Murray Bridge based Sprintcar racer Ryan Jones broke a four-season winless streak as he won a dramatic feature event on Saturday night (October 7) at his home track, the Murray Machining and Sheds Murray Bridge Speedway. After starting on the front row for the 30-lap final Jones led the entire journey to claim the 2017 Bill Wigzell Battle of the Bridge and his first Ultimate Sprintcar Championship A-Main.

The win was a milestone victory for the 32-year-old as it was his 25th career main event victory and it completed the trifecta of memorial races in South Australia as Ryan had also previously won the George Tatnell Cup at Speedway City and the Ross Wright Sprintcar Memorial at Murray Bridge.

Shortly after clearing the scales making the win official all Ryan could do was shake his head in disbelief as he sat in his #s63 Murray Machining and Sheds supported Triple X.

After finishing third in the Ultimate Sprintcar Championship SA last season, ironically behind the two other drivers on the podium, it was the perfect way to get the 2017/18 season campaign underway.

“I have said it before and I will continue to say it I wouldn’t even be out here let alone winning races if it wasn’t for Val and Darryl Wright from Murray Machining and Sheds. They are my number 1 supporters along with my Family. We are just a small budget team in a rich person’s game. I can’t thank them enough”.

“This win means a lot to me. Bill Wigzell drove for the Fischer Family who had their race team based not too far from our house. They were one of the first true professional Sprintcar Teams back in the 60’s and they were instrumental in building this race track so it is great to win a race that honours both the Wigzell and Fischer Families” added Ryan on the podium after a jubilant wing dance.

With qualifying in hot laps Ryan managed to time in third in his group setting up two second row starts in his heat races. After finishing third in both of his preliminaries Ryan qualified for the Top 8 Shootout in position six but after competing in all three shootout sessions he progressed from position six all the way to the front row.

Ryan will now turn his attention to Round 2 of the Ultimate Sprintcar Championship SA at Murray Bridge on November 4, 2017.

Ryan Jones would like to thank the following corporate partners for their support during the 2017/18 season: Murray Machining and Sheds, Triple X Chassis, PM Race Engines, Vortex Wings, Elite Electrical Solution and Services SA, Rowe Aluminium and Security, ULX 110 Oils, Sprint Shack and Phil Michell Motorsport Media.