By Daniel Powell
After an impressive debut during last Saturday night’s Queensland Sprintcar Title at Brisbane’s Archerfield Speedway, finishing in the runner up spot behind winner Cameron Gessner, James McFadden will see out the 2011/12 season with the Paul Morris Motorsport (PMM) team.
Running the QLD # 67 Paul Morris Motorsport / Supercheap Auto supported KRE Race Engines prepared Chev powered J&J, McFadden adapted to the unfamiliar machinery from the outset by topping the time sheets in qualified. From there, McFadden scored a trio of fifth places from his rear of field starts in his three heat races. These resulted put him at the top of the points going into the pole shootout, where he ended up fourth.
McFadden, a former Queensland Title holder, was unlucky not to have claimed a second victory in the event, but he was denied by stoppages coming out just moments after he had taken over the lead, as well as some solid driving from eventual winner Cameron Gessner.
“We had actually hit the lead on three separate occasions in the feature race, but everything time we did, a stoppage occurred and we had to go back and do it all again,” commented McFadden. “Camo [Cameron Gessner] drove a really good race, and despite my best efforts to get by him, he defended his lead through to the fall of the chequered flag.”
The PMM team and McFadden will link up once again for this Saturday night’s (April 28) latest round of the KRE Series at Archerfield Speedway.
“Everyone was pleased with our weekend result, and I felt more and more comfortable in the car every time I went out onto the track,” said McFadden, who wore one of V8 Supercar veteran Russell Ingall’s race suits for the night. “It wasn’t easy running unfamiliar equipment, but it was a great learning experience for me. The plan is to run this weekend, and if all does go well again then we’ll see out the Archerfield Speedway season together.”
McFadden thanked both Paul Morris and Bobby Smith for the opportunity to run for the PMM team, and also the team’s main sponsor, Supercheap Auto.
“After the Easter Trail down south with the Scott Milling owned team I thought my season was done, but then an offer from Bobby [Smith] to drive a car for them came up and I grabbed it with both hands,” McFadden explained. “The Paul Morris Motorsport team are as professional as they come and what this sport needs more of, and it was a pleasure to drive for them.”
McFadden would like to thank his car owner Scott Milling, parents Dave and Tania, crew chief Glen Beaton, and crew members Crackers and Alex, 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 their ongoing support in the 2011/12 season.
To find out more about James McFadden, visit his official website www.jamesmcfadden.com.au