McHugh lands first blow

The 2024/25 Brandt Sprintcar Speedweek is underway and a familiar face is on top in Lockie McHugh, but only after a fierce fight with Brock Hallett.

The five-race fight kicked off at Murray Bridge on Boxing Day and the Australian champion overcame Hallett by 2.182s.

McHugh and Hallett exchanged the lead three times before the #A1 made the decisive blow with five laps to go.

Ryan Jones actually led the first nine laps starting from position four in his heat (after timing fastest in his group from qualifying, winning that heat and thereby scoring pole position in the Dash.

Ryan Jones, Lockie McHugh and Brock Hallett on the Murray Bridge podium. Image: Ray Ritter

The Murray Bridge local hero sped to the win in the Dash where he began the A-Main from pole position alongside Hallett with McHugh and Luke Dillon on the second row.

Jones was as fast out of the gates as Sam Konstas and led early and looked to have the consistency and speed to get the job done in the 35-lap A-Main but Hallett and McHugh closed in as the lead trio encountered dense lapped traffic.

After Hallett and McHugh picked off Jones in consecutive laps, the wrestled for the lead.

Hallett led laps 10-16 before McHugh made his first move, while Jones also picked off the #Q5, demoting it to third.

But on Lap 25 Hallett was back on the pace, passing Jones before making a challenge on McHugh.

A thrilling fight embroiled in the final five laps as Hallett passed McHugh, only for the Australian champion to respond immediately.

McHugh did enough to not only defend the lead, but pull away for the remainder of the race to open his account.

Lockie McHugh was too fast in his #A1. Image: Ray Ritter

Behind Jones Luke Dillon and Chad Ely rounding out the top five.

Trailing home Ely – who did a stout job ‘in the family car’ – in sixth was Daniel Pestka, American Garet Williamson in seventh, Rusty Hickman (who won the B-Main and stormed forward from 21st) eighth, Texan Chase Randall ninth and Queenslander Randy Morgan rounding out the ten.

Marcus Dumesny was speedy until a flat left rear tyre took him out, Brendan Quinn suffered front end damage that plagued him after an incident involving Steven Caruso on lap two, Parker Scott rolled on to his side in turn three-four and mechanical issues sidelined Joel Heinrich.

The Brandt Sprintcar Speedweek heads to Bordertown’s Tolmer Speedway in a special Friday night race meeting.

Brandt Sprintcar Speedweek  Points after Round One:

Lockie McHugh 250

Brock Hallett 220

Ryan Jones 200

Luke Dillon 190

Chad Ely 180

Daniel Pestka 170

Garet Williamson 160

Rusty Hickman 150

Chase Randall 145

Randy Morgan 140

Tate Frost 135

Will Carroll 130

Jy Corbet 125

Dylan Jenkin 120

Glen Sutherland 115

Riley Goodno 110

Ethan Wyllie 105

Keke Falland 100

Ricky Maiolo 98

Marcus Dumesny 96

Brendan Quinn 94

Joel Heinrich 92

Parker Scott 90

Steven Caruso 90

Tim Hutchins 85

Cam Waters 85

Peter Doukas 85

Jackson Delamont 85

Brendan Guerin 85

Ben Morris 85

Terry Kelly 85

Jason Wilson 85

Jay Brown 85

Lachlan McDonough 85

Hayden Pitt 85

Chad Gardner 85

Corey Sandow 85

Max Vidau 85

Photos courtesy of Ray Ritter

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