Veal takes finale, McHugh title
Jamie Veal started 2025 with a bang by winning the Brandt Sprintcar Speedweek finale in Warrnambool, but Lockie McHugh did enough to secure the crown.
The five-race Speedweek ended on a night full of high drama at a well attended Premier Speedway.
It was another attritional night with 10 of the 25 cars failing to finish the 35-lap affair, but Veal was dominant, leading the final 27 laps ahead of Jordan Rae and Garet Williamson.
A fourth place finish was more than enough for McHugh to wrap up the overall Brandt Sprintcar Speedweek.
Having never missed a top five, the impressive consistency saw the Australian champion collect 1090 points and emerge a convincing 200 clear of Ryan Jones.
The Brandt Sprintcar Speedweek field under gloomy skies at Premier Speedway. Image: Ray Ritter
“Tonight was pretty difficult and got kind of held up by a few people in that feature race
“A few cautions came out that did not go our way.
“But the boys have had the car fast all week and we have managed to be consistently fast in the top five which is what you need to do to get these series wins.”
Jamie Veal on the top step of the podium after victory with Garet Williamson and Jordan Rae.
Jack Lee and Rae were on the front row when the lights went out and Rae put the foot down on the high line as the pole sitter also slipped to fifth behind Jamie Veal, Garet Williamson and Luke Dillon.
After seven laps it was clear Veal had the best pace of the top five as he chased down Rae.
At the end of Lap 7, he saw his opportunity and pounced with Rae getting trapped on the apron by lapped traffic.
As Rae crawled on the bottom, Veal swooped by up high as Williamson performed a slide job to demote Rae to third at the same corner.
After around 10 laps of shadowing, Williamson used the wall on the exit of Turn 2 as a slingshot to propel him past Veal and into the lead on Lap 20.
However, Veal hit back as the pair traded the lead three times before Veal made the decisive move at Turn 4.
Their battle was disrupted with 12 to go when Rusty Hickman spun, which sparked a chain of cautions.
Veal won the restart up high as positions remained the same, while McHugh and Dillon had a fierce side by side tussle for fifth which the Australian champion won.
Luke Dillon trips over the barrier. Image: Ray Ritter
Dillon’s assault was later ended by tripping over the Turn 2 wall.
Another lightning restart allowed Veal to retain his lead, while McHugh railed the top to fly past Rae for fourth and also challenge Dumesny, only for Rae to pass them both on the inside.
Moments before the next yellow with four to go McHugh finally won a long side by side stoush with Dumesny at the top.
The caution was for Jackson Delamont, who only had three wheels on his wagon.
As Veal again drove into the distance, the best battle was for second between Williamson and Rae.
Garet Williamson and Jordan Rae had a special fight for second. Image: Ray Ritter
The pair were wheel to wheel for the final five laps with Rae holding on by the skin of his teeth on the inside.
“It felt very good and the boys worked so hard,” Veal said.
“I said I think we have got something and just had to chase it a bit harder.
“Struggled a bit with the front end and made 12 changes tonight just to get comfortable, so we will keep going.”
McHugh’s main rival throughout the series for points supremacy was Brock Hallett.
Lockie McHugh with the spoils of victory. Image: Ray Ritter
Coming into the final round the Australian Champion had the series lead and Hallett’s unfortunate DNF at Avalon whilst challenging for the podium put a significant dent in the GW Racing pilot’s aspirations.
Hallett ripped back however with Quick Time in Flight Two to kick off the Warrnambool finale and looked to be throwing it right down at McHugh until a shock driveline failure saw the Q5 grind to a halt in the heat and DNF.
This saw Hallett have to come from the C-Main where he transferred to the B-Main and stormed to fifth – nearly replacing Peter Doukas in the final A-Main transfer after a torrid run through the placings.
Hallett would finish third in the series as a result behind the consistency of Jones.
Official A-Main placings
1. Jamie Veal
2. Jordan Rae
3. Garet Williamson
4. Lockie McHugh
5. Marcus Dumesny
6. Ryan Jones
7. Jack Lee
8. Brendan Quinn
9. Brendan Guerin
10. Jordyn Charge
11. Chase Randall
12. Cam Waters
13. Peter Doukas (came from the B-Main)
14. Grant Stansfield (came from the B-Main)
15. Ashley Cook
NC. Hayden Pitt (29 laps)
NC. Luke Dillon DNF (29 laps)
NC Jackson Delamont (29 laps)
NC. Rusty Hickman (26 laps)
NC. Glen Sutherland (23 laps)
NC. Will Carroll (21 laps)
NC. Jake Smith (21 laps)
NC. Dane Court (21 laps)
NC. Grant Anderson (21 laps).
Brandt Sprintcar Speedweek Official Points
1. Lockie McHugh 1090
2. Ryan Jones 890
3. Brock Hallett 839
4. Luke Dillon 770
5. Marcus Dumesny 766
6. Jamie Veal 742
7. Garet Williamson 695
8. Cam Waters 680
9. Rusty Hickman 658
10. Daniel Pestka 655
11. Glen Sutherland 603
12. Brendan Guerin 599
13. Jordan Rae 598
14. Chase Randall 589
15. Peter Doukas 550
16. Brendan Quinn 549
17. Tate Frost 541
18. Randy Morgan 535
19. Grant Anderson 526
20. Jy Corbet 525
21. Will Carroll 509
22. Jackson Delamont 481
23. Jordyn Charge 455
24. Hayden Pitt 455
25. Riley Goodno 450
26. Ethan Wyllie 445
27. Grant Stansfield 435
28. Parker Scott 430
29. Chad Gardner 425
30. Tim Hutchins 425
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