Australian Champion Lockie McHugh scored a hard fought victory in Round One of the Brandt Sprintcar Speedweek at Murray Machining & Sheds Murray Bridge Speedway but not before enduring an epic struggle with Brock Hallett and Ryan Jones.
It was Jones who almost enjoyed the perfect night, 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.
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 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 all gathered together as the lead trio encountered dense lapped traffic.
Hallett and McHugh would swap the lead multiple times in the last third of the race in what was a thrilling battle in front of an excellent crowd.
Jones held sway in third but never gave up on the idea of regaining his lead and gave second placed Hallett plenty as he in turn tried to relieve the A1 of his advantage.
In the end it was McHugh who escaped their clutches and sped to victory in the SRV Road Freight #1 COOL Chassis over Hallett, 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 10.
Tasmanian Tate Frost was 11th, Warrnambool’s Will Carroll was a stout 12th place ahead of Queenslander Jy Corbet, South Australian’s Dylan Jenkin (who was quick time in Flight Two of qualifying) and Glen Sutherland, Knoxville Iowa’s Riley Goodno in 16th, Tasmanian Ethan Wyllie, South Australians Keke Falland and Ricky Maiolo placing 18th and 19th respectively.
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.
