American Brad Sweet claimed his second win on Western Australian soil with victory in the fifth round of Speedweek at Bunbury Speedway on Saturday night.
The five-time World of Outlaws champion won the Maddington Toyota Summer Slam from Trent Pigdon and fellow American Brock Zearfoss.
He started the 30-lap final from p5 and raced up to third within four laps before sliding into second by lap eight.
Sweet made his move with 20 laps remaining and through heavy lapped traffic he extended the margin and was never headed to the checkers.
He was second quickest in his qualifying group before a fourth in his heat race and a third in the A Dash.
Pigdon enjoyed his best result of the season and his first podium finish after starting from p2.
He was third quickest in his qualifying group, before wins in both his heat race and the B Dash.
Helping Pigdon on the night was James McFadden who was on hand to offer plenty of coaching for the pilot of the W19.
Zearfoss set up his first podium finish of the current Speedweek campaign by being quickest in his qualifying group, followed by a third in his heat race and a second in the B Dash.
The race was only one lap old when Andrew Priolo slowed up with damage and headed to the work area.
He resumed the battle from the rear after starting from p12.
Only moments later American Cory Eliason activated a red light situation when he crashed hard in pits bend, ending his campaign after setting the Victory 1 Perfomance Quick Time at the start of the evening.
Jamie Maiolo, who won the A Dash and started from pole, finished in fourth and while it was a disappointing end, it was his best result so far in his first full season of racing in four years.
He enjoyed a good points haul after being one of five to play their Joker card in this round and double their feature race points – the others being Jason Pryde, Jaydee Dack, Jack Williamson and Aaron Chircop.
Dayne Kingshott started sixth and finished fifth, ensuring he banked more points in the 2023-24 Maddington Toyota Sprintcar Series that he currently leads.
Popular American Rico Abreu, who has two Speedweek wins from five outings, was sixth after starting from 15th, being the Kincrome Hard Charger for this round.
Defending series champion James Inglis was right behind him in seventh after starting from p8.
Taylor Milling took ninth after coming from p14, while Brad Maiolo rounded out the top 10 after starting from p11.
Kris Coyle moved up one spot to be 12th, while Mitchell Wormall moved up four to be 13th – a much better outcome than his latest Bunbury appearance when he destroyed a car.
Jason Kendrick, who had electrical issues early on and failed to get a qualifying time, was 14th after winning the B Main and starting from p21.
Pryde was 15th (from p10), in front of Manders who originally started from p18 but had to go to the rear after changing a flat right rear tyre early in the race.
Earlier on he had a quick exit from the car in a fire incident.
Victorian Brenten Farrer was 17th, from Andrew Priolo, Cameron McKenzie, Todd Davis, Jack Williamson and Chircop who made the show in his third open sprintcar race.
The final Speedweek round will be at the Perth Motorplex next Saturday, January 13.
