Sprintcars, Supercross headline off-track Adelaide action

As the VAILO Adelaide 500 celebrates 25 years of Supercars on the streets of Adelaide, two major off-track additions will wow fans with the NAPA Speedway, Sprintcars in the City, and Round 3 of the FOX Australian Supercross Championship taking place at the iconic Adelaide Street Circuit.

Adding to the four days of world class motorsport and entertainment lineup where Adelaide will once again become the mecca of motorsport, the explosive NAPA Speedway will attract the world’s best drivers on dirt to the city for the first time.

Over both Thursday and Friday nights, competitors from the US and Australia will battle it out in their 950 horsepower Sprintcars (with a power-to-weight ratio higher than Formula 1) for qualifying, heats and a feature race that promises some of the world’s most jaw-dropping motorsport for fans.

The drivers will draw on every ounce of arm, neck, and core strength to master the force of sliding an overpowered missile around four turns, while fighting visibility as they race down the straights before the next turn.

NAPA Auto Parts has also confirmed that Australian international Sprintcar star James McFadden as the first entrant for the Sprintcars in the City at NAPA Speedway.

McFadden, 35, is undoubtably Australia’s leading Sprintcar driver currently racing. In 2024, McFadden is competing in the High Limit Racing series for Roth Motorsports in the USA and currently sits ninth in the standings.

In another VAILO Adelaide 500 first, the top level of Australian Supercross racing will converge within the street circuit for the Australian Supercross Championship featuring the Boost Mobile Supercross Sprint, with world-class riders entertaining fans and families alike on a signature track, featuring lightning fast-turns and heart-stopping jumps.

Taking place on a custom built full-sized Supercross dirt track, VAILO Adelaide 500 racegoers can take in the race action and atmosphere from the existing and beloved heritage grandstand, or temporary grandstands purpose built for the best view of the Australian Supercross Championship racing.

For the first time in Australian Supercross history, one championship point will be awarded for the fastest lap in each in SX1 and SX2 final, incentivising faster and more intense racing action, with riders throwing everything they have at each race.

With a General Admission ticket including the NAPA Speedway, Round 3 of the Australian Supercross Championship featuring the Boost Mobile Supercross Sprint, the exclusive return of the Boost Mobile Stadium Super Trucks, as well as the final round of the Repco Supercars Championship, it’s the ultimate ticket for a huge four days of Motorsport that you can’t experience anywhere else in Australia.

This comes as Crowded House light up the stage on Saturday night for the much anticipated After Race Concert Series, with Cold Chisel headlining on Sunday night concert as they celebrate 50 years.

The event is also enjoying unprecedented commercial support from national and South Australian businesses, with seven new partners already joining the VAILO Adelaide 500 family in 2024, reinforcing the event’s status on the national and international stage.

General Admission and Grandstand tickets are now on sale via Ticketmaster including 2-Day grandstand tickets and Premium Concert General Admission tickets for the first time.

VAILO Adelaide 500 Chief Executive Mark Warren said: “Our ambition for the 2024 VAILO Adelaide 500 is to make it a motorsport mecca for fans, showcasing the best of world-class motorsport including the final round of the Repco Supercars Championship where the championship could come down to Adelaide once more.

"It’s an epic four-day program, with Speedway and Supercross, together with Stadium Super Trucks added to the entertainment line-up. We will mark 25 years on the streets of Adelaide by giving fans an experience to remember.”

Inaugural 1999 Adelaide 500 winner Craig Lowndes who was in Adelaide for the 25-year launch, along with Brad Jones Racing driver Andre Heimgartner, said: “The event is a drivers’ favourite, not only because of the exceptional racing on track but the whole of event offering.

“I’ve raced the Adelaide 500 every year from 1999 to 2018 and it’s a party on and off the track, and this year will be no different as the event celebrates the big 2-5.

“I can’t wait to share and experience it with everyone this November.”

Managing Director of the FOZ Australian Supercross Championship Kelly Bailey, said: “We are thrilled to be working with the VAILO Adelaide 500 to deliver a world-class weekend of motor sport action in Adelaide.

“The partnership will deliver intense racing across both bikes and cars, and non-stop entertainment for fans, while providing the sport of Supercross and our Australian Championship, a significant platform for enhanced reach and exposure.

“It’s exciting for us to showcase how incredible our sport is to more people, from the world-class riders involved, to lightning-fast turns and heart-stopping jumps on a man-made dirt track - the Boost Mobile Supercross Sprint will have fans on the edge of their seats from the moment gates open, until the final gate drop.”

Speedway Australia Chief Executive Officer Darren Tindal said: “We’re very proud of the amazing entertainment package that Speedway provides and can’t wait to see the reactions to just how fast and unpredictable Sprintcars can be. We’ve been very excited to work alongside the VAILO Adelaide 500 team to make sure that they have the best people at their disposal to make this the safest and best showcase of the sport that we can and reignite the passion for Speedway in a state that has produced so many champion racers.”