McHUGH TAKES KRIKKE BOYS SHOOTOUT

All photos courtesy of:  Peter Roebuck

While he might have come up just short at the 60th Australian Sprintcar Championship at the Perth Motorplex a week prior, Queenslander Lachlan McHugh claimed the win in the Krikke Boys Shootout at the Perth Motorplex on Saturday night, February 18.

McHugh won the iconic event that has been moved to its new home after being a staple at Bunbury Speedway for many years, putting his name in the record books against some big names.

He started from position two to win the event from Victorian Jamie Veal, who started from position 20, and newly-crowned Australia #1 Jock Goodyer, (Tasmania).

The race was not even half a lap old when Kye Scroop and Jason Kendrick came together and Jason Pryde also became caught up in the incident, putting all three of them out of the show.

Ryan Lancaster, who had been struggling with engine issues earlier in the night, suffered some minor damage, but was able to resume from the rear.

Moments later AJ Nash pulled a wheelie and bounced across the curb coming out of turn four and Luke Oldfield spun as a result.

The next caution was after Jaydee Dack tagged the wall and knocked out the rear end of his car.

After a slow start, the race pace finally picked up with Kerry Madsen the early leader from McHugh, Goodyer, Callum Wliliamson and Kris Coyle.

McHugh then took the lead and with 24 laps to go he was into lapped traffic.

Goodyer and Williamson were trading blow after blow for third spot.

At mid-race distance Veal was looking stronger and stronger and was in fifth spot, ahead of Ian Madsen (position eight), Dayne Kingshott (position five), Coyle (position four), Marcus Dumesny, who was still on a charge after coming from position24, and Dillon (position 12).

The pace was frantic and with nine laps to go Madsen had edged closer to McHugh and they had a buffer back to Goodyer and Williamson who were still pushing each other hard.

Williamson’s race was over however with four laps to go after his right rear tyre gave up.

On the re-start McHugh led away from Kerry Madsen, Goodyer, Veal, Ian Madsen, Dumesny, Kingshott, Brad Maiolo and James Inglis.

The race was well and truly on with little separating the front runners and moments later Kerry Madsen was spun around by his brother and resumed at the rear of the field.

In the final runs to the chequered flag, Dumesny spun in pits bend, ending a massive run forward and defending series champion Coyle was out with a flat tyre, ending a promising drive.

Veal got under Goodyer on the final restart to establish second, but there was no denying McHugh from getting his popular and commanding win.

Earlier in the night heat wins went to Williamson, Dack and Goodyer, while the A Dash went the way of Kerry Madsen and the B Dash to Goodyer.

Inglis won the Midpack Madness, while Brad Maiolo won the B Main.

David Priolo was out of the show early after a right rear tyre exploded and he crashed in pits bend.

Quick race results:

A Main: 1st Lachlan McHugh, 2nd Jamie Veal, 3rd Jock Goodyer, 4th Dayne Kingshott, 5th Daniel Harding, 6th Luke Oldfield, 7th James Inglis, 8th AJ Nash, 9th Luke Dillon, 10th Taylor Milling, 11th Marcus Dumesny, 12th Kerry Madsen, 13th Ian Madsen, 14th Chad Ely, 15th Ryan Lancaster, 16th Matthew Cross.