Myalup star takes lead after playing ‘joker’

Myalup sprintcar driver Brad Maiolo has taken the lead in the AHG Sprintcar Series, after finishing third in the WA Sprintcar Championship at the Perth Motorplex on Saturday night.

Maiolo played his “joker” which allows each driver in the series to have one feature race a season worth double points, giving him enough points to take the lead over series leader Ben Ellement who finished 11th. Victorian Tim Van Ginneken won the WA Sprintcar Championship from Perth-based driver and defending champion Jason Kendrick, in what proved to be an exciting night of racing.

Van Ginneken started from pole position and would not be denied in the 30-lap final.

The final six laps belonged to the Victorian, who settled and held on from the fast finishing Kendrick and in-form Maiolo.

Brad’s older brother Jamie had an excellent race, starting from sixth on the grid to finish fourth in a great effort.

American Dominic Scelzi had a night to forget, with his night ending on the 21st lap in his first race in WA.

On lap 18 there was a red light after Taylor Milling spun out on turn two and was hit by Ben Element.

Another red light came on four laps later when Lee Nash went too wide on turn one and hit the fence.

The drivers are now preparing for the next big meet of the year, with the Quit Bunbury Speedway to host the first round of the Wormall Civil USA v WA Sprintcar Speedweek.

This will also serve as the sixth round of the AHG Sprintcar Series.

In the late models, Bunbury’s Brad Blake continued his hot form, coming from seventh to win the 20-lap feature on Saturday night.

The victory has Blake in the outright lead in the Perth Motorplex Track Championship with three podium finishes in three rounds.