Battle at Bunbury

Who will come out on top after tonight’s final two rounds of the Maddington Toyota Sprintcar Series at Bunbury Speedway Perth .Kaiden Manders ,J& S Drilling , Cullum Williamson , Williamson Motorsports or Dyane Kingshott ,Krikke Motorsports

.Williamson is the form driver heading into the night but Manders has a slight lead ,Going to be a sensational battle at Bunbury

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Race declared, Good for Goodyer

Hi-Tec Oils Speedway Toowoomba 20th February 2021

Last night at the Hi-Tec Oils Toowoomba Speedway Jock Goodyer was in the lead at the right time and it pays to be there especially if the race is declared. The annual Lord Mayors Cup was set for an exciting race and it certainly did not disappoint.

With just three laps before the checker Luke Oldfield crashed and caused race ending damage to the catch fence. Oldfield had worked hard to come within striking distance of both McHugh and race leader Goodyer. Oldfield was uninjured we can only guess at the disappointment.

The race was declared with three laps left gifting the win to Goodyer. Although McHugh lead the race early and maintained a lead it was the harassment from Goodyear that gave him the late race lead and had the number #22 in the lead at the right time. Second was awarded to McHugh and third to Cody Maroske. Kratmann and Kelly completed the top five.

Image 44 Photography

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Callum takes the Big Chap 57

Callum takes the BIG CHAP 57

Some 4,000KM from Sydney way across Australia Callum Williamson won the BIG CHAP 57 Sprintcar Main event at the Perth Motorplex. The night was to honor the Ampol Legends

Williamson continued his sparking form to lead home Daniel Harding and David Priolo in the 57 lap Feature named in honor of the late Noel Bradford who had many memorable races carrying the #57.

Series leader Kaiden Manders had a D&F and saw his lead reduced to 2 points over Dyane Kingshott and Cullum Williamson.

The Title race will be decided on February 27 during a double Header at Bunbury Speedway.

BIG CHAP 57 Results: 1st Callum Williamson, 2nd Daniel Harding, 3rd David Priolo, 4th Jason Pryde, 5th Kris Coyle, 6th Ben Butcher, 7th Dayne Kingshott, 8th Darren Mewett, 9th Cameron McKenzie, 10th Aldo De Paoli, 11th Matthew Cross. DNF: Jason Kendrick (54 laps), Kaiden Manders (53 laps), Brad Maiolo (49 laps), AJ Nash (40 laps), Andrew Priolo (38 laps), George Eaton (38 laps), Trevor Jolly (32 laps), Trevor Reynolds (27 laps), Shaun Bradford (16 laps).

Upcoming rounds:

Rd12 Maddington Toyota Sprintcar Series – Bunbury Speedway – Feb 27

Final Maddington Toyota Sprintcar Series – Bunbury Speedway – Feb 27

Maddington Toyota Sprintcar Series Triple Crown

Rd1 Perth Motorplex – March 13

Rd2 Perth Motorplex – March 27

Rd3 Perth Motorplex – April 17

Image from Perth Motorplex and Maddington Sprintcar Series

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Speedcars in South America

While I am missing my Speedway here in Sydney bailed up by COVID Restrictions I realize how lucky I am to have friends around the World who kindly share information and best of all images. One of my recent fiends is Adrian Franza from Bueno Aires in Argentina and he regularly shares images of Speedcar racing or if you are in the US Midgets from his homeland Argentina , South American,

I though today I would share some images, the race cars appear a little different to what we are used to here in Australia /New Zealand or even in the US. Nevertheless, dirt flies just the same with plenty of wheel lifting and backing into the corners. No matter where you are the thrill is just the same.

Wherever you are logging from I hope you will enjoy these images.

You can also follow Taking Speedway on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Gab Social

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Missing my Speedway

Being a resident of Sydney and starved for Speedway with Valvoline raceway closed the regular updates from my interstate friends is a welcome spark that helps to keep Speedway ignited in my blood.

After a year of turmoil political and health wise in the US the World of Outlaws, the American Circuit of Champions has started thrilling crowds again. Here in Australia States except NSW are staging great events despite the many difficulties faced and put in their paths by Governments particularly with ruthless border shutdowns and unrealistic restrictions.

