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NASCAR TO COMPETE AT THE BEND

NASCAR to compete at The Bend - Photo: Supplied

By Bruce Williams

NASCAR to compete at The Bend - Photo: Supplied

NASCAR to compete at The Bend – Photo: Supplied

Touring Car Masters squad Whiteline Racing has entered two cars for The Bend Classic in a fortnight’s time, its regular 1970 Chevrolet Camaro RS and its Chevrolet Monte Carlo NASCAR.

By DAN McCARTHY

The team that won the final NASCAR Championship on the Calder Park Thunderdome will let loose its loud beast for the first time publicly in nearly two decades.

The Bend Classic will be the first time that the #85 Monte Carlo monster has hit the track for competitive action since 2002.

That day the car was a part of the last race in a Stock Car support event to the Australian Super Trucks at Winton.

“The NASCAR, is going to be a sight and sound for the senses and is the kind of car The Bend Classic is all about; getting these incredible machines on track again,” said The Bend Motorsport Park marketing manager Michael Rossi.

Whiteline Racing won the last ever NASCAR race on the Calder Park Thunderdome as well as the final Australian NASCAR Championship with Andrew Miedecke.

Recently the team has run the car in private test sessions, but this will be the first time reappearing in front of a crowd since 2002.

Stock Car competition has played a big part in Whiteline Racing’s history with the team enjoying success at the Calder Park Thunderdome, Adelaide International Raceway and the road course rounds.

The front running TCM Camaro car will return to the track for the first time since the opening round of the 2020 season at the Adelaide 500 in February.

In the series the car is being driven by young hard charger Adam Garwood, but at The Bend Classic Bob Middleton will jump behind the wheel.

“The Bend Classic is celebrating South Australian Motorsport this year and it wouldn’t be right to do it without having Bob, Sharon and the iconic Whiteline Racing team at the event,” said Rossi.

“In a weekend of firsts, we’re excited to see a Touring Car Masters car take to The Bend for the first time.

“As one of Australia’s most popular categories, we hope to see TCM race at the circuit in the future, but this will be a fantastic taste-test with a car that regularly competes for race wins in the series.”

In the TCM series Whiteline Racing has taken nine round wins and 26 race victories from its 80 round starts. The team’s 1969 Camaro currently leads the series following a win at the Adelaide 500.

All manner of motorsport machines will hit the track including for the second year running Formula 1 cars.

The Bend Classic takes place over the Father’s Day weekend September 5-6, with cars to compete in sprints around the venue’s West Circuit.

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