Stewart delivers more Sydney sprintcar success for Bohud Racing

Michael Stewart’s most recent 410 Sprintcar feature race victory last Saturday night had a bit of everything as the 29-year-old extended his Sydney International Speedway winning streak.

In celebrating the win, he claimed it was, without question, one of the toughest and hard-fought victories of his career.

“I certainly had to work the hardest I ever have to get a victory, and to be able to overcome the challenges that I did during the feature race by being involved in an early incident and then working my way back through the field was something pretty special,” explained a relieved Stewart.

There were plenty of twists and turns in delivering Bohud Racing’s third feature race victory in a row at Sydney International Speedway for the 2024/25 season.

In the end, Stewart showed why he is not only one of the countries in form 410 Sprintcar racers but one of the most skillful and determined racers going around.

It started out looking good for the team as Stewart had earlier topped the field in qualifying time trials and then finished fifth in his heat race.

The NS #14 ARRMA Australia/Illawarra Truck Repairs & Spares supported Triple X car racer lined up on the outside of the front row in the feature race by virtue of his second-place finish in the Dash.

As the race got going Stewart’s run was nearly over early after he collected early pacesetter Michael Saller who had crashed out of the lead on lap four, spinning out on the main straight.

Stewart’s Tripple X didn’t receive any race-ending damage but was sent to the back of the 24-car field.

And with it all to gain and nothing to lose over the remaining 26 laps, Stewart put on a spectacular performance when he worked his way inside the top five contenders on a track where tyre management had become more and more vital during the second half of the 30-lap event.

There was a stoppage with five laps remaining and it played into Stewarts hands, as the news from his team that his tyres were looking in decent shape.

With the knowledge he had good tyre wear, Stewart threw caution to the wind and drove one of the races of his life during those remaining five laps.

Running the hi-line around the top of the track, his rivals stuck to the slower bottom of the track. Stewart picked off the cars ahead of him, one by one, and he made his final pass within sight of the chequered flag on long-time leader Ian Madsen.

At the end of the A main it was Stewart ahead of the N49 of Ian Madsen, with the N16 of Daniel Sayre in third.

“To be able to win my third feature race win in a row at Sydney International Speedway this season isn’t something I’m taking for granted, especially with the tough competition there night-in night-out, but this winning streak wouldn’t be possible without the continued hard work of everyone involved with the Bohud Racing team.”

Stewart continued on by saying that his charge in those closing laps of the feature race came off the back of his winning instinct kicking in.

“As soon as my team owner Scott (Jones) told me during the late stoppage that my tyres were in decent condition, I knew that I was going to do everything in my power to get to the front,” the 29-year-old explained.

“With the whole field running on the bottom of the track in those closing laps trying to conserve their tyres, I just ran the top of the track, and once I moved into second with two laps to go, I knew that I could win and threw everything at it, and it paid off.”

The recent win takes the tally to six feature race wins together since Stewart joined the team two years ago, and Bohud Racing team owner Scott Jones was rapt with this latest victory.

“I’m not the type of guy who shows too much emotion, but last night’s win with Michael really got the emotions flowing,” he said.

“I would count this victory as the most satisfying for the team, as Michael had to really work hard for it, and this win was just another example of what a talented driver he is, as he is always searching out there on the track and just never gives up.”

With the busy Christmas-New Year race meetings at Sydney International Speedway, which are paying $10,000 to win each, just over a week away – with the opening meeting being on December 26 – the Bohud Racing team couldn’t ask for better form.

“The Bohud Racing team and I are really looking forward to the Christmas-New Year shows, especially with the current form we are taking into it,” concluded Stewart.

Photo courtesy of Tony Loxley 

It’s been a big weekend of Sprintcar action with South Australian racer Daniel Pestka taking out one of his biggest Sprintcar career race wins at the 2024 edition of the Max’s Race at Premier Speedway Warrnambool on Saturday night.

The Kings of Wings is a great feature on Australian Sprintcar racing, and you can read this story and heaps of other great motorsport stories in the latest issue of Auto Action. ALL FOR FREE, just by clicking the link here.

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