McFadden wins Easter Trail

A SECOND-place finish in last Sunday’s A-Main event at Premier Speedway was enough to earn James McFadden the 2026 Easter Sprintcar series title.

~ Night 3 of the Easter Trail ~ Winner Jock Goodyer (centre) with Dane Court (2nd) left and James McFadden (3rd) right

McFadden was top of the points table at the end of the three-night trail on Sunday, closely followed by Brock Hallett and Tate Frost.

Spectators at the Allansford track on Sunday were treated to some tight racing as drivers battled to earn a spot in the A-Main.

Jock Goodyer took line honours in the main event, ahead of a fast-finishing Dane Court, with McFadden rounding out the podium.

A highly successful season on the clay saw Hallett take home a $10,000 cheque after claiming the 2025/26 Sprintcar Track Championship at Premier – his second in his career after claiming the title back in 202/23.

Last Sunday night’s final meeting on the Premier Speedway race calendar attracted a huge crowd, eager