McFADDEN SCORES FOURTH PRESIDENTS CUP

Feature photo by: Richard Hathaway Photography

By Thomas Miles (Auto Action)

National Sprintcar Champion James McFadden has made a pre-Classic statement by winning the Presidents Cup at Geelong’s Avalon Raceway on Wednesday night, January 21.

McFadden was masterful on a technical track to win his fourth Presidents Cup meeting and remind everyone of the strength and speed of the #1 Brady Motorsports operation.

Mount Gambier youngster Parker Scott and Speedweek and Power Tour winner Lockie McHugh showed speed, while Carson Macedo and Kerry Madsen challenged late.

However, McFadden was always a step ahead and won by eight-tenths over Macedo and Madsen in a stop-start affair.

Classic week started with the Presidents Cup at Avalon Raceway in front of a strong Wednesday night crowd.

Parker Scott did a wheelie from pole, but still had enough momentum to hold off McHugh and control the early laps.

Only five tours were completed before the reds were needed, with Justin Whittall upside down.

Scott went early to stay in charge after the single-file restart as Goodyer, McFadden and Macedo wrestled for third.

McFadden won the battle convincingly with a smart move down the inside of Turns 3 and 4.

McHugh also had plenty of momentum, only allowing Scott two more laps in the lead before he also made good use of the inside groove.

Soon, the Mount Gambier youngster was under threat from McFadden and the Australian champion worked his way past.

The move was made moments before the second caution was required for the stopped Kinser Claridge.

Scott was reinstated second at the restart and went low, which opened the door for McFadden to produce the move of the race.

The seas parted for McFadden up high and he put the foot down to sail around the outside of Scott and leader McHugh.

To make matters worse for McHugh, he started limping with a flat right front tyre after grazing the wall on the outside of Turn 4.

Suddenly, he dropped out of the race, leaving Scott in a strong second.

The race stayed green, but not for long as Ryan Timms rotated.

The outside lane started to become a significant factor as Macedo used it to snare second.

This meant Madsen and Goodyer ganged up on the #S55 and they put on a show for third.

Madsen emerged as the winner of the arm wrestle just before the next stoppage due to a stationary Kinser Claridge.

Madsen was aggressive on the restart and attacked Macedo, but this only left him under threat from Goodyer.

Now clear of the battles, Macedo started reeling in McFadden and had his first look for the lead with 11 to go.

The leader responded by going low and re-establishing a gap as he weaved his way through lapped traffic.

That proved to be Macedo’s only sniff as he pushed hard in the closing laps, but could not quite get close enough.

Despite being forced to wait, McFadden joyfully performed a “Shoey” to celebrate the success.

“What a run,” McFadden said.

“After sucking in qualifying and getting this thing from the heats to the Dash and now this is great.

“We passed some really good cars there.

“That was a really fun race track and it moved quickly to the top and we were able to get there.

“I had to pull the trigger and I wasn’t sure where to go. I didn’t feel better on the top, bottom or middle and it was a guessing game.

“We have been close and everyone thinks we have been really slow, but we have been close and its great to get there.”