McFADDEN TAKES MOTORPLEX BARBAGALLO WIN

With $40,077 on the line for the winner of the Barbagallo Australian Mr Sprintcar Nationals at the Perth Motorplex on Saturday night, February 7,  it was always going to be a battle royale.

And that’s how it played out for the 35-lap feature race that saw only 11 of the 26 cars complete the brutal journey – from either crashing, a lack of fuel or tyre issues.

The saying that to finish first, first you must finish proved true as James McFadden claimed the epic race from Callum Williamson and Jason Kendrick

The former Australian champion took the lead with 10 laps remaining, after starting from p12 to win the event named in the honour of WA sprintcar legend, Alf Barbagallo who famously campaigned the number 77.

McFadden’s win followed on from victory on the Friday night at the same venue.

The final had plenty of drama from the get-go with Andrew Priolo heading to the work area with mechanical issues before the race even started.

Taylor Milling spun on lap six and was collected by Marcus Dumesny, putting them both out of the contest.

Three laps later Kris Coyle spun in turn one and Dayne Kingshott headed to the work area with a damaged topwing from the earlier incident, going to the rear of the field despite running up the front.

He managed to get back up to fifth before bowing out.

Coyle then rolled, with officials calling an open red for a fuel stop.

With 15 laps in the books, Callum Williamson was spun around and both he and Andrew Priolo resumed from the rear.

On lap 17 American Justin Whittall slowed up and Queenslander Ryan Newton went to the work area with front-end damage.

One of the biggest moments came with 10 laps remaining as front runners Kerry Madsen and Lachlan McHugh came together at the end of the main straight, ending their campaigns.

Moments later Michael Keen rolled and Andrew Priolo hit one of the infield concrete barriers, pushing it back more than a metre.

With three laps remaining, McFadden made contact with Queenslander Luke Oldfield and it also involved Mikey Green, with the latter two out and McFadden lucky to not sustain damage and get the motor to refire after it temporarily stalled.

Kaiden Manders, who was chasing a podium placing ran out of fuel as did Goodyer who was in second.

Williamson took second from Kendrick in the run to the checkers, but it was all McFadden who claimed the massive win.

It was a big recovery for the driver of the W23 after being fifth quickest in his qualifying group and fourth in his heat race – and then charging from seventh to second in the BR Motorsports / King Racing Products Midpack Madness that was won by Justin Whittall.

For Williamson, it was a big recovery – he started from p5 and was sent back to 20th at one point, only clinching second in the dying stages.

Unlike McFadden, he took part in the top 10 pole knockout and won the battle of 6th v 5th over Newton, before bowing out to Kingshott in the next round.

Kendrick had only his second podium of the season (the first at Albany in December).

He was second quickest in his qualifying group, then had a third in his heat race.

Kendrick claimed the pole knockout battle of 9th v 8th against Reutzel before losing to Newton.

He started the final from p8 and with about a third of the race complete, he had dropped back to 11th.

Reutzel was fourth from Daniel Harding, Mick Saller (NSW), Whittall, Newton, Randy Morgan, Queensland, Jack Williamson and Goodyer.

Whittall started the show with the Victory 1 Performance Quick Time.

Madsen earnt the right to start from pole after winning the final pole shuffle over McHugh.

Results:

Qualifying 1

Jock Goodyer 13.470, Jason Pryde 13.597, Randy Morgan 13.642, Mick Saller 13.654, Matt Egel 13.657, Kodi Clayden 13.672, Michael Keen 13.702, Ryan Lancaster 13.998, Declan Minchin 14.324.

Qualifying 2

Justin Whittall 13.260, Ryan Newton 13.530, Aaron Reutzel 13.535, Callum Williamson 13.559, James McFadden 13.607, Brodie Davis 13.759, Jye McKenzie 13.984, Kris Coyle 14.080, Aaron Chircop 14.109.

Qualifying 3

Kerry Madsen 13.453, Jason Kendrick 13.530, Marcus Dumesny 13.569, Daniel Harding 13.617, Taylor Milling 13.619, Glen Sutherland 13.808, Harrison Peet 13.811, Luke Oldfield 13.856.

Qualifying 4

Lachlan McHugh 13.459, Dayne Kingshott 13.464, Brad Maiolo 13.712, Jack Williamson 13.772, Mikey Green 13.787, Andrew Priolo 13.841, Jaydee Dack 13.881, Kaiden Manders 17.820.

Heat 1: 1st Mick Saller, 2nd  Jock Goodyer, 3rd Jason Pryde, 4th Matt Egel, 5th Randy Morgan, 6th Michael Keen, 7th Ryan Lancaster, 8th Kodi Clayden, 9th Declan Minchin.

Heat 2: 1st Callum Williamson, 2nd Aaron Reutzel, 3rd Ryan Newton, 4th James McFadden, 5th Justin Whitall, 6th Kris Coyle, 7th Jye McKenzie, 8th Aaron Chircop, 9th Brodie Davis.,

Heat 3: 1st Kerry Madsen, 2nd Marcus Dumesny, 3rd Jason Kendrick, 4th Daniel Harding, 5th Glen Sutherland, 6th Taylor Milling, 7th Luke Oldfield, 8th Harrison Peet.

Heat 4: 1st Lachlan McHugh, 2nd Dayne Kingshott, 3rd Jack Williamson, 4th Kaiden Manders, 5th Brad Maiolo, 6th Andrew  Priolo, 7th Jaydee Dack, 8th Mikey Green.

BR Motorsports / King Racing Products Midpack: 1st Justin Whittall, 2nd James McFadden, 3rd Jason Pryde, 4th Matt Egel, 5th Jack Williamson, 6th Brad Maiolo, 7th Randy Morgan. DNS: Daniel Harding.

Knockout: Aaron Reutzel d Marcus Dumesny, Jason Kendrick d Aaron Reutzel, Ryan Newton d Jason Kendrick, Ryan Newton d Mick Saller, Callum Williamson d Ryan Newton, Dayne Kingshott d Callum Williamson, Jock Goodyer d Dayne Kingshott, Lachlan McHugh d Jock Goodyer, Kerry Madsen d Lachlan McHugh.

Last Chance Qualifier: 1st Mikey Green, 2nd Aaron Chircop, 3rd Taylor Milling, 4th Kaiden Manders, 5th Andrew Prioo, 6th Michael Keen, 7th Luke Oldfield, 8th Kris Coyle, 9th Kodi Clayden, 10th Brodie Davis, 11th Ryan Lancaster, 12th Jaydee Dack, 13th Glen Sutherland, 14th Harrison Peet, 15th Declan Minchin.

Final: 1st James McFadden, 2nd Callum Williamson, 3rd Jason Kendrick, 4th Aaron Reutzel, 5th Daniel Harding, 6th Mick Saller, 7th Justin Whittall, 8th Ryan Newton, 9th Randy Morgan, 10th Jack Williamson, 11th Jock Goodyer. DNF: Kaiden Manders, Luke Oldfield, Mikey Green, Andrew Priolo, Michael Keen, Brad Maiolo, Lachlan McHugh, Kerry Madsen, Dayne Kingshott, Matt Egel, Kris Coyle, Jason Pryde, Aaron Chircop, Marcus Dumesny, Taylor Milling.

Victory 1 Performance Quick Time: Justin Whittall.

Hoosier Tyre Draw: Aaron Chircop.