McFadden earns ‘crown jewel’ from Tuscarora 50
Quite a final weekend at Juniata County oval
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PORT ROYAL -- James McFadden is still not a huge fan of Port Royal
Speedway, but after winning the Tuscarora 50 Saturday night, the track is moving up on his list.
McFadden's week started with a flip on Thursday night while battling for a podium finish and then he got collected in a nasty crash at the
start of Friday night's dash. A head-on wreck into the inside wall
destroyed the Macri Motorsports 39M.
But, the team, led by Joe Mooney and recovering regular driver Anthony Macri, went to work and built a new car for McFadden.
It didn't miss a beat as McFadden charged from the 11th starting spot to the $59,000 win. He's the third driver to win a major sprint car
race in the 39M this season, including Macri at the King's Royal, and
Kasey Kahne against the Outlaws at Williams Grove Speedway in May.
Even before the weekend, McFadden had a love-hate relationship with the track. "It's creeping up on my list," McFadden said. "This is special, especially after the last two nights. It's been well documented that I head-butted the fence about every time I hit the track."
McFadden said he was bruised and battered from the crashes, but it
didn't show Saturday. "Credit to these guys, we went back to the shop and built another car, and came out swinging tonight," McFadden said. "To start 11th and drive to the front like that is special. It shows how good Joe and those guys are. I had to get my inner Anthony Macri out and pound the fence and it worked tonight.
He had plenty of praise for his crew chief.
"It's a testament on how good Joe can get a car, how good he can read a car and different drivers," McFadden said. "It's been really cool to work with him. I worked with him at KKR and hung out a lot. To see what he's achieved is pretty special."
The emotion poured from McFadden. "For me, to come to Port Royal, I wanted to get a crown jewel win before I retired. To get one at Port Royal is pretty special."
McFadden is a native of Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia.
"I got my first Outlaws win in a Pennsylvania car (Highlands No. 3) at
Williams Grove, and my first crown jewel win in a Pennsylvania car, so
I think I'm the PA Aussie and I'm proud of it."
Danny Sams III led the beginning of the race as Tanner Holmes and
Kasey Kahne went back and forth for second. McFadden lined up fifth and got a great restart with 16 laps completed.
As Holmes passed Sams for the lead, McFadden passed Troy Wagaman Jr., Kahne, and then Sams and was up to second. Defending race winner Ryan Timms slowed on lap 19.
McFadden wasted no time on the restart as he took the lead from Holmes with a huge second turn slider.
The cars were stopped with 25 laps completed for a five-minute break to refuel and allow crews to make adjustments. McFadden led Holmes, Wagaman, Rico Abreu and 17th starter Danny Dietrich.
The Australian Champion controlled the restart and was pounding the cushion. Holmes, Wagaman and Abreu raced three-wide for second.
McFadden's lead was 2-seconds as the battle for second raged on behind him. Holmes and Wagaman broke away from the battle and were closing on the leader in traffic.
The track was running an expedited program as rain was moving into the area. Ryan Newton slowed with 12 to go. Rain was falling lightly, but the race went back to green.
Holmes could get next to McFadden in the center of the corners, but
McFadden's momentum kept him in the lead as he raced hard against the fence. He'd win it by 1.907 seconds over Holmes, who earned $25,000 for Lancaster County car owner Tom Buch.
"This is a home run for us," Holmes said. "We were going to be happy
with a top five or top 10. The race with James was incredible. It
stings after leading some laps. We had a hard time firing off and
James got to us. I don't know if it was something I was doing. We had to battle back. I ran as hard as I could."
Myerstown's Brent Marks charged into third over the final laps after
starting ninth. Wagaman Jr. finished fourth and Abreu fifth.
"We made some changes under the red and the car got a lot better," Marks said. "I could make the top work, and carry some momentum. After the last few races, this feels like a win to us."
Friday night winner Chase Dietz, Dietrich, 22nd starter Daison
Pursley, track champion Ryan Smith and Justin Whittall rounded out the top 10.
A field of 55 cars were on hand. Abreu was quickest in Group A
qualifying with a lap of 15.368. Dietz was fastest in Group B at
15.409. The Tuscarora 50 format lined up the fastest cars fourth in
the heats, but the heat winners went to the redraw.
Holmes, Logan Wagner, Kody Hartlaub, Kasey Kahne, Wagaman Jr., and Sams won the heat races and started in the top six spots, while Abreu and Dietz started seventh and eighth.
Michael Walter won the C-main and Brian Brown won the B-main.
NOTES
Jaxton Garman of Elliottsburg is the limited late model track
champion, and Ryan Smith of Kunkletown is the sprint car champion. The titles are firsts for both drivers.