Last night James McFadden secured back-to-back Kings Challenge victories at the Borderline Speedway in Mount Gambier after dominating the 29th edition of the event in front of a massive crowd. In a 65 car field that included eight American drivers they couldn’t disrupt the Australia Day celebrations as McFadden led home an all Australian podium defeating Jock Goodyer and Jamie Veal in a race that only saw half the field greet the chequered flag.

“My guys really gave me a great car tonight. We are finally starting to find the set up that is required. Being a new team, it has been a learning curve, I worked with Buzzy for so long we both knew what I liked but these guys are starting to get it worked out. To beat Jock, who I think is the form driver in the country right now, is a big deal and it gives us great momentum going into the Classic” added James as he celebrated his win while holding his Son Mav.

After starting on the pole McFadden was never headed and despite multiple restarts held on for a comfortable win. One of the keys to his victory was the fact that after every restart he was able to gap the field quickly and then he was able to maintain his lead by running the top groove to perfection.

Fourth place went to Portland based racer Brock Hallett with local hero Steven Lines completing the top five. After starting from fourth in B-Main 2 World of Outlaws star Sheldon Haudenschild put on a show for the fans he found the top side of the track to his liking as he won his B-Main before charging to sixth. Luke Dillon, Matt Egel, Australian Champion Marcus Dumesny and Jye O’Keeffe completed the finishers.

Several incidents in the A-Main saw the infield littered with damaged cars including Cody Maroske, who didn’t complete a lap after contact with Marcus Dumesny, Daniel Pestka who rolled in turn 2 and Tyler Courtney who tagged the turn three wall resulting in a flat right rear. But the biggest accident of the race occurred on lap 17 when Lachlan McHugh bounced off the turn four wall, having jumped the cushion, leaving Kerry Madsen with nowhere to go. At the time the pair had been battling for seventh place.

With 65 drivers signed in for action two rounds of six heats and two B-Mains were conducted going the capacity crowd their money worth.

The opening round of heats ran without any major drama’s although Sydney’s Zac Pacchiarotta rolled in qualifying after hitting the turn four wall. First round heat winners were Tyler Courtney, Brock Hallett, Daniel Pestka, Brock Zearfoss, Jock Goodyer and James McFadden.

An invert for round two sent the quick drivers to the rear with Brooke Tatnell, Carson Macedo, Dennis Jones, Peter Doukas, Jamie Veal and Matthew Dumesny all securing a heat win.

Heat 11 saw the demise of Texas teenager Chase Randall as he sustained chassis damage in an opening turn incident that also included Sheldon Haudenschild, that saw the right-hand side headers crushed on the Jack Lee Racing #25.

B-Main 1 was declared five laps early after Scott Enderl rolled in turn two, with Cody Maroske and Marcus Dumesny transferring into the final while Sheldon Haudenschild and Grant Anderson made it through from B-Main 2 but Anderson was unable to start the final after a post-race fuel fire.

Information and photos provided by Phil Michell Motorsport Media