From Phil Michell
Adelaide, AU — (November 4, 2012) — Last night defending World Series Spintcars Champion James McFadden sent out an ominous warning to his rivals for the upcoming months with a dominating display at the Oxford Insurance Brokers Australian Sprintcar Masters at Speedway City. After starting on the second row of the 20 car field McFadden charged past Steven Lines and Trevor Green to lead by lap 3 and he was never headed from that point winning comfortably from Green and Luke Dillon.
On a track that eventually took rubber the feature unfortunately became a high speed freight train on the bottom of the race track but despite the lack of passing McFadden was simply impressive to watch and his performance was reminiscent of his four wins on slick tracks during last Summer’s Speedweek series.
Local standout Trevor Green was a little disappointed with the result as he desperate to win the event after starting from the front row. Most drivers would be thrilled to finish second in the Australian Sprintcar Masters but not Trevor, as he has been the runner up four of the last five years now to go along with his third placing last year.
“I just didn’t see the rubber early and James did so I lost that race on lap three. Once James was in front I was never going to win†added Trevor following the race.
After starting from position two Lines held on for fourth ahead of Robbie Farr and Matt Egel, who was clearly the biggest mover in the race after starting from position 12. Brad Keller continued his great early season form to run seventh, with Ryan Jones, David Murcott and Garry Brazier completing the top 10.
The night started off with Steven Lines setting the quickest time in qualifying with a 12.584 just ahead of James McFadden who came out in the second to last group to set a stunning time on the drying track.
Ricky Maiolo got the night off to a great start winning heat 1 with an outstanding drive on the high groove with Farr and Ryan Jones also collecting wins in the opening round of heat races. The second round saw Daniel Pestka, Jones and Terry Pitt greet the chequers first while Green later went on to win the top eight dash.
Justin Sloan, Max Dumesny, Luke Bowey, Terry Pitt, Mark Reuter and Matt Young all tagged onto the back of the 35 lap A-Main via the B-Main.
The 360ci Sprintcars were also on the program for round 2 of the Revolution Racegear Track Championship with Riverland resident Keke Falland winning his first career Speedway City A-Main ahead of Mark Caruso, Brendan Quinn, Brendan Guerin and Shane Hendry. Hendry should have recorded at least a runner-up position but he had to spin to avoid the spun car of rookie Scott Bogucki therefore he was sent to the tail.
Even though the Sprintcars were the main attraction the Super Sedans stole the show with three top class races including one of the most thrilling domestic JD Couriers supported feature events seen at the venue for many years. The result will show that the two drivers who started on the front row Bill Miller and Dave Gartner, maintained their positions to run 1 – 2 but the two drivers, along with Luke Dodding and Michael Miller, staged an all-out war with the lead changing several times in the final laps.
With two laps to go Miller cut an stunning outside pass in turn four on Gartner to take a dramatic win that everyone in the venue standing on their feet and applauding all involved. Dodding finished a creditable third with Michael Miller, Wayne Vickers, Steve Stewart, Michael Hartman, Shane Roffey, Dennis Miller and Kim Roffey completing the finishers.
Gartner and Bill Miller were victorious in the heat races.
The Universal Metal Cleaners Wingless Sprints were also entertaining with Joel Chadwick winning his first Speedway City feature ahead of Cody Atkins, who just got by Mikala Hein on the last lap, with Greg Cunningham and Andy Maxwell completing the top five.
Unfortunately several cars were taken out in an opening lap “train wreck†on the back straight after contact between the leading contenders sent cars in all directions taking out almost half the field including Todd Wigzell, Jarman Dalitz, Robert Heard, Brett Bartley and Shannon Barry.
The next event at Speedway City will be this Saturday night with a Laguna Loans Burnout before the Sprintcars return on November 17 with round 3 of the Revolution Racegear Track Championship.