McFadden wins at Avalon

JAMES McFadden withstood a tense final lap to claim Round 1 of the Easter Trail at Avalon Raceway.

Starting the blue-ribbon race on pole, McFadden avoided the carnage and a spirited challenge from Jamie Veal and Darren Mollenoyux to win in style on Saturday night.

After choosing the outside position, which was the proven line through the heats, McFadden made a solid start.

But Corey McCullagh, who already pocketed $20,000 as the 2017-18 Avalon Raceway track championship by making the main event, quickly gained the lead.

Providing a serious challenge to McFadden, McCullagh’s title aspirations came to an abrupt end when he spun out on corner four.

McFadden had the lead back in his grip as Ryan Davis hits the turn two wall, the second driver to bow out of the race.

With 19 laps to go, McFadden led from Jamie Veal, David Murcott and Rusty Hickman.

The quartet jostled for position for nine laps until Veal turned up the heat.

Bringing the crowd to their feet, McFadden was slightly better with lap traffic and committed to the low line, while Veal stayed high.

Then 25-year recipient Gavin White called ‘Yellow, yellow, yellow’ as Hickman backed it into corner four.

McFadden jumped early and led Veal and Mollenoyux to the chalk line.

In the Super Rods, Ewan McKenzie claimed victory from Michael Coad and Quentin Tanner.

The next event on April 21 is the 360 Digger Cup.