AFTER winning the Australian sprintcar championship last year, Kerry Madsen began 2018 just as dominant, sewing up Speedweek with a solid victory at Warrnambool’s Premier Speedway on Monday.
Madsen won three out of the five rounds, which ventured across both South Australia and Victoria, stopping off at Murray Bridge, Mount Gambier, Avalon and finishing in Warrnambool.
As a result of his dominance Madsen took home an impressive $40,000 of prize money over the week.
The opening five rounds were also the starting point of the World Series Sprintcars Title, which Madsen is currently leading.
He is ahead of the inform James McFadden who had an unlucky night on Monday after starting in pole position for the A-Main.
Matt Egel is the only other driver to have won a round so far and as a result he sits in third.
Mount Gambier’s Steven Lines was the most dominant local driver, finishing Speedweek in ninth, after an unfortunate crash in the A-Main resulted in a DNF in Warrnambool, while Glen Sutherland – who is still vying for the world series title – sits in 16th.
Jake Tranter had a few solid performances, but finished 26th in Speedweek.
Warrnambool marked Round 5 of the World Series Sprintcars and before the event started it was McFadden in the box seat.
McFadden entered into the feature race in pole position, but stalled to avoid the scene of a crash and as a result was sent to rear of field after coming to a complete stop.
The unfortunate mistake from McFadden potentially cost him the additional $10,000 Speedweek bonus and the win.
He was able to make his way back into eighth position by the chequered flag – enough to hold onto second in the overall world series standings – but not enough to take away the top honours from Madsen.
Madsen crossed the finish line in first, holding off a charging Jamie Veal and Cory Eliason.
Sutherland and Lines were the only Mount Gambier drivers to reach the A-Main.
Little changed for Sutherland who started and finished the feature race in 10th.
On the other hand, a big crash ended Lines’ chances at a podium finish.
Despite the unfortunate ending, he put on a solid display throughout the night.
Lines made his way from sixth to fourth in his first heat, while powering from fifth to fourth in his second.
This earned Lines a direct pathway into the feature race where he started 14th on the grid.
Car issues in the front end caused the incident, which stopped Lines from finishing.
Sutherland moved backwards in his first heat, starting in 10th and finishing 12th, but held his ninth-placed position in his second.
This earned car number 20 position 10 on the starting grid for the feature race.
The tough track conditions meant limited passing, but Sutherland was able to hold his position for the full 35 laps and maintain 10th by the chequered flag.
For Tranter it was a night of damage control.
He progressed from 12th to eighth in his first heat before moving up one position by the chequered flag in his second, when starting in 11th.
This handed him 12th on the starting grid for the C-Main where he powered his way through to finish a credible fifth.
The world series now heads to Queensland, with Round 6 set to get under way tonight at Ausdeck Patios Archerfield Speedway.
Results
A-Main: Kerry Madsen A1; Jamie Veal W2; Cory Eliason USA00; Darren Mollenoyux V52; Brad Keller S19; Lachlan McHugh Q23; Dominic Scelzi USA97; James McFadden W17; Matt Egel S97; Glen Sutherland S20; Luke Dillon S81; Ricky Maiolo S24; Jye Okeeffe V42; Tim Van Ginneken V36.
