STEWART STORMS TO THIRD STRAIGHT NSW TITLE

Feature photo by: Gary Reid.

Media release by: Brian Van De Wakker.

A late race charge from Michael Stewart has seen him claim his third straight NSW Midget Championship at Eastern Creek Speedway on saturday, February 25. 

In a stacked field of world class drivers heading into next weekend’s Australian Championship, Stewart started the 30-lap main event from second alongside American Thomas Meseraull.

Meseraull led the opening portion of the race after running around the outside of Stewart on the opening lap.

Stewart was then locked in a battle with Matthew Jackson and Brady Bacon for the second spot.

The top four then closed as Meseraull was getting caught in lap traffic, as Bacon passed Jackson for third on lap 12.

The middle portion of the race was filled with cautions, but when the race found its rhythm again, Bacon went underneath Stewart for second on lap 15 in turn three.

Bacon then went about chasing down Meseraull, he closed the gap and went for the pass in turn three – he made it stick on the bottom side of the track and started to pull away.

More cautions halted the race as fuel started to become an issue.

When the race got back underway with nine laps to go, Stewart went from third to first coming off the bottom of turn four.

Bacon’s car appeared to slow as he ran out of fuel and Meseraull lost out as well as he was running the top with Bacon. Bacon failed to finish the race with six laps to go.

Stewart managed the lead out in front and claimed the feature win by 1.625 seconds.

Meseraull was second followed by Kaidon Brown in third, who charged from the sixth row of the grid to finish on the podium.

For Stewart, the win was his third NSW title victory and third in a row. It now makes him only the fifth man in NSW title history to achieve the hat-trick and he becomes the first man since 2001 to win three straight. Meseraull was second followed by Kaidon Brown in third, who charged from the sixth row of the grid to finish on the podium.

“This is awesome, those guys (Meseraull and Bacon) are the best in the business, it’s cool to even be dicing with them,” Stewart mentioned.

“The track changed a bit here and there in that race and then when Brady (Bacon) went around us all on the top there it kind of showed us the way.”

Troy Ware finished fourth with Nathan Smee fifth.

Mitch Brien, Troy Jenkins, DJ Raw, Jack Bell and Mitchell Freeman completed the top 10.

SPRINTCARS TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 12
Ian Madsen claimed his second feature race win at Eastern Creek Speedway with victory in the 30-lap feature.

The race was stopped on lap two when Jake Baines suffered a heavy crash in turn three.

He required medical attention at the track before being taken to hospital.

The team took to social media on Sunday to post an update on Baines’ condition:

“Jake stayed overnight in hospital. He had multiple scans which he cleared. He’s only got minor injuries and will be discharged later today (Sunday).

“Thank you to all that helped to pack up the truck and car. Thank you for all the messages we have received overnight.

“We really appreciate the love and support.”

When the race got back underway, Jessie Attard took control from the number one spot and pulled away.

Madsen worked his way up to second after originally starting in fifth.

Madsen chipped away at the leader and made his move with seven laps to go.

Madsen drove underneath Attard in turn three before Attard got back underneath him into turn one.

With four laps to go Attard was held up with some lap traffic and Madsen sensed the opportunity and went by Attard on the bottom in turns three and four.

Attard didn’t give up, closed in with a lap to go, but entering turn one he collected Brad Stacey, the pair went upside down and the race was declared.

Madsen was given the race win while Michael Saller was elevated to second and Daniel Sayre in third for his first podium at the venue.

“We had a really good race car and it just kind of seemed whenever we got going there a yellow come out and we would be put back a spot,” Madsen said.

“It was really hard to get into a rhythm but got going there in the end and was able to put a pretty good move on Jessie (Attard) there for the lead and hold him off for the win.”

Sam Walsh was fourth and Troy Little fifth.

Aaron Kelly came across the line seventh, Brown jumped straight out of the Midget and into the Sprintcar and came from 20th position to finish seventh, polesitter Luke Stirton was eighth while Jackson Delamont and Brendan Scorgie rounded out the top 10.

WINGLESS SPRINTS
Jason Davis collected the feature race win in the Wingless Sprints after starting down in fourth.

Tyson Williams was the early race leader before Davis passed him on lap six.

Williams fell back through the field by races end to fourth as Jason Bates held off Brayden Shute for second – Shute claiming his second podium finish in a row at the venue.

The race was declared after nine laps of 15.

Racing returns on Friday March 3 with the opening night of the Australian Midget Championship – Lightning Sprints and Legend Cars will be in support.