Kaiden Manders claimed the Grand Final of the Maddington Toyota Sprintcar Series at Western Australia’s Perth Motorplex on Saturday night – and in doing so also claimed the Maddington Toyota Triple Crown $3,000 bonus.
Dayne Kingshott, who finished second, did more than enough to be crowned the overall series championship for Krikke Motorsport, receiving a $24,000 bonus.
That’s just two of the many storylines that played out in front of a big crowd at the final show of the season – marking what has been a remarkable summer of racing in Western Australia.
Manders started fourth in the final and got to the lead over Kingshott, who started second with about 13 laps remaining.
From there he has never seriously challenged in a track that took rubber, crossing the line ahead of Kingshott and defending series champion James Inglis, who started 13th and for his great drive was this round’s Kincrome Hard Charger.
Manders started the night off in the best possible way, being quickest in his qualifying group before a third in his heat and a second to Kingshott in a very entertaining B Dash.
Kingshott was second in his qualifying group before winning his heat race from third, and then earning his front-row start after the B Dash win.
Inglis struggled again in qualifying and had to dig deep, being fifth in his heat race before having to run the Midpack Dash where he was second.
Another former series champion in Callum Williamson joined Kingshott on the front row after being second quickest in his qualifying group before winning his heat race from third and winning the A Dash from Victory 1 Performance Quick Timer Daniel Harding.
Unfortunately for Williamson, his race was over after just a handful of laps after attempting a move for the lead coming out of turn four, only to run out of room and heavily destroying the car.
A lap after the restart, Manders got by Harding for second and moments later Jy Corbet, subbing for Jamie Veal in the Monte Motorsport No. 17, spun, triggering a caution period before resuming from the rear of the field.
Kingshott was just starting to make his way into lapped traffic with 21 laps remaining when Jack Williamson spun for another caution.
Corbet spun again with 16 laps remaining and was out of the show. As the field regrouped Tim King headed to the infield after running 10th.
Shortly afterwards Taylor Milling, who was running sixth, also withdrew from the contest for another caution.
At this point Kingshott was leading Manders, Harding, Andrew Priolo and Trent Pigdon who rounded out the top five, with Inglis just behind in sixth.
Manders delivered the winning move with 13 laps remaining and two laps later Harding was putting the pressure on Kingshott for second. As Inglis kept edging towards the front of the pack, he ultimately snagged the final podium spot.
Harding held on for fourth, holding off late challenges from Priolo who started and finished fifth ahead of Pigdon who started seventh and finished sixth.
Kingshott claimed the championship with 2,820 points, 66 clear of Inglis who had 2,754, while Maiolo was third with 2,650 points, ahead of older brother Jamie with 2,584.
Manders was sixth heading into this round, but his win elevated him to fifth on 2,574 points, edging out Coyle on 2,562.
Feature Finish
1st Kaiden Manders, 2nd Dayne Kingshott, 3rd James Inglis, 4th Daniel Harding, 5th Andrew Priolo, 6th Trent Pigdon, 7th Brad Maiolo, 8th Kris Coyle, 9th AJ Nash, 10th Jason Pryde, 11th Jack Williamson, 12th Jason Kendrick, 13th Jaydee Dack, 14th Myles Bolgher, 15th Jamie Maiolo, 16th Brock Francis, 17th Aaron Chircop, 18th Rod Howe. DNF: Cameron McKenzie, Todd Davis, Taylor Milling, Tim King, Jy Corbet and Callum Williamson.