While James McFadden US Boss Kasey Kahne is holding down the set in the #9 Car James is keeping his hand in with some great drives and wins down under in the Monte Motorsports #17. including wins in the Sprintcar Super Series at Warnambool, South Australian Sprintcar Title at Wyhalla and wins at Avalon and Murray Bridge ,Perth Motorplex and Simpson Speedway

Here are some snaps from the Australia Day Meeting at Murray Bridge:

Photo from Snapperific Photography

0417 535 472 Steve Walters

Photo 1 Marcus Dumsney ,Photo, 2David Murcott Photo 3 James McFadden

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Veal Australian Champion

Jamie Veal Australian Champion

Jamie Veal Australian Sprintcar Champion 2020

Last night at Latrobe Speedway Jamie Veal won a battle against the best in Australian to win the right to carry the most prestigious number in Australian speedway ,  the A1 on the SWI  Engineering family owned Maxim .

With mother nature making the weekend tougher than needed points on the first night we restricted and a race against time to get the Latrobe Track ready for the Championship night saw a beaver like effort  from track staff.

Veal won the pole alongside Robbie Farr with previous Champions McFadden and Madsen close behind.

Veal first battled with McFadden and Shaun Dobson as the trio ran four wide in pursuit of the race lead. McFadden and Dobson ‘s efforts went unrewarded on lap 17 when they came together .After that  Veal had to deal with Kerry Madsen, determined to improve his recent run of podiums but again Veal protected his race lead .Finally it was Marcus Dumseny’s chance and Marcus’s recent form offered up a real challenge for Veal,  Dumnesy has be so very fast all year .I remember him taking Veal apart in one of the A Main over the Christmas racing at Valvoline but not this time as Veal again protected his Australian Tile lead .

In a Championship race that had many casualties Veal remained strong and focused and protected his lead to the finish with Marcus Dumnesy grabbing second and Kerry Madsen getting another podium. Steven Lines and Jack Lee filled the top five spots. Brooke Tatnell made the Championship Final from the B Main and finished in 6th .

The infield was filled with damaged race cars and disappointed teams.

Jamie Veal in a post-race interview.

“Yes, it’s been a while, 13 years I think, so I been chasing this win for a long time. Over the years we haven’t been close to winning it, but we have always been in the hunt” commented Jamie following the race.

“I think we got a bit lucky there at certain stages but it’s a long race. During the middle stages we faded a little bit with James (McFadden) and Shaun (Dobson) who was very quick and unfortunately, they came together. Then Kerry showed his nose late, but the late cautions really helped”

After fighting Mother Nature early and the best Australian could offer Jamie veal and  WSI racing are our Australian Sprintcar Champion for 2020 and the A1 will replace the V35 on the tail of the SWI Engineering Maxim .

Images from Phil Mitchell Sprintcar Australia

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McFadden digs Deep

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

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Macedo Superb Last Night

Macedo superb last night at The George Tatnell Memorial

Macedo and Veal

Carson Macedo was superb last night at Valvoline Raceway .Earlier in the night during qualifying and the Pole Shoot out the Californian was blasted off the track by Jamie Veal’s lighting starts and speed As the A Main got into the busy  end  and lap traffic started to a play its normal disruptive part Veal faltered  . Macedo and Marcus Dumseny started to assume authority over the 35 lap Speed Week Final. Veal’s race would end after a tangle with Reutzel and the #35 would not be part of the finish, disappointment   after such a lighting start.

Macedo would head to the finish with Dumsney looking a chance right to the end while Jackson Delamont again was quite, steady and arrived from under most peoples radar to end up finishing an rewarding third .Brad Sweet was disqualified after doing work on the car during the one of the many race stoppages .In the WoO rules it’s allowed but here. Rules are rules!

Sprintcar Podium

The Track was lighting fast as qualifying showed earlier but while corners three and four were wide one and two were tight .The pace through three and four particularly by Aaron Reutzel was electrifying as he tried to make up lost ground due to starting a long way back in the A Main .Reutzel had a problem in his heat where a side panel fell off his top wing rendering the car undriveable  and stopping his charge to the front .From that point on in the B Main and until he had a problem late in the A Main he was a sight to behold ,every time through three and four I held on!

After a dusty but exciting race Carson Macedo crossed for a well-deserved win from Dumsney and Delamont.You must applaud Carson Macedo and the Dyson Motorsports Team, what a contribution they have made together this year at Valvoline raceway, simply brilliant!

