From Sydney Speedway
Sydney, AU — (March 16, 2013) — Ian Madsen has claimed the 2013 Scott Darley $50,000 Sprintcar Challenge in one of the all time greatest races at Sydney Speedway.
After claiming highest points scorer, Madsen decided to start out of position nineteen and go for the $50,000 pay cheque. Ben Atkinson was then the receiver of the pole position and lead the field away for the first time, however it wasn’t all smooth sailing as Clayton Hart, Warren Ferguson, Jordan Brazier, Peter Bourke and Peter Gordan all got caught up in a big wreck on the back straight. As the race went back to green, one lap was completed until Matt Smith spun in turn one. Damian Abbott and Glen Saville had no where to go. Already by this time Madsen was up to tenth.
The race finally hit momentum as the green dropped once more. Atkinson had stormed away but only for a brief moment as Robbie Farr reeled him in. Robbie went for the big slidejob in three and four and pulled it off with thirty one to go. As the two fought in lap traffic they were both caught by surprise when Grant Tunks went through the middle of turn one and found himself in the lead. After a tremendous night one, Shane Stewart’s night came to an end when he spun in turn one and got collected hard by Jackson Delamont. Both were ok and were disappoint to be walking away with bent race cars.
With twenty four laps still remaining Grant Tunks would lead the field to the green with Atkinson and Roddy Bellbowen in hot pursuit. Madsen was sitting in position four for the restart and had everyone believing that he could do it, as the race got underway, Madsen’s car did not fire and went straight to the rear. He came to a stop on the front straight and it appeared that his night was over. Madsen was pushed away and to everyone’s amazement the car go re-fired and coughed and splatter his way back to the train, all be it though at the rear. The field took of again and Madsen went straight to the top at the rear of the field passing cars every second, however Madsen jumped a row on the restart and would later be penalised two positions. But for the moment, Madsen was flying, driving Sydney Speedway like no one has ever seen before. On multiple occasions he almost fired himself into the wall on the front straight as he rode the cushion in turn four. Madsen kept on pushing hard and with a dozen laps to go was into position two trying to catch Atkinson. It looked to be that Atkinson has his measure, but with five to go Trevor Green took a very hard hit into the outside wall on the front straight after riding the large cushion in turn four. He was thankfully alright and able to walk away.
At this point during the caution, Madsen was notified that he had to go back two positions for jumping the previous restart. The restart top five was Atkinson, Tunks, Max Dumesny, Madsen and Bell Bowen. Green light was on and drama unfolded again, race leader Ben Atkinson pull off turn four with a motor that had decided to give up the ghost. Atkinson was furious but it meant that Madsen was able to have another bit at the cherry.
Five remaining and Tunks brought the field to the green. Madsen went straight to the top and got around Dumesny, it was now a battle of two. Madsen was running the top and Tunks was running the bottom. With two to go they were side by side and as they started the final lap it was all or nothing for Madsen. They rode wheel to wheel through one, Madsen got the drive out of two and had almost his whole car in front by turn three. As the came into three Madsen came down on
Tunks, the two made nose to tail contact almost sending the both of them around. As they battled to save their race cars, Tunks had one last dig, but it wasn’t enough, Ian Madsen took an amazing win. Never before has the entire crowd too and roared as the two came across the line. It was one of the greatest races Sydney Speedway has ever seen. Ian Madsen came from the back twice to claim $50,000, something one Scott Darley would be very, very proud of.
Only eleven cars finished the forty lap, but Madsen stood taller than the rest. Grant Tunks was superb for second and Max Dumesny was home in position three. The rest of the top ten was, Bell Bowen, Thompson, Smith, Johnston, Toby Bell Bowen, Glen Saville and Rod Bright rounding out the top ten with Damian Abbott home as the last finishing car.
DJ Raw was the winner of the Litre Sprint Gold Cup with AJ McTaggart and Jay Hall rounding out the podium. Raw looked unstoppable throughout the entire race and over the corse of the whole weekend.
The Speedcar A-Main saw a three way fight for the win on the final lap. Mark Brown came out on top over Troy Jenkins and Bob Jackson.
Sydney Speedway would like to thank all who turned out and of course to all officials and volunteers for making the weekend happen. Scott Darley would be a very proud man after what he witnessed this weekend.
The Sprintcar Club Show returns next weekend along with Wingless Sprints, Late Model Firecracker 5000, Legend Cars and the Fender Benders.