SCHATZ LEADS AMERICAN INVASION AT ARCHERFIELD

Reigning World of Outlaws Champion, Donny Schatz has led home fellow American Lucas Wolfe to claim round six of QSS World Series Sprintcars at Ausdeck Archerfield Speedway, Brisbane.

Schatz started the night timing second quickest behind Revolution Racegear Quicktime recipient Luke Oldfield, and moved forward in his heats to bank enough points to start from pole after winning the Gold Shootout.

Wolfe however started from the inside of the third row for the 30 lap final and had to work much harder for his podium finish, patiently displacing Jamie Veal, Luke Oldfield and finally Hobart’s Shaun Dobson to grab the runner up spot in the Ayres Racing #USA5W.

Dobson was the class of the Australians, graduating from the bronze shootout right through to second quickest in the Gold, rewarding him with a front row start beside Schatz.

Dobson held his own for three laps before a pass from Luke Oldfield, but then regained his spot until half race distance where Wolfe took over the second position.

Falling back into the clutches of Oldfield, the two traded blows for the remainder of the race swapping between third and fourth six times before Dobson cemented his claim on the final podium position with two laps remaining.

Schatz was never headed for the entire 30 lap journey, claiming America’s 20th World Series win at Archerfield, but was just as happy to talk of his Australian holiday in the post-race celebrations.

“This is great, being able to race at night while getting plenty of time at the beach during the day, so we’re having a ball and the win tonight just caps it off.”

Pennsylvanian Wolfe was quick to congratulate his team, but was philosophical about the runner up result.

“I thought we may have had something for Donny but to come away with second is a good result.”

Dobson however was suitably pleased with third, especially after a tough campaign in the latter part of Speedweek.

“Dad and Shane Finch have done a great job with the car and I haven’t been in the seat for quite a while, so to be on the podium in this calibre of drivers is great for our confidence and a really great result for our team.”

Luke Oldfield held on to fourth despite a final five lap charge from Kerry Madsen who’d advanced from ninth on the grid to fifth, with Logan Schuchart finishing where he started in sixth.

James McFadden got as high as fifth and as low as ninth after a quick pirouette on turn two just after midway in the race, but recovered to finish seventh ahead of Jamie Veal who had dropped from fifth to eighth after multiple battles.

Dave Murcott claimed ninth while Hoosier Hard Charger Carson Macedo moved from sixteenth to round out the top ten.

Kerry Madsen still leads the Championship ahead of McFadden by 85 points, while Jamie Veal has stepped up into the third position a further 305 points behind.

The series now remains in Brisbane and looks ahead to this weekend’s 22nd running of the Australian Sprintcar Open where Kerry Madsen will aim to defend his title starting on Friday night for the two night event.

Pic: Clint Purdie iPhotos

WSS Press Release

EGEL HOLDS OFF MADSEN FOR AVALON WIN – WS

South Australian Matt Egel has claimed his second career QSS World Series Sprintcars win with an impressive victory over Kerry Madsen and James McFadden at Avalon Raceway, Victoria.

Egel clawed his way back from time trialling 7th in his flight, but moved forward 5 positions in his heats to make the seventh spot in the Top 8 Shootout, and then timed quickest in all three stages to claim pole position for the A-Main.

Despite a great start however, Egel was constantly under threat, with McFadden passing Madsen on the first turn of lap 11 and then Egel in the following straight, before the caution lights illuminated for a spin from Brock Hallett in turn three, allowing Egel to return to the front for the restart.

The stoppage would become a curse for McFadden who would never get within striking distance again of the lead pair, as the track rubbered down into a single lane contest.

A front straight collision between Shaun Dobson and Brayden Parr with only three laps remaining was the only other incident in the race, and provided some hope to Madsen of a chance to outplay Egel on the restart. The reigning Australian Champion came close on the second last rotation, however Egel never faltered and held on for a landmark win.

“This is huge for me and the Downing Brothers. They work so hard and I just had to make sure I didn’t make a mistake because I knew that Kerry and James would jump on it straight away,” Egel said, elated with the win.

Kerry Madsen praised Egel’s efforts, revealing that all he could do was wait for him to make a mistake to have any chance of getting past.

“He’s a great driver and if he even slipped up once I was going to the stick it in there, but he was too smooth tonight and I’m really rapt for the Downing Brothers, because they work so hard and this win is fully deserved.

Egel’s $10,000 win was the first WSS win for the Downing Brothers, and now places him third in the KRE Speedweek points table on 1038 points, with James McFadden leading on 1172 points ahead of Kerry Madsen on 1129.

Press release World Series Sprintcars

Kerry Madsen from wreck to winner at WSS Borderline Speedway
What a recovery by the Keneric/American Racing Custom Wheels Team and Kerry Madsen from a wreck pinned in the Murray Bridge Speedway’s  Fence to a dominate winner last night at Borderline Speedway.

Never far from the action or controversy on the way to the win Madsen and Mollenoyux had a coming together that resulted in damage to Mollenoyux’s front axle .Unable to control the car Mollenoyux ended up getting into Jamie Veal.

Veal managed to restart but the V52 was done for the night .Mollenoxyu let Madsen know his feeling but Madsen saw it differently, in fact very differently . I am amazed our the drivers attitude changes from accident to accident the night before Madsen was livid with Van Ginneken’s effort that saw the A1 hang in the fence while Van Ginneken saw it as a racing incident only.

Madsen was always in control and had the measure of both McFadden and Macedo right down to the finish .McFadden is certainly picking up the early points and on current form must be an early favorite to retain the Title

Jason Johnson and fellow American Dominic Sceizi ended each other’s night .Ryan Jones was quickest in the time trials from Veal and Madsen.

The top five across the line were 1^st Kerry Madsen, 2^nd James McFadden, 3rd Carson Macedo then followed Steven Lines and Shaun Dobson.

The Teams get a short breach before heading across to Victoria for round 4 at Avalon Raceway in Lara .The Transporter are loaded and  Avalon fans here they come !

Photos by Steve Walters Snapperific Photograph.

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