JAMES McFADDEN IN UNBEATABLE FORM

Feature Photo: Quickest time run around Avalon is Corey McCullagh

James McFadden, driving for Luch Monte of Monte Motorsports, has opened the flood gates in a major way since landing back in Australia from his US tour. 

McFadden has recorded four wins from four starts in one of the greatest returns to home in recent years. His most recent victory was the Sprintcar Fireball Derby presented by Routley’s at Geelong’s Avalon Raceway, Thursday, December 30.

Corey McCullagh continued his unbeaten Quickest Time run around Avalon Raceway making it two from two with a scorching 12.232. McCullagh narrowly achieved this, however, holding off the Monte Motorsports W17 of James McFadden with a 12.245 and Jamie Veal driving the V25 throwing down a 12.324.

David Murcott opened the heat race scoring, with a win in race number one driving for the Downing Bros S97, finishing ahead of Darren Mollenoyux and Cameron Waters.

Marcus Green took a huge leap, winning heat race number two aboard the Skidmore V71 entry, from Domain Ramsay and Tim Van Ginneken.

Bobby Daly claimed another heat win for the year, taking out heat race three from Daniel Pestka and Troy Hose.

Luke Weel put a big stamp on his 410 sprintcar campaign, winning the fourth heat of the night holding out a returning Tim Hutchins and Jamie Veal.

The W17 of McFadden finished the final heat race ahead of the pack with Matt Dumesny and Tate Frost tucked in behind.

Junior Formula 500s Round 3 of Speedweek was a gridlock between Maggs and Pearce right from the outset.

Mitch Saunderson headed things off with the opening heat race win over Pearce and O’Shannassy in a close battle.

Tyler Maggs continued on his speedweek charge, dominating heat race number two with Aston Rodrigues and Riley Simpson.

Zoe Pearce returned serve in heat three, with a win over Max Bevan and Mitch Saunderson.

Dakota Luckett scored an emphatic victory in the final formula 500 heat, taking the win from Rodrigues and Simpson.

The feature race was a nail-biting 15 laps with the rising stars of the Formula 500 ranks heading it out. Zoe Pearce crossed the line first, driving the Pearce Motorsport V67, in elation. Koby O’Shannassy was runner-up with Mitch Saunderson in third. Aston Rodrigues and Riley Simpson made up the top five.

The big story of the race seeing Tyler Maggs with a DNF. Putting the Junior Formula 500 Stampede Series and Speedweek down to the wire for the final round to come.

D Main time for the Sprintcars Fireball Derby took just the top four to transfer to the C Main. Luke Thomas was the Victor with Brett Smith, David Donegan and Rhys Baxter the final cars to qualify.

C Main finishers also took the top four with qualifying positions going the way of Tate Frost, Andrew Hughes, Terry Rankin and Rusty Hickman.

The final chance qualifier provided the remaining six positions through to the all important A Main. Those spots were fiercely contested, were eventually be fronted by Carson Macedo taking the win from qualifiers, Matt Dumesney, Callum Walker, Brett Milburn, Tim Van Ginneken and Tate Frost.

With McFadden and Veal across the front row, followed by Corey McCullagh and Marcus Dumesney aboard the second, the A Main was always going to be a tight one.

Showing scintillating form, James McFadden dominated in the bullet quick Monte Motorsports W17 from start to finish, winning by a mammoth 4.3 seconds from Jamie Veal. David Murcott parked the Downing Brothers S97 on the final step of the podium for the Routleys Sprintcar Fireball Derby in honour of the late,great Bill Evans.

Avalon Raceway, Avalon VIC
SRA Eureka Series – R4 & SA/VIC State’s Series – Rd 2
1ST James McFadden W17; 2ND Jamie Veal V25; 3RD David Murcott S97; Marcus Dumesny N47;
Darren Mollenoyux V3; Daniel Pestka S27; Carson Macedo N99; Corey McCullagh V90; Matthew Dumesny N57; Tate Frost T62; Domain Ramsay V2; Callum Walker Q33; Bobby Daly V8;Tim Van Ginneken V44; Brett Milburn V68; Dennis Jones V17; Luke Weel NT27; Marcus Green V71.