By Daniel Powell
A winning drought of nearly 12 months was broken during last Saturday night’s latest round of the KRE Sprintcar Series at Archerfield Speedway for James McFadden.
The former Australian Champion last visited victory lane back in January earlier this year at Mount Gambier’s Borderline Speedway in the Kings Challenge, and the key to this victory was being able to persist with the high line of the track throughout the feature race and it paid off in the best possible way.
“I had a good car for the feature race and I was able to make the most of it,” commented McFadden, who at the completion of the feature race defeated Robbie Farr and David Muir. “I started running the bottom of the track at the beginning with everyone else, but I knew that if I was going to be any hope of moving forward, then I had to go to the high line. At first, it wasn’t really worked for me but I kept persisting and I was rewarded with the win.”
McFadden, who started from position seven in the 30-lap feature race, charged his way forward to move into third place by the seventh lap. From there, he moved into second place two laps later and chased after leader Robbie Farr. After catching up to Farr, McFadden made a number of attempts to move into the lead, but it was to no avail. McFadden continued to persist and with five laps remaining moved into the lead and stayed out in front all the way through to the fall of the chequered flag.
“When you race Robbie [Farr], you know that he isn’t going to make things easy for you,” said McFadden, who had earlier in the night qualified fourth in time trials, finished ninth (McFadden was involved in an collision with Cameron Gessner that resulted in a crash. He managed to restart but had sustained a flat right rear tyre along with damaged front and top wings) and fourth in his two heat races. “I knew that I had to be smarter and keep persisting. There were a number of times where I’d try the highline, but it didn’t work out and I would consequently lose ground. In the end I was rewarded when I managed to make an outside pass stick on Robbie and it handed me the lead.”
Leading up to this Saturday night’s (November 26) World Series Sprintcar Championship opener at Archerfield Speedway, McFadden certainly couldn’t have hoped for better form to be taking into the event.
“This win has done the world of good for my confidence, as well as the team’s,” expressed the NQ # 25 Totally Workwear Midland & VIC Park supported Cool driver. “Over the past 12 months my confidence has been on a bit of a roller coaster ride and that naturally affects your on track performances. Thankfully, everything is now heading in the right direction and last weekend’s victory was an example of that.”
McFadden would like to thank his car owner Scott Milling, parents Dave and Tania, and crew chief Glen Beaton, along with his valued sponsors: Totally Workwear Midland & VIC Park, Western Diamond Drillers, AUS FUEL GULL, Lucas Oil Products Inc, Allstar Performance, Astro Titanium, KRE Race Engines, OMP, Racer Industries and COOL Chassis, for all of their ongoing support in the 2011/12 season.
To find out more about James McFadden, visit his official website: www.jamesmcfadden.com.au