Late last night after four of six heats to be contested, Tasmanian drivers were holding down seven of the top dozen qualifying spots.

Former four-time Tasmanian champion and former Australian champion driver Darren Kane, of Brisbane, was in awesome form on his former home track winning one heat and finishing third in his other heat to top the points.

The ex-Hobart driver was chasing his fourth victory in Tasmania's longest-running speedway feature event, which has been running since 1971.

However, former six-time winner and six-time Tasmanian champion David Nichols, was also showing his liking for the Hobart track with two very strong second placings in his heats, while current Australian champion Steve Jordan, of Queensland, and former two-time Australian champion Kevin Purton, of Deloraine, also raced to some solid results in their early heats.

Also performing well last night were Ulverstone's Jason McPherson, also a previous winner of the grand national, Launceston's Sam Hughes, current Tasmanian champion Jarrod Harper, of Hellyer Beach, and former state champions Brad Smith, of Devonport, and Hobart's Steve Latham.

Earlier in the night, Richmond's Laura Davidson showed her versatility in the speedway kart mini-grand national, leading the charge in two classes.

The reigning modified clubman state champion was in good form in her title class and also the 125cc category, scoring some good results in both, while Devonport's Ben Boun dominated the junior category.

The programme resumes tonight with six more heats of the grand national, plus a pre-final pole shuffle and a 50-lap final.

Tonight's support programme also includes the continuation of the speedway kart mini-grand national, plus round six of the Statewide Street Stock Sedan Series, round seven of the Statewide Junior Sedan Championship Series and racing for wingless sprintcars, lightning sprints and sidecars.