Kofoid, 21, from Northern California is making his Baypark debut but is no stranger to NZ tracks. Four years ago, he doubled up with victory in the NZ Sprint Car Championship and Grand Prix titles on South Island tracks and made another visit the following summer.

He comes off a 2022 season that delivered 13 wins from 32 starts in USAC competition.

'The highlights of this year have been my second USAC title and my first World of Outlaws feature win as well as a preliminary night win at the Chilli Bowl,” says Kofoid.

Kofoid is following a familiar career path. Like past NZ visitors Jeff Gordon, Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell, he is hoping dirt track success propels him to a career in the NASCAR Cup Series. He already has a foot on that ladder as part of Toyota's driver development programme and appearances in the NASCAR Truck Series and ARCA stock car series.

For his four-night Kiwi campaign Kofoid is driving for Auckland's Trent Way Motorsport team in a new King Chassis powered by a TRD Toyota engine.

'It was always my goal to do more international racing and Covid got in the way of plans to visit Australia and race Sprint Cars,” says Kofoid.

'I have really enjoyed my two trips to New Zealand and I'm looking forward to seeing some friends from the South Island and see another part of the country.

He's expecting tough competition from both the local stars and fellow Americans.

'I have watched a bit of Midget racing from New Zealand, and I've seen a few of the drivers who have come up to race with us in USAC. They are good drivers and I'm excited to race against them and I expect the series will be very competitive.”

Kofoid is joined by newly crowned USAC Sprint Car champ – and Midget title runner-up - Justin Grant. Another northern California racer, Grant teams with former NZ champ Brad Mosen in a two-car effort from the Green Way team.

Fresh from her successful run to a top-10 finish in the USAC standings is 23 year old Taylor Reimer from Tulsa Oklahoma while Mooresville North Carolina's Ethan Mitchell is another first time visitor to New Zealand in a Honda-powered car.

The 31-strong field also includes former NZ champions Michael Pickens, Brad Mosen and Peter Hunnibel as well as Christchurch star Jeremy Webb.

The Wednesday night international flavour also extends to the Sprint Car division with Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen and California's Jonathan Allard among the stars of a 29-car field.

And the Saloon Car class delivers its first preview to the 2023 NZ Championship at Baypark in mid-January with drivers from throughout the North Island taking on Baypark's Chris Cowling in his new car and local front runners Jarred Fletcher and Trent Amrein.