James McFadden celebrated Australia Day by claiming a successive King’s Challenge at Borderline Speedway, Mt Gambier, in the NAPA Auto Parts car on Jan. 26.
Starting from position two on the grid, the 33-year-old driver outgunned polesitter Jock Goodyer (Platinum Prints) at the start, never to be headed again in the 30-lap final.
“My guys gave me a great car tonight,” said McFadden. “We are finally starting to find the set-up that is required. Being a new team, it has been a learning curve. To beat Jock, who I think is the form driver in the country right now, is a big deal and gives us great momentum going into the Classic.”
Goodyer and Jamie Veal (SWI Earthworks) had chased McFadden for the entire journey, but the World-of-Outlaws regular drove the perfect race from the front.
Despite a series of incidents which afflicted the final, McFadden blasted away at each restart, running the high line on the tight oval.
Brock Hallett (GW Racing) was fourth, ahead of Steven Lines and Sheldon Haudenschild (Lee Contracting). Brock Zearfoss (Goldstar Transport) finished 11th, having lasted 22 laps, while Tyler Courtney (Monte Farms) exited the race after eight laps, with only half the field completing the event.
Goodyer had posted the fastest time of 11.138 seconds for the tight 406 yards oval, ahead of Haudenschild, Hallett, McFadden and Kerry Madsen (Krikke Motorsport).
The 8-lap heats produced tight, exciting racing with 12 different drivers taking the honors. Tyler Courtney won the first heat. Hallett, Daniel Pestka, Brock Zearfoss, Goodyer, McFadden, Brooke Tatnell, Carson Macedo, Dennis Jones, Peter Doukas, Veal and Matt Dumesny each claimed the next 11 qualifiers.
Ian Madsen (DTM Motorsport) was unable to repeat his performance in winning the President’s Cup at Avalon Raceway the night before, scoring a sixth and eighth placing in his two heats.
Although Haudenschild hit some fast lap times he was generally off the pace, finishing 10.245 seconds behind McFadden. He was involved in a crash involving Chase Randall in heat 11 and had to qualify through the B-main 2.
Following the Borderline feature, the teams made the 120 mile journey back into Victoria for the three-night Grand Annual Sprint Car Classic on Jan 27-29.