Madison ready to teach Dad a lesson
FAMILY bragging rights will be on the line when father and daughter duo Dale and Madison Dunston join the starting grid for the Aussie Racing Car Series at next month’s Townsville 400.
The Aussie Racing Cars will be a support category when the Supercars roll into Reid Park from July 7- 9 and Madison is one of the rising stars of the series.
Madison started her racing career in go karts when she was just seven years old, with plenty of support from her father, but she’ll be hitting speeds of more than 200km/ h in her Townsville Autogroup Toyota Aurion.
The Townsville 400 will be the first time father and daughter have raced against each other and the now 18year- old Madison said she wasn’t going to hold back.
“There’s not really a rivalry, but I want to beat him,” she said.
“When he told me he was racing the Townsville 400 with me, I thought he was just joking around. Then he’s got his suit and his helmet and I realised, ‘ oh, you really are’.
“He’s always helped me and pushed me to get there – but in go karts you have to race with your same age so it’s going to be different racing with Dad.
“Most people don’t get to race their home track, so it’s a good opportunity and what I’ve always dreamt of doing, especially next to my dad on the track.”
Dale has plenty of experience behind the wheel, having raced cars, karts, and speedway for more than 30 years, but he said it would be a special moment when he gets to race with his daughter in their hometown.
“I think its more just a way to support her. She keeps telling me I don’t know what I’m talking about so I just said, ‘ look, I’m going to have a crack’,” he joked.
“I’ve been racing for 30 years now in karting and I’ve given everything a go so I thought I’d drive the little Aussie Car and see what happens.
“I’ve always planned to ( race alongside Madison) and I thought why not do it in Townsville. It makes sense. I’ve had some great support to get into the car. I don’t think it’s going to happen again for me so it’s once in a lifetime, but it will be a great experience.”
While the Townsville race will likely be a one- off for her father, Madison still has grand ambitions to reach the elite level of Australian motorsport in the Supercars Championship.
She is 19th on the points leaderboard in her second season and Madison said her confidence was growing with every race.
“This will be the first time ( racing at Reid Park) and only my second street track so it’s going to be a bit different and I’ll have to learn, but hopefully I get used to it by the end,” she said.
“I’m feeling more confident in the car and getting used to how it feels and how it turns on the track and how to compete with other drivers.”