Macdonald achieves the dream

For a long time, Queenslander Nathan Macdonald has dreamt of winning the SSA Modified Sedan National Title and that became a reality at Mildura Speedway.

Macdonald went through the heat races nearly undefeated, which pushed him to the front row.

For the first time in a long time 23 drivers would take the green with defending champion Jardo Waters using his provisional start at the rear, while the front row saw the Macdonald brothers rewriting the history books as they started alongside each other, Shane having gone through the heat races undefeated to start on pole.

The hard luck story was Brody Chrystie who qualified into the main event through B Main 1 only to withdraw prior to cars entering the track, allowing Shane Brittain to take his place.

There were plenty of games when lights went out which gave Max Clarke the chance to dart to the front and fight alongside the Macdonalds.

Further back Joel Berkley, Trystan Mcgraw and Lachlan Fitzpatrick slowed to a stop on the back straight and bring the yellows came on.

The restart would be single file with one lap completed, seeing Shane Macdonald leading Nathan, while Clark took the opportunity to dart by Dylan Barrow for third, the top five fighting it out in close quarters.

But Clark soon had a moment which allowed Walters to steal third before the former eventually retired.

Nathan drew alongside Shane and coming out of turn four on lap five, but Shane stuck up high to retake the lead a lap later.

Clarke retired on lap seventeen, while the Macdonald’s approached the first of the lapped traffic, Nathan able to show the nose a number of times down low but each time Shane managed to get back in front on the high line.

Walters now led Barrow, Ramont, Darcy Wilson, and Jakobe Jetson in the battle for third, the group seeing three wide action a number of times.

With 18 laps remaining, the Macdonald’s were in heavy lapped traffic and Nathan took advantage, darting by Shane.

Two laps later there was also a change for third with Barrow able to get by Walters before a spinning defending champion Waters at turn two brought the yellows.

Barrow made the move on the restart, drawing alongside Shane, but the latter held on.

With nine laps remaining Darcy Wilson collected the turn four wall heavily and created another caution period, which gave Nathan the chance to get some tape on his damaged bonnet.

under caution.

It all came undone for Shane on the restart, hitting the two turn wall and dropping a number of positions and promoting Barrow.

Barrow stuck the nose under Nathan but didn’t gain the position, with the duo all of a sudden forced to get on the anchors as Shaun Thompsons’s machine temporarily came to a stop at the top of turn four as they came around.

This set up a four-lap run to the chequers and with two to go Nathan and Barrow were still side by side.

However, their battle was ruined by the yellows just before the chequer was due after a pile of cars collided on the back straight after Kye Walters hit the wall and Luke Fraser climbed over the side him.

This created a green, white, chequer and Nathan Macdonald went on to claim the win.

He was followed by Barrow, while the podium was rounded out by McCarthy who came from the B Main and started 20th.

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