STEVE LINES CLAIMS SPEEDWEEK SERIES

Steve Lines claimed World Series Sprintcars Speedweek Series – Photo: Geoff Rounds

JAMES MCFADDEN produced one of his best drives to win the fifth round of QSS World Series Sprintcars while Steve Lines wrapped up his second Speedweek Series.

By GEOFF ROUNDS

Starting from ninth position, McFadden showed his skill and preference for the Premier Speedway high line to pass early pacesetter Cory Eliason to notch his first win in the 2018-19 tournament.

The Monte Motorsport driver and defending WSS champion took the lead with just three laps left to run to beat home Cory Eliason in his Diamond Bay Motorsport machine with Steve Lines in third. Lines’ result was enough to collect the Speedweek crown and the $10,000 bonus.

“To get a win on the last night is huge, I am pumped,” McFadden said.

“Qualifying is what we really need to work on…because we’ve finished well with four top-fives this week, but we only made the shootout once, so if we can get better at the start of the night, I won’t have to work so hard at the end.”

James McFadden took the round win – Photo: Geoff Rounds

McFadden became the fifth winner in five nights of the opening rounds of World Series. Lines opened the Series with a win at Murray Bridge, then defending Speedweek champion Madsen won at Mount Gambier and Grant Anderson raced to the third round win at Warrnambool.

Jamie Veal again mastered Avalon Raceway in front of a massive crowd leading home a Warrnambool trifecta with Darren Mollenoyux second then followed McFadden.

Lines entered the final night with a 60-point championship lead over Madsen with a further 55 points back to McFadden, forcing the Mount Gambier ace to race hard to keep his lead.

For Lines, looking back on his hectic week, where he never finished outside the top six and won by 56 points from Madsen had him beaming.

“I’m just relieved it’s all over to be honest. You need a bit of luck on your side and I think we had both sides of that this week,” Lines said.

‘When Kerry got past me, I was doing all the sums in my head working out where I had to be to win Speedweek. But after I got past him, I was actually not too bothered when James passed me because I knew we’d done enough and I just wanted to hold my ground.”

WSS Speedweek final standings: Lines 1329, Madsen 1273, McFadden 1262, Eliason 1087, Anderson 1026, Keller 988, Hickman 982, Murcott 968, Veal 966, Dillon 809.

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