McFadden digs deep for win at Lismore
James McFadden had to dig deep into his talent box last night before securing his fourth win in this year’s World Series Sprintcar Championship at Lismore Speedway.
After qualifying poorly McFadden was unusually slow in the bronze shoot out and he is defending WSS Champion ending up starting Position 8 in the A Main.
Madsen had a less than impressive start to first Lismore appearance .The krikke Team driver after timing in 12th then crashed after he crossed the line .The US based Australian recovered strongly in the heats and went on to win the pole shoot out over young Victorian Rusty Hickman in the gold shoot out for pole .
Masen started fast from pole and went into comfortable lead over Hickman. But as we have come to expect an early comfortable lead does not always mean a race win. McFadden was coming fast from his mid field starting position and on a track that suggested one-way traffic with limited passing opportunities some bold moves where underway.
McFadden was up to fourth after 5 laps were in the book, but Madsen still looked in control. The race soon started change after brodie Tulloch brought out the caution.On the restart Hickman made an incredible move around the outside of Madsen that had the crowding gasping and took control of the 35 lap A Main until lap 24 when changes started to happen very fast.
As Hickman approached traffic, McFadden let the W17 have its head and gained the race lead. Eliason was coming fast chasing after Madsen in thirdThe pace and the heat was rising as they entered the last laps of the A Main ,McFadden had a small lead and was working overtime to keep Madsen at bay while the Diamond bay Racer Eliason kept coming fast ,under Hickman pushing him back to fourth and finally getting by Kerry Madsen but McFadden would be safe getting his fourth win for the series by just half a second ahead of Corey Eliason with Madsen just a whisker away in third .
After starting so well Rusty Hickman finished fourth nevertheless a mighty effort ahead of Brooke Tatnell Luke Oldfield and Dave Murcott.
McFadden’s fourth win has enabled the Team to extend their Championship lead over Kerry Madsen by 113 points Goodyer sits in 3rd ahead of Brooke Tatnell and Lucas Wolfe.
The Series now takes a break before restarting in Western Australia on February 14th .This break allows teams the chance to rest and ready themselves for the Kings Challenge at Borderline Speedway ,the Australian Sprintcar Championships February 1st at Latrobe Speedway in Tasmania and the daddy of them all the Grand Annual Classic at wonderful Warnambool’s Premier Speedway starting January 24th
Photos courtesy of 44 Photographyand World Series Sprintcars
