BRAD MAIOLO TOPS ROUND SIXTEEN AT MOTORPLEX

 Top step on the podium. Photo: Richard Hathaway

Brad Maiolo returned to the top step of the podium for the first time in a long time to claim the 30 lap feature race at the Perth Motorplex Speedway, Kwinana Beach, WA, Saturday night, March 19. 

He took the popular win from Daniel Harding and the hard-charging Callum Williamson in the TD Granny Flats and Modular Homes feature that was round 16 of the Maddington Toyota Sprintcar Series.

Maiolo started from position four after earlier in the night he posted second quickest in his qualifying group and finishing third in his heat.

He then started in position four in the B Dash and crossed the line second to Kingshott to set up his outside second row start for the main event.

The first lap was marred by series championship leader Jason Kendrick crashing after he came together with Ryan Lancaster, sustaining too much damage.

Lancaster, who started from position seven, was able to get another chance, albeit from the rear of the field.

On the restart Dayne Kingshott, (position two) led away from Harding, who started on pole, with a gap back to Maiolo.

The race was only a couple of laps old when Troy Lawson spun around, bunching the field back up for again.

With five laps completed, it looked like the caution lights were going to come on again when Jarrin Bielby spun in pits bend, but he was able to keep going and the lights stayed green.

It only took six laps for Harding and Kingshott, who were running in close quarters, to reach lapped traffic  – at about the same time as Jason Pryde slid the W14 to the infield.

Harding was running a higher line to Kingshott as they duked it out, but the attention was starting to turn to Maiolo who was also running a high line and was closing the rapidly closing the margin with 20 laps to go.

A lap later Maiolo’s momentum was building as he rounded up both Harding and Kingshott to take the lead and once he hit the front, he was able to open up a bit of a gap.

By this stage it was obvious that Williamson, who started from the back of the pack and was plagued with engine issues early on, was going to play a big part in the final outcome – after he moved to seventh at the halfway point.

With 13 laps to go the field regrouped as Cameron McKenzie slowed up at the start of the back straight.

The restart order at this stage was Maiolo from Harding, Kingshott, Jock Goodyer, James Inglis and Williamson.

Andrew Priolo’s car limped to the infield with a damaged rear end and he was out of the contest.

On the green Harding launched a move on Maiolo but the leader was equal to the challenge and reclaimed the spot.

Moments later Williamson was locked in a battle with Kingshottt, while Inglis was trying to get under Harding.

With 10 laps remaining, Maiolo was leading over Inglis, Harding, Goodyer, Kingshottt and Williamson.

The front runners threw everything they had at each other and switching lines to try and gain an advantage.

Williamson slid under Kingshott with 14 laps to go for fifth and then started to put pressure on Goodyer, driving the Monte Motorsport 17 for the second outing, and at the same time Maiolo was running a clean race out in front of the pack.

Williamson got under Inglis with three laps to go for third but Inglis, confident after taking a win the previous week for Diamond Bay Motorsport, was up for the challenge and returned serve.

A lap later Williamson attempted to take the spot and this time he was successful, setting up a big podium finish 

Maiolo was having none of the battles behind him by this stage and took a great win that helped maintain his fourth overall in the 2021-22 series championship with three rounds remaining.

Harding’s second was a great return to form after a hard crash the previous week that destroyed much of the car and followed his previous disqualification, for behing underwent weight, crossing the line second with a blown right rear tyre at the recent Krikke Boys Shootout.

Williamson’s run from P13 to third sees him win his round’s Kincrome Hard Charger tool voucher and also reduce to overall leader Kendrick from 52 points to just 16 points, ensuring the series will go down to the wire over the next three rounds.

Inglis crossed the line fourth after starting from P3, while Goodyer started sixth and finished fifth.

Kris Coyle was sixth (from P5), ahead of Kingshott (from P2), AJ Nash from P11 to 8th, Taylor Milling from P15 to 9th and David Priolo rounding out the top 10 after starting from P9.

Eleventh went to Mitchell Wormall, driving Trent Pigdon’s W19, with 12th to Lancaster, 13th to  Kye Scroop who started P13 in his third guest appearance in the Trevor Jolly Racing W18. 14th to Jaydee Dack (starting P20), 15th to Todd Davis (starting P18), 16th to Lawson (from P21) and 17th to Jarrin Bielby (who started P12).

The non-finishers were Andrew Priolo, Cameron McKenzie, Pryde and Kendrick who earlier in the night set the Victory 1 Performance Quickest Time.

The scene is now set for the final three rounds where Kendrick will be looking to win his fourth series championship, while Williamson is finishing strong in an effort to defend his 2020-21 championship.

To the winner will be the end-of-season bonus of an unprecedented $22,000.

These three rounds will also be part of the Maddington Toyota Triple Crown – a mini series within the main series.

The overall top pointscorer from the three rounds will receive a $3000 bonus, with $2000 going to the mini-series runner up and $1000 to third overall.

Feature: 1st Brad Maiolo, 2nd Daniel Harding, 3rd Callum Williamson, 4th James Inglis, 5th Jock Goodyer, 6th Kris Coyle, 7th Dayne Kingshott, 8th AJ Nash, 9th Taylor Milling,

10th David Priolo, 11th Mitchell Wormall, 12th Ryan Lancaster, 13th Kye Scroop, 14th Jaydee Dack, 15th Todd Davis, 16th Troy Lawson, 17th Jarrin Bielby. DNF: Andrew Priolo, Cameron McKenzie, Jason Pryde, Jason Kendrick.

Maddington Toyota Sprintcar Series championship points after Rd15: Jason Kendrick 2384, Callum Williamson 2368, Dayne Kingshott 2264, Brad Maiolo 2250, Daniel Harding 2232, Taylor Milling 2150, Kris Coyle 2142, Andrew Priolo 2142, Ryan Lancaster 2118, Jason Pryde 2014, AJ Nash 1948, Mitchell Wormall 1904, Jaydee Dack 1688, Matthew Cross 1502, David Priolo 1486, Trevor Jolly 1460, Jack Williamson 1446, Shaun Bradford 1348, Darren Mewett 1240, Trent Pigdon 1152, James Inglis 1022, Cameron McKenzie 986, Todd Davis 774, Kaiden Manders 610, Kye Scroop 402, Chace Karpenko 400, Jarrin Bielby 392, Robbie Farr 278, George Eaton 278, Jock Goodyer 258, Rod Howe 250, Troy Lawson 118. Note: Daniel Harding’s points have been amended to reflect at DQ (0 points) for Rd15 at Bunbury Speedway.

Hoosier Tyre Draw winner: Jaydee Dack.

Victory 1 Performance Quick Time: Jason Kendrick.

Kincrome Hard Charger: Callum Williamson 19th to 3rd.

Upcoming rounds

Rd17 – Perth Motorplex Speedway – Saturday, April 2 – Maddington Toyota Triple Crown Rd1

Rd18 – Bunbury Speedway – Friday, April 15 – Maddington Toyota Triple Crown Rd2

Final – Perth Motorplex Speedway – Saturday, April 16– Maddington Toyota Triple Crown Rd3

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