By Daniel Powell
Although he didn’t please everyone on the way to his maiden World Series Sprintcar (WSS) Championship round victory over the weekend at Archerfield Speedway in Queensland, James McFadden certainly didn’t die wondering.
In what was his second feature race success in just over a week, McFadden’s latest victory was without a doubt the biggest feature race victory of his career since claiming the 2010 Australian Title, and it left him very pleased with what he had accomplished.
“I’ve been close on a number of occasions over the years, but to finally claim a World Series round victory is like a dream come true,” expressed the NQ # 25 Totally Workwear Midland & VIC Park supported COOL driver. “This World Series deal isn’t a walk in the park, as it features the best that Australia has to offer and some of America’s best, so when you manage to win a round, you know that you’ve had to earn it.”
McFadden’s victory, which saw him lead the majority of the distance after he had started from position three in the field, was overshadowed by a controversial incident while fighting with Jason Johnson for the lead in the latter stages of the feature race.
“Naturally, Jason [Johnson] has his take on the incident, and I have mine. We were fighting for the lead and neither of us was going to give the other an inch. I saw a gap in lapped traffic and I took it. I admit, it was an ambitious move, but I wasn’t going to be content with running second and that’s all there is to it,” commented McFadden, who had earlier in the night qualified eighth fastest in time trials, placed third in his two heat races, and finished third in the pole shootout. “The feature race was run at a frantic pass and it was full credit to what was an awesome track that dished up multiple line racing.”
Last season’s World Series opener at Archerfield Speedway resulted in a completely opposite result to last weekend’s for McFadden, after he had come off second best while battling for the lead with Robbie Farr.
“I learnt a valuable lesson in last season’s World Series opener with Robbie [Farr] and it has served me well from then onwards,” he admitted. “This season I was determined to not make that same mistake and get the job done. In pursuit of this, I certainly wasn’t just going to sit back and watch a potential win slip away.”
The second round of the World Series Championship heads to Dubbo’s Morris Park Speedway (Western NSW) this Saturday night (December 3) and it’s where McFadden and his team will be aiming for back-to-back World Series round victories.
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