General News
20 January, 2021
James McFadden claims All Star Challenge
SPRINTCAR star James McFadden came away with a cool $10,000 on Saturday night, with the 2019 360 Knoxville Nationals Champion taking out the Mainline DynoLog Dynamometers All Star Challenge at Simpson Speedway.
SPRINTCAR star James McFadden came away with a cool $10,000 on Saturday night, with the 2019 360 Knoxville Nationals Champion taking out the Mainline DynoLog Dynamometers All Star Challenge at Simpson Speedway.
McFadden registered his first win at Simpson in over a decade, with the Monte Motorsport driver finishing in first place ahead of Charles Hunter and Rusty Hickman, with Grant Anderson and Daniel Pestka rounding out the top five.
The eventual winner started from pole in the 20 car, 35 lap A Main event alongside local Hunter, with the latter making McFadden work for the victory.
Hunter took an early lead and held it for the first half of the race before McFadden made his move as the leader hit lap traffic.
McFadden was then able to keep his cool to score victory in the final stages, with the W17 crossing the line almost a second ahead of Hunter’s V73.
In the B Main, Matt Reed scored victory over Chris Solomon and Brenton Farrer, with Robbie Farr, Jordyn Charge and Jessie Nicholas rounding out the top six and progressing to the A Main event.
Simpson Car Club president Tim Rankin said 1000 spectators were on course for the event, which overcame early uncertainty to go ahead.
“It ran pretty well considering the rain and drizzle we had,” he said.
“We didn’t think we would get a start, the track was soft at the time, but the guys persevered and we got it right with the help of the Super Rods.
“It was greasy at the start but it managed to get faster as the night went on, it was actually really good all night.
“The crowd liked it too, they might have got dirty with clay going over the fence but it was pretty good racing and the Super Rods were good too.”
Rankin said McFadden was a “deserving winner” in his first outing at the track in almost 10 years.
“Although Charles Hunter gave him a run for his money and then Rusty Hickman was up there too,” he said.
“Between them all it was really close.”
The club’s attention now turns to its next event set down for Saturday, February 6.
Rankin said the night would feature Wingless Sprints competing for the Peter Merrett Trophy, VSC Sport Sedans and Amca National classes.
“It’ll be a low-key night but we have classes that haven’t run at Simpson for a few years so it’ll be good to have them back and hopefully will bring some numbers back,” he said.
“It should be a good night hopefully.”
Results:
Heat wins – Tim Van Ginneken, Jarman Dalitz, Ryan Davis, Rusty Hickman, Grant Anderson, and Charles Hunter.
A Main: 1st James McFadden, 2nd Charles Hunter, 3rd Rusty Hickman, 4th Grant Anderson 5th Daniel Pestka, 6th Michael Tancredi, 7th Robbie Farr, 8th TVG, 9th Brad Warren, 10th Jordyn Charge, 11th Eddie Lumbar 12th Matthew Reed - DNF 13th Chris Solomon DNF, 14th Jarman Dalitz – DNF, 15th Daniel Scott – DNF, 16th Scott Enderl – DNF, 17th Mark Caruso – DNF, 18th Jessie Nicholas – DNF, 19th Brenten Farrer – DNF, 20th Ryan Davis – DNF.