CASA GRANDE, Ariz. — James McFadden became the sixth different winner in six Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing events this season, topping the finale of the Cactus Classic presented by Avanti Windows & Doors at Central Arizona Raceway.
Starting from the outside pole, McFadden outraced Californian Giovanni Scelzi into turn one and assumed the early lead. The Alice Springs, Northern Territory native was on cruise control working lapped traffic until the only red flag of the race flew for an upside-down Daison Pursley on Lap 11.
Allowing “Hot Sauce” to restart on J-Mac’s tail was enough to spice things up as Scelzi slid by to lead Lap 12, only for McFadden to rally back and regain control on Lap 13. The leaders hustled through traffic until the final caution was called on Lap 25, setting up a five-lap sprint to the finish.
The 36-year-old McFadden handled the pressure with ease and drove the Tarlton Racing No. 21 to the checkered flag with a 0.511-second victory.
Adding his fourth career win with Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing, his previous three triumphs came during his 2024 effort with Roth Motorsports.
Now with Tarlton Racing, he took the iconic black and gold machine to Whiskey Myers Victory Lane for the first time with the series. He joins notable names like Jason Meyers and Carson Macedo as drivers to have taken Tommy to victory lane on the national stage of 410 sprint car racing.
The sixth different driver to slap a CASM Win Sticker on his car, McFadden follows in the footsteps of Kyle Larson, Corey Day, Aaron Reutzel, Rico Abreu, and Tanner Thorson with the series’ parity off the charts to start 2026.
Giovanni Scelzi’s stellar start with Spire Motorsport continued as he brought home a season-best runner-up finish in the Chili’s Grill & Bar No. 77. Through the first six races, he’s yet to finish outside the top-10.
Brad Sweet, the 2024 Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing champion, returned to the podium for the first time as a part-time racer. “The Big Cat” took advantage of the final restart to seal Rod End Supply Hard Charger honors with a 10th-to-third effort in Kevin Kozlowski’s “W” ride.
The finish:
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 21-James McFadden[2]; 2. 77-Giovanni Scelzi[1]; 3. W-Brad Sweet[10]; 4. 42-Sye Lynch[5]; 5. 87-Aaron Reutzel[9]; 6. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[12]; 7. 87X-Logan Seavey[4]; 8. 88-Tanner Thorson[3]; 9. 10-Ryan Timms[14]; 10. 24-Rico Abreu[6]; 11. 17GP-Hank Davis[13]; 12. 55-Kerry Madsen[7]; 13. 26-Justin Peck[15]; 14. 13-Tanner Holmes[17]; 15. 9R-Chase Randall[25]; 16. 19-Brent Marks[21]; 17. 24D-Danny Sams III[23]; 18. 88N-DJ Netto[18]; 19. 21B-Brian Brown[11]; 20. 34-Sterling Cling[19]; 21. 6-JJ Hickle[20]; 22. G5-Gage Pulkrabek[24]; 23. 5-Brenham Crouch[8]; 24. 9-Daison Pursley[22]; 25. 73-Hunter Schuerenberg[16]
