JAMES MCFADDEN’S NEW RACE WEAPON – BACKED BY SPORTING ROYALTY
Australia’s Sprintcar star and crowd favourite, James McFadden will debut a shiny – brand new race car at this Saturday’s Max’s Race – an event that celebrates another Australian Sprintcar legend, Max Dumesny.
Following several rainouts so far this season, this weekend’s event will be Premier Speedway’s opening race meeting of the 2022-23 summer season. For many of the local sprintcar regulars, the event will be the first opportunity to have a hit out at the famous venue with only weeks to go before the Grand Annual Classic.
McFadden is a two times winner of the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic and has recently returned home to Australia, following another stella season competing as Australia’s only regular World Of Outlaws competitor. He finished seventh in this year’s standings in his second full-time season running the in the World of Outlaws series.
The season started out tough for McFadden but was highlighted by a great win at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas in mid-October. The result re-established his race winning credentials and helped him to secure a new deal to return to ROTH Motorsport for the 2023 WOO season.
Returning to Australia, McFadden will be driving for his new team – Hodges Motorsport and will have his first hit-out in the new NAPA supported Triple X machine this weekend.
A smiling James McFadden and his new racer
McFadden is chasing a third Grand Annual Classic win and is hoping that this new car will take him to the victory podium of the 2023 and 50th Anniversary edition of the Premier Speedway Classic.
The new Sprintcar team McFadden will drive for was announced a few weeks ago and is not your regular speedway outfit and has been put together by Warrnambool born and bred, Sprintcar fanatic-Tim Hodges.
Hodges who is now based in Melbourne, works as a journalist and sports program producer in the sports industry. With his contacts he has assembled a stella group of high-profile sports industry people to help him create the project and with McFadden as the gun steerer they are targeting a win at the 2023 Grand Annual Classic.
Hodges is spearheading the team with passion, and the unique to motorsport ownership team structure includes some big names.
The co-owners include; AFL royalty and three-time Richmond premiership winning player – Jack Riewoldt, three-time Supercars Champion, Bathurst 1000 winner and current IndyCar star – Scott McLaughlin, as well as arguably one of Australia’s best sports broadcasters, Gerard Whateley, all committing financial and commercial clout to the project.
In securing McFadden to lead the assault, the NAPA sponsorship and confirming the project, Hodges said “I grew up at Premier Speedway – the venue fuelled my passion for motorsport and all these years later I still love the place and its biggest event, the Grand Annual Classic.
“This was always a dream to run a car in the race – it’s been a source of conversation for years really between two of my great mates, Ryan O’Keefe and Dylan Wilsher that we should do it – and the 50th anniversary made for a great time to have a crack.
“I have great people and great friends who have all been very kind and shown their support to make this dream a reality – and I hope we can give ourselves a great chance to win the race.
“James has been a great supporter of the venture, and I love the fact he’s so passionate to drive for us and hopefully we can all do something very cool together.” He said.
At this stage McFadden and his NAPA Auto Parts backed Hodges Motorsport team will run a handful of races before concentrating on the 50th anniversary edition of the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic.
Australian James McFadden and American World of Outlaws champion Brad Sweet will be racing in NAPA colours at Premier Speedway Warrnambool, to fight out the 50th running of the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic.
Talking about the program McFadden said, “To be honest I’ve never been more excited to go racing – and especially with the interest in this new team – it’s exactly what I needed,” McFadden said.
“After a marathon year of running in the States this is exactly what I wanted – to come home and have a break with my family and then hand select a bunch of races to target.
“I didn’t want to come home and do a full Aussie schedule and be travelling all summer – I desperately needed a break and that’s why this has suited the boys with the new team.”
McFadden explained the passion for the program, “I love the opportunity Tim Hodges offered with this unique deal – he’s a local boy and he knows how much the Classic means to this town, and like me this race means a hell of a lot to him and his crew – so l hope we can do something special in its 50th anniversary running.
“The Classic is one of the biggest races in the world – it’s a race I grew up watching on the hill at Premier Speedway, so it’s always on my schedule to be back home in Warrnambool for Australia Day week.
“I love the event; I love the speedway and l love the town – and I love how big the race has become right around the world – everyone over in America either wants to come down under to compete in it or to come and watch it.
As far as the lead up to the Grand Annual Classic is concerned the team are adopting a conservative approach.
“We’re just playing it by ear, we’ll run this Saturday and then run a few times over Christmas and New Year on the Speed Week schedule to make sure we’re happy,” McFadden said.
“This is a brand-new car and a brand-new team – so we just want to make sure we’re all comfortable and on the same page, and then we can concentrate on Classic week.”
Hodges and the co-owners of the team all seem excited to part of something that is new to them and well outside their normal sporting activities.
Scott McLaughlin confirmed his passion for Sprintcar racing and his desire to be part of the Hodges lead project.
Scott McLaughlin says “James McFadden – he is a serious wheel man which I love, so this project is in great hands”.
“Firstly, I’m a big fan of speedway, and a big fan of James McFadden – he is a serious wheel man which I love, so this project is in great hands.
“Secondly, I’m a great friend of Tim – he’s done a lot for me in the past with my book and some of my media, so I’ll do anything for him and with him and this is an awesome little project to be a very small part of – with a great crew of guys.
“Jack’s a great friend – we’ve had some fun times together and worked together with Hodgey on our podcast. And I have a lot of respect for Gerard – so it’s a fun team to be going into battle with.
Jack Riewoldt expressed his feelings about the project. “I can’t believe how ridiculously excited I am about this project – from the moment Hodgey told me about it earlier in the year I’ve been 100% in.
“I’ve heard Warrnambool is a massive sporting town – so I hope plenty of Tiger fans can get behind our car across the weekend, I look forward to seeing you all down there.
Gerard Whateley – sports broadcaster, AFL 360 host and host on radio station SEN, said that he was really committed to the project. “I always fancied having a stake in a horse for the Grand Annual at the Bool but instead it’s horsepower at the other Warrnambool Grand Annual.
“Above all else in sport I love a passion project and a bold plan and that’s what Tim Hodges has here – a hometown childhood dream.”
Hodges Motorsport will run the biggest week in Australian speedway across January 25 to January 29.
That includes the President’s Cup at Avalon Raceway near Geelong on Wednesday January 25.
The King’s Challenge at Borderline Speedway in Mount Gambier in South Australia, on Australia day, Thursday January 26.
The 50th anniversary Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic is being run at Warrnambool’s Premier Speedway from January 27 – 29 and is likely to be a cracker.
