26/01/2026
SPEED AND HEARTBREAK: KAEDING AND JMS MOTORSPORT LEAVE EVERYTHING ON THE TRACK AT THE CLASSIC
Premier Speedway, Warrnambool | January 2026
The 2026 edition of the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic at Premier Speedway delivered a mixture of promise and bitter disappointment for Tim Kaeding and the JMS Motorsport #88 team. Across three nights of elite competition from January 23–25, the team showcased undeniable speed against the best in the business.
Kaeding opened the weekend in strong form during Friday night’s qualifying sessions, clocking 9th Quick Time. He navigated through two competitive heat races, rebounding from a 6th place finish in Heat 1 to claim a podium spot in Heat 2, advancing from 4th to 3rd.
The Friday night A-Main Feature displayed the true pace of the Rogers Construction Group-backed #88. Starting deep in the field at 22nd, Kaeding put on a clinic, carving his way through the pack to cross the line in 11th place. Gaining eleven positions in one of Australian sprintcar racing’s most prestigious events served as a warning shot to the competition.
Sunday night’s program saw Kaeding maintain that consistency in the preliminary rounds. A solid 3rd place finish in his heat race set the stage for B-Main 2, where he again finished 3rd to transfer into The Classic’s main event, positioning him to start 22nd on the grid.
However, heartbreak struck with 31 laps left of Sunday’s A-Main—the race every sprintcar driver wants to win. While Kaeding was once again charging through the field, the JMS Painting hotrod had a strong run into Turn 3 before contact abruptly ended the night. The incident drew an immediate response from Kaeding, while the Premier Speedway crowd voiced overwhelming support for the #88 team, sharing their frustration with the premature end to a strong performance.
"We had the speed all weekend," said team owner Jimmy Matchett. "Tim drove his heart out on Friday night coming from 22nd to 11th, and we were right there in the mix on Sunday. To have it end that way is tough to swallow, but that's sprintcar racing sometimes. The way the crowd responded showed us exactly where we stand with the fans, and that means everything."
Despite the disappointing conclusion, the weekend demonstrated the competitive strength of the JMS Motorsport program. None of this would be possible without the dedication of team owner Jimmy Matchett; from everyone involved with JMS this season, we thank you for the opportunity to race at this level.
The team now regroups and looks ahead to upcoming events. Stay tuned for future updates as JMS Motorsport empire continues
WEEKEND RESULTS SUMMARY
Friday, January 23:
Time Trials: 9th Quick
Heat Race 1: Started 5th, Finished 6th
Heat Race 2: Started 4th, Finished 3rd
A-Main Feature: Started 22nd, Finished 11th
Sunday, January 25:
Heat Race: Started 3rd, Finished 3rd
B-Main 2: Started 3rd, Finished 3rd
A-Main (The Classic): DNF - Lap 31
Follow JMS Motorsport:
📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jms.motorsport
🌐 Website: www.jmsmotorsport.com.au
PARTNER SPOTLIGHT:
Rogers Construction Group | JMS Painting | Dingo Ezy Solutions | American Tire & Racing Services | AMS | KRE Racing Engines | MAXIM Racing Inc. | Kaeding Performance, Inc.
