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After winning last Saturday night James McFadden will hoping to add the NT Title this weekend (Phil Michell Photo) |
NT Sprintcar Title Begins Tonight
Author : Northline Speedway
James�McFadden has driven in some of the biggest race meetings in the world, and won the biggest events in Australia.� But he's never won an NT Title.�
In fact, he never raced in one. But�the two-time�Australian Champion�will have his sights firmly set on winning the�crown�this�weekend at Northline Speedway.�
McFadden said Northline was a happy hunting ground – having won his first Australian title at the track back in 2010.�
“It's�awesome to be�back�- we've felt really welcomed here," he said.� McFadden left Alice Springs a decade ago as a fresh-faced 17-year-old�to begin a professional�sprintcar�career.�
On August 12, McFadden made it as far as the B-Main in the biggest�sprintcar�race in the world – the Knoxville nationals in the USA.�
The very next weekend he was racing in Darwin. But the changes in track from the wide, high-speed 800m�Knoxville track to the tight, 400m bullring at Northline is just a part of the challenge.�
"You've just�gotta�adapt as�quick�as�you�can – it took me a�few heat races to adjust,�but the�next night we were better.�
"This track is perfect for�me –�being as slick as it is, it's�super�racey."� Last weekend, McFadden was leading the Defend the Top End race on Friday night, before a gremlin forced him infield with a�handful�of laps to go, leaving the win to Chace Karpenko.�
On Saturday night he had no such issues – setting�quicktime�in�hotlaps, before sweeping his heats, winning the pole shuffle, electing to start from 11th�and winning the Pope65.� He reckons there's still more speed to be found in the Monte Motorsports machine.�
After a solid week one, Karpenko finds himself leading the Chariots standings.�
But to win this weekend, the three-time champion said he will have to lay it all on the line.�
"I've been a little conservative – I haven't pushed too hard or taken too many risks," he said. � "We’re going to give it everything this weekend and if we get some luck and I make the right calls in traffic, we're in with a chance."� Karpenko said his biggest obstacle was undoubtedly McFadden.�
"He's been full time in a race car for the past 10 years … (Monte Motorsports) are�a professional outfit and he's a hell of a racer.� "It's awesome to have people of his�caliber�racing up here, because we all go to the next�level.��
"Everyone is beatable – I want to bring it home for the locals on the hill who come watch us every week."�
Another former Australian champion, David�Murcott�will also be fast and eager to win the title, as will locals�Ben Atkinson and Jason Gebert.�
The NT�Sprintcar�Titles will be held over two nights starting this evening.�
On the undercard is the NT Title for the AMCA nationals, held over both nights.�
Formula 500 will also race both nights, while the Wingless Sprints will take to the track tonight, and the Speedway Karts tomorrow.
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