Mighty McFadden is king

James McFadden drove to his latest success of the 2024/25 season, this time winning the 31st Kings Challenge at Mount Gambier’s Borderline Speedway.

Despite starting on the second row, McFadden was in a league of his own on January 23, pulling away at every opportunity and eventually winning by 2.2s.

This left Luke Dillon and Callum Williamson to settle for the smaller steps on the podium after 30 laps of hard racing.

These positions should have included Lachlan McHugh and Jock Goodyer, who were side by side fighting for second when they were left with nowhere to go by Peter Doukas at Turn 3.

Marcus Dumesny and Goodyer shared the front row with McFadden right behind them and they went three-wide through the first two turns.

It was Dumesny, who fired to the front up high, while McFadden snatched second from Goodyer by the time they arrived at Turn 3.

Completing the top five were Luke Dillon and Callum Williamson once the field settled down amid the early laps.

After eight laps lapped traffic became a factor and McFadden was hot on the heels on Dumesny.

He sent it deep down the inside of Turn 3, which gave the fans on the hill a massive treat as the leaders went wheel to wheel.

But as Dumesny wrestled to straighten the car on corner exit, McFadden surged into the lead and did not look back.

A lap later Goodyer performed the same move and demoted the #N47 down to fourth.

The fight for the front running positions did not stop however, with McHugh getting in on the act and charging past Dillon to third thanks to the high line.

Things finally settled down before it all livened up again at the halfway stage.

The current Australian champion launched a counterattack on the previous title winner at Turn 1.

The slide job appeared successful, only for Goodyer to strike back when the flew down the back straight.

All eyes were on Goodyer and McHugh as they went to continue their battle side by side into Turn 3.

But in their way was the out of shape Peter Doukas, who was trying to save himself from spinning up high.

However, he was directly in the path of Goodyer as he aimed to complete the finishing touches on passing McHugh and defending second.

But unfortunately instead of their battle carrying on, both stars were stranded in Turn 3 after heavy contact and out of action.

Dillon almost joined them and somehow missed them all to restart second, but he did not hold the position for long as Williamson slid past just before a stopped Scott Endrel brought out another yellow.

On the second attempt at racing it was Williamson on the back foot as Dumesny stole third from the WA star.

Meanwhile, McFadden was flying and already had a full straightaway on the field.

This was wiped out when Ben Morris rotated at Turn 3, spinning in front of the field and was very lucky to not get collected on the way through.

Racing resumed with eight laps left and it was all about McFadden as he cruised home by almost 3s.

Dillon, Williamson, Hallett and Anderson rounded out the top five where no position changes took place in the late dash.

Despite appearing untouchable, McFadden revealed he felt vulnerable in the closing stages.

“It was a really tough race. I was waiting for the rubber to come and with about five to go the lapped cars were starting to beat me on the exit of four,” he told Clay Per View post race.

“Turn 2 was super tricky and those guys fought over the top and gave me a free lane at the bottom at the start.

“Lapped traffic was really tough and my guys did a great job.

“We have finally time trialled good and hopefully that leads into the Classic.”

Now the speedway world descends on Premier Speedway for the first of three nights of the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic in Warrnambool.

2025 Kings Challenge results

Image: Richard Hathaway Photography

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