Speedcar Podium

  Final race positions were:

Official Sprintcar A-Main results:

1. Carson Macedo

2. Marcus Dumesny

3. Jackson Delamont

4. Aaron Reutzel

5. Robbie Farr

6. Ryan Jones

7. Lynton Jeffrey

8. Daniel Sayre

9. Ian Madsen

10. Michael Stewart

11. Ben Atkinson

12. Matt Geering

13. Grant Tunks

14. Cory Eliason

15. Max Dumesny

16. Mick Saller

17. Daniel Needham

18. Chris McInerny

If the Sprintcar A main was fantastic   then I have run out of words to describe the Speedcar Feature and battles that took place .The determined drive from the rear of the field by Macedo brought memories back from the 60s when it was the norm for the fast guys to start rear of the field .The night was in memory of the late Great George Tatnell and I am certain he would have approved

Michael Stewart and Macedo hit each other as they headed to the finish with Stewart hanging tough and  getting the narrowest of victories and stopping Macedo earning the a big pay out cheque of $6,000for taking the challenge from the back  in the George Tatnell Memorial Feature .Nathan Smee finished in third and Sam Walsh fourth and completing the top five was Harley Smee .Kaidon Brown was absent as his car in on route back was his recent duties over in New Zealand for their International Midget Series , Kaidon is off on Sunday to Tulsa in the US to represent Australia in the coming Chili Bowl . We wish him well in what must be one of the toughest Speedcar Race Series in the World .

Photo credits David Platt Phography and Garry reid Phography

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McFadden waves Flag Again

McFadden waves flag Maryborough

Tuesday night James McFadden raised the flag after winning the first ever World Series Sprintcar Show at Maryborough Speedway on the Fraser Coast in Queensland. Luke Oldfield reordered fast time, but his promising night ended when he climbed with wall in turn four during heat three and that unfortunately ended his WSS Maryborough assault!

McFadden jumped fast from pole and built up a race winning lead early with Brock Hallett battling to stay in touch. Madsen then Goodyer would pass and push Hallett back to fourth position as the as the race headed to the finish.

I have read  some press people are questioning the quality of the WSS but from where I sit the racing has been enormous and what is pleasing for me as a fan and a race reporter is the class of the younger drivers who are pressing the more established team for race honors. Race wins so far this series to Hallett, Hickman and strong performances from young Tasmanian Jock Goodyer makes this Series as competitive as ever.

As we write the Teams are loaded and, on the way, down to Archerfield for the next round which is headlined as the 24th running of the Titan Garages Australian Sprintcar Open a classic event inside the World Series printcar Calendar

Photo credits 44 Photography

WSS CHAMPIONSHIP TOP 10

1 James McFadden 2099
2 Kerry Madsen 2027
3 Brock Hallett 1754
4 Jock Goodyer 1717
5 Lucas Wolfe 1688
6 Brooke Tatnell 1663
7 Lockie McHugh 1575
8 Rusty Hickman 1500
9 Dave Murcott 1435
10 Cory Eliason 1237

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Schatz claims 28th WSS

Schatz claims 28th WSS Win in Brisbane

Schatz post race interview

In Brisbane last night 10 times World of Outlaws Champion Donny Schatz had to di deep into his long experience to get the better of young Victorian charger Rusty Hickman before claiming yet another win during his lighting tour of the Sunshine State.

Rusty Hickman second behind Schatz

Hickman put in a mighty effort to hold of the 10 times Outlaw Champ and it was only in the closing laps that Schatz got the better of the young racer from south of the border .A mighty effort from Hickman but the class and experience of Schatz in those closing laps was the difference .

The defending WSS Champion McFadden finished in 6th bleeding points back to Kerry Madsen who rebounded back from his Warnambool disappointment with a creditable third. Brooke Tatnell retired after 6laps and slipped out of the top five on the WSS leader board.

Corey Eliason and the Diamond Motorsports team stayed in Sydney and raced at Valvoline last night and were rewarded with Corey’s first win at the historic track .After round 6 McFadden still holds onto his Series lead with 1531 points from Madsen on 1478 and Brock Hallet on 1316, Eliason 1237 and Lucas Wolfe on 1194

The team load up and head across to the garden City of Toowoomba for round seven then across to the Coast for the Series first appearance at Maryborough Speedway.

Photo credit Archerfield Speedway ,Rusty Hickman Racing

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