Jock Goodyer stamped his authority on the final night of the Red Hot Summer Shootout at Toowoomba’s Hi-Tech Oils Speedway last weekend.
With $5,000, $10,000 and $30,000 to win features over the three nights of racing, the event attracted the best Australians as well as some of the visiting Americans.
Notable among them was Sheldon Haudenschild, having his first start in Australia in the Lee Contracting entry since his narrow defeat in last year’s Grand Annual Sprint Car Classic.
The 22-year-old Goodyer took home the $30,000 winner’s check after defeating Jy Corbett and Carson Macedo on the final night of the Nutrend Homes feature weekend.
Macedo dominated the first night’s racing on the tight quarter mile oval.
Having won his heat from Jesse Attard and Corbett, the Californian piloted the Dyson Motorsports entry to victory in the dash, giving him the pole ahead of McHugh and Brock Hallett.
Macedo greeted the checkered flag ahead of Hallett and Nic Whell. Ryan Newton was fourth, ahead of Jordan Charge, Luke Oldfield, Jock Goodyer, Jy Corbett and Aaron Reutzel.
McHugh turned the tables on night two, winning the A-main from Ryan Newton and Jock Goodyer. Kratzman finished fourth, ahead of Marcus Dumesny, Reutzel, Cody Maroske, Oldfield, Charge and Macedo.
Rain delayed racing while more drizzle mid race produced a one lane track.
Brent Kratzman won the pole, but McHugh outgunned him at both attempts to start the race.
Newton and Goodyer also found their way past him to claim spots on the podium.
“Nice to get the win, hopefully the track crew can get a bit of work in on the surface before tomorrow and the fans can come out and see a really good race,” McHugh said. “Some of the lapped guys were racing you pretty hard there, but I managed to get through it clean and bring home the win.”
The final night saw the reigning Australian champion, Goodyer in a textbook display of front running lead throughout the 35-lap feature, winning from Corbett and Macedo.
The top 10 was rounded out by McHugh, Oldfield, Brock Hallett, Dumesny, Newton, Haudenschild and Matt Dumesny.
“I wanted to get to the front and control the race, I knew that’s what I needed to do, and it allowed me pick my way through the traffic,” said the victor. “I finally feel like I have a car under me here, it’s the first time I have felt it for a while – this is one of the biggest wins of my career, I’m thrilled to get the win for this team.
“It’s awesome to get this good result, just great for the team.”
With a victory and a third placing each in the three A-mains, Goodyer and Macedo shadowed McHugh, who completed the weekend with a win and a fourth placing.