Australian champion Lockie McHugh scored a hard fought victory in round one of the Brandt Sprintcar Speedweek at Murray Machining & Sheds Murray Bridge Speedway but not before enduring an epic struggle with Brock Hallett and Ryan Jones.
All U.S.A. vs. Australia sprint car highlights from Murray Bridge will air on SPEED SPORT 1 on Jan. 16.
It was Jones who almost enjoyed the perfect night, starting from position four in his heat (after timing fastest in his group from qualifying, winning that heat and thereby scoring pole position in the Dash.
The Murray Bridge local hero sped to the win in the Dash where he began the A-Main from pole position alongside Hallett with McHugh and Luke Dillon on the second row.
Jones led early and looked to have the consistency and speed to get the job done in the 35-lap A-Main but Hallett and McHugh all gathered together as the lead trio encountered dense lapped traffic.
Hallett and McHugh would swap the lead multiple times in the last third of the race in what was a thrilling battle in front of an excellent crowd.
Jones held sway in third but never gave up on the idea of regaining his lead and gave second placed Hallett plenty as he in turn tried to relieve the No. A1 of his advantage.
In the end it was McHugh who escaped their clutches and sped to victory in the SRV Road Freight No. 1 COOL Chassis over Hallett, Jones, Luke Dillon and Chad Ely rounding out the top five.
Trailing home Ely – who did a stout job ‘in the family car’ – in sixth was Daniel Pestka, American Garet Williamson in seventh, Rusty Hickman (who won the B-Main and stormed forward from 21st) eighth, Texan Chase Randall ninth and Queenslander Randy Morgan rounding out the top 10.
Tasmanian Tate Frost was eleventh, Warrnambool’s Will Carroll was a stout twelfth place ahead of Queenslander Jy Corbet, South Australian’s Dylan Jenkin (who was quick time in Flight Two of qualifying) and Glen Sutherland, Knoxville Iowa’s Riley Goodno in 16th, Tasmanian Ethan Wyllie, South Australians Keke Falland and Ricky Maiolo placing 18th and 19th, respectively.
Marcus Dumesny was speedy until a flat left rear tyre took him out, Brendan Quinn suffered front end damage that plagued him after an incident involving Steven Caruso on lap two, Parker Scott rolled on to his side in turn three-four and mechanical issues sidelined Joel Heinrich.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: The Brandt Sprintcar Speedweek will be featured exclusively in North American on SPEED SPORT 1, premiering Thursday, January 23rd at 7pm and 11pm ET. Click here for more details.
Feature Finish (35 Laps)
1. Lockie McHugh (started 4th), 2. Brock Hallett (started 2nd), 3. Ryan Jones (started pole), 4. Luke Dillon (started 3rd), 5. Chad Ely (started 7th), 6. Daniel Pestka (started 8th), 7. Garet Williamson (started 14th), 8. Rusty Hickman (started 21st), 9. Chase Randall (started 16th), 10. Randy Morgan (started 11th), 11. Tate Frost (started fifth), 12. Will Carroll (started 12th), 13. Jy Corbet (started 18th), 14. Dylan Jenkin (started 11th), 15. Glen Sutherland (started sixth), 16. Riley Goodno (started 19th), 17. Ethan Wyllie (started 15th), 18. Keke Falland (started 24th), 19. Ricky Maiolo (started (20th)
