The USA’s Terry McCarl tonight conquered all with a brilliant drive from his third starting position to win the Australia Day Performance Wholesale World Series Sprintcars round 12 at Warrnambool’s Premier Speedway. The Iowan ‘Outlaw’ was full of praise for his crew and the Premier Speedway track as he accepted his trophy in a colourful Australian theme on the presentation dais.
McCarl who earlier in the night set quick time battled his way to a well deserved victory after an enthralling six way battle emerged between him and his fellow USA countrymen Jon Allard, Jason Johnson, Craig Dollansky, Danny Smith and Wayne Johnson.
Meanwhile the Aussies had their own race with Young Gun James McFadden, Ryan Farrell, Brooke Tatnell, Ian Madsen, Steve Caunt and Jamie Veal trading places early in the race.
It was Gold Dash winner Allard who set the early pace from Jason Johnson whilst McCarl traded places with Dollansky several times before securing third and setting out after the early leaders.
On lap thirteen McCarl rapidly caught the two early leaders and made the lowline work perfectly to execute his way past both Allard and Jason Johnson.
By lap sixteen, Wayne Johnson who had started from position nine had begun to make his mark on the race by moving past Danny Smith, Craig Dollansky and Jason Johnson for third.
There was trading of places on the perfectly prepared track each and every lap as drivers made both steady and rapid progress throughout the entire field keeping the appreciative crowd entertained.
On lap twenty three Steve Caunt spun in front of the approaching leaders. Caunt tried desperately to avoid contact with the oncoming traffic but to no avail as he was clipped slightly by Allard and then head on by Dollansky who had nowhere to go.
Dollansky was unable to restart after sustaining front end damage as Allard who was rolling around under the yellow lights tried in vain to get some heat into a rapidly deflating left rear tyre.
Unfortunately for Allard the tyre stayed flat and he was sent to the rear for safety reasons before pulling to the infield.
McCarl led away at the restart and went on to take a well deserved victory from Wayne Johnson, Danny Smith and Jason Johnson.
The Aussie battle was won by an impressive fifth place finisher James McFadden from classic runner-up Brooke Tatnell and Classic winner Shane Stewart (USA) with Robbie Farr, Ryan Farrell and David Murcott rounding out the top ten.
The Performance Wholesale World Series Sprintcar tournament now has one weekend off whilst the Australian Sprintcar Nationals are run in Adelaide before the teams head west for round thirteen at WA’s Kalgoorlie International Speedway and the Grand Finale at the Perth Motorplex on February 5th and 6th.