By Daniel Powell
It was the podium result that nearly wasn’t. Last Saturday night at Murray Bridge Speedway Mikayla Hein managed to emerge unscathed from an early accident to charge home with a second–place finish in the Wingless Sprint feature race.
Hein summed up her second–place finish behind current Australian Champion Todd Wigzell in the feature race as a lucky escape, after she became innocently involved with her Atkin Motorsport’s team mate Cody Atkins crash with another competitor on the third lap of the 20-lap event.
“I certainly had a bit of luck on my side, as when the accident happened in front of me, I thought I would suffer enough damage to put me out, as I hit Cody pretty hard,” Hein said. “After we collided, I bounced off him and was able to continue. During the red light stoppage I got my composure back and then focused on the rest of the race, so to come away with a second–place finish is something I was very pleased with.”
The second place finish on the podium for Hein was achieved on the final lap, after she executed a pass on last–start feature race winner and her boyfriend, Joel Chadwick.
“Joel (Chadwick) might be my boyfriend, but when we’re out on the track, he’s just another competitor – and he feels the same way,” the 18-year-old explained. “I had been following Joel for a few laps in the closing stages and then on the final lap I gave it my all, as I wasn’t going to settle for third, and managed to get by him.”
Hein will return to Speedway City this Saturday night (November 17) for what will be her fourth appearance of the 2012–13 season.
Special thanks to Robin and Cody Atkins from Atkins Motorsport, along with her Mum and Dad, Pop, Michael and David for all of their ongoing support.
Mikayla Hein is proudly supported in the 2012–13 season by: All States Auditing & Accreditation Services, Smithfield Mechanical Repairs, Heatleys Industrial & Safety, Old No 7 Transport, Active Motor Wreckers, CMV Truck Dismantlers, Blue Heeler Hotel – Kynuna, Octane Leisure, Oval Track Imports, Picko’s Photos, Savage Shots Photography, Bridge Bearings and Bolts, Mingbool Restorations, ASCO Fabrications, JRM Group, Kent Town Crash Repairs, Port Gawler Off Road Hire Park, Race Craft Designs, Transport and Warehousing Solutions, M McNamara, M & J Gray, and Steve and Linda.