MOUNT Gambier sprintcar driver Steven Lines has continued to fight hard in the 2017-18 season, with a second place behind the in-form James McFadden at Avalon Raceway on the weekend.
The Eureka series saw 48 nominations, with the A Main event doubling as the Fireball Derby.
But it was McFadden who controlled the night, with the fastest time in his group in the trials and victories in both his heats to start on pole position.
Glen Sutherland was also on the pace early, setting the fastest time in his group, starting out of first in heat three, before coming home in second place.
Jake Tranter held his fifth place from start to finish in the same heat.
Heat four saw Lines start from second place behind Corey McCullagh, with the pair swapping places when the chequered flag fell.
McFadden showed why he is such a tough driver to beat at the moment, going from the back of the field to claim the win in heat five, while Sutherland and Lines fought their way through the field
in heat eight from 10th and 11th respectively, with Lines claiming third and Sutherland fourth.
Tranter made up a spot in that heat to go from sixth to fifth.
Tranter was then forced to fight through the B Main event, starting out of eighth, but unable to make up the required positions for a start in the A Main.
For Sutherland and Lines it was a fourth and fifth place start, but it would not end up ideal for the former.
Sutherland dropped a few positions early, then an incident involving Rusty Hickman – who hit the wall and rolled – left Sutherland no room to avoid the stricken car, ending his night prematurely.
For Lines it was a battle with McCullagh for second position, after passing the latter just before the red flag for the Hickman incident.
With the field again closed up, Lines looked to keep pace with McFadden, but the latter was in a class of his own yet again, running away with the race in a flag-to-flag victory.
