will also be right amongst it on as they both do well on the Mount Gambier track.

McFadden may possibly be the outright favourtite after he taught the field a lesson at the most recent race in the Blue Lake City.

Fresh from his eye-catching World Of Outlaws rookie season, McFadden was in a league of his own claiming a crushing win in the SA/Vic Speedweek.

The only other driver to show a similar amount of pace at the “Bullring” this season was Matt Egel, who took out the opening night in clinical fashion.

Egel will have a score to settle with Borderline after an unfortunate incident took him out of contention late in the race, which was one of the few low points in an otherwise electric season of nine podiums and the Chariots of Thunder title.

Others who could figure prominently include current Australian champion Jamie Veal, Queensland Speedweek runner up Jock Goodyer, Current Victorian Champion Matt Dumesny, Lismore Speedweek round winner Marcus Dumesny, Brock Hallett who had a great Qld Speedweek, Grant Anderson, Ian Madsen, Luke Dillon and David Murcott.

A trio of young gun Queenslanders in the form of Karl Hoffmans, Callum Walker and Ryan Newton will be welcome additions to the field with Newton having some impressive performances after stepping up this season from the Formula 500s.

The local SA cars will also be out in force in the “Night Before The Classic” with Glen Sutherland, Scott Enderl, Lisa Walker, Joel Heinrich, Ryan Jones and Ben Morris out in force.

SRA Points leader Daniel Pestka will also be one to watch in the Stark’s car, as is Allstars Challenge winner Brendan Quinn.

Making a welcome return to the dirt will be Dylan Jenkin who is a fan favourite at the South East venue.

SRA regulars Jack Lee, Jake Smith, David Donegan, Brenten Farrer, Peter Doukas and Tate Frost are just a few of the cars in action.

Also on the program is the SA v Vic Wingless Sprints State Of Origin with 10 cars from each state eager to put on a great show for the crowd and score some bragging rights.

The SA cars are headlined by local drivers Mitchell Broome, Kirby Hillyer and Rory Button.

But the Victorians also have a strong field fronted by Luke Weel, Luke Storer and Blake Walsh leading the charge from across the border.

The stars of tomorrow in the Junior Sedans round out a busy program.

The Kings Challenge event has been the highlight of the speedway summer at Borderline since it was born in 1995.

Some of the best drivers from Australia and America have forged unforgettable battles over the years, while a more domestic, but high-quality field will race for the $5000 cash prize.

Borderline Speedway president Cary Jennings said the race was born from the desire for Mount Gambier to have its own showpiece event.

“Back in 1995 we started our push to have the Australian sprint car championship here which we did which was a very successful show,” he said.

“So then we thought we need a major event each year at Borderline Speedway and we called it the Kings Sprint Car Challenge.

“It has been running ever since which is an achievement by itself and it fits in perfectly with the five days of racing across Victoria and South Australia.”