McHugh takes Gambier on Night 2 of Speedweek

By Timothy Neal

Date posted: 29 December 2022

Lockie McHugh took out the feature race on Night Two of the Clay-per-View Sprintcars Speedweek in Mount Gambier.

After lacking the pace to challenge the front at Murray Bridge in Night One – which went to joint series leader Jamie Veal – McHugh started the 35 lap feature race on pole, but found himself dropping into P4 early.

The Queenslander held onto fourth as the lead changed several times between Veal and James McFadden, before McHugh chased McFadden down to claim victory over a fast finishing Jock Goodyer by just 1.29s.

“Obviously we struggled early. We put a much harder left rear (tyre) compound than most of the other teams did,” McHugh said.

“When we ran the Kings Challenge here last year it hurt us not having that harder tyre. We lost a few spots early in the race tonight but once that bottom groove in turn three and four really started working for me I could see that the other guys ahead of me weren’t really using it.

McHugh (middle) powered home to take victory over the late finishing Goodyer (R) and McFadden (L). Image/main image: Ray Ritter KNJ Photography

“I knew that if I could get them and pass them in one lap that would be good. I knew that if they saw me there they would cut down and take that line away but yeah I managed to get past them all on the first attempt and that probably won us the race.”

With Goodyer again storming home for a late P2 as he did at Murray Bridge (this time from the eighth row), he held off McFadden as he did in Max’s Race at the Premier Speedway in Warrnambool. Veal managed to hold onto an important P4, two seconds behind McFadden and ahead of Texan speedster Chase Randall in P5.

After finishing in P6 at Murray Bridge, the win gives McHugh a good leg up going into the critical Night 3 at Avalon before the Speedweek wraps up in Warrnambool in the New Year on January 1.

Goodyer’s second P2 was enough to bring him level on points with Veal, whose P1 and P4 sees them sharing the lead honours on 440 points each.

McHugh’s vital win places him in a close third on 420 points, with the teenage Texan in fourth with 370 points, just 10 points ahead of Luke Dillion.

Night 3: Avalon Raceway

Friday, December 30

Night 4: Premier Speedway Warrnambool

Sunday, January 1

Top Ten after two rounds

1. Jamie Veal 440

2. Jock Goodyer 440

3. Lockie McHugh 420

4. Chase Randall 370

5. Luke Dillon 360

6. Ryan Jones 310

7. Cody Maroske 295

8. Steven Lines 256

9. Tate Frost 255

10. Chad Ely 245

Livestream: Clay-Per-View www.clayperview.com

Tickets for the Avalon Speedway can be purchased via the link here.

For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION.

AUTO ACTION, Australia’s independent voice of motorsport.

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McHugh takes Gambier on Night 2 of Speedweek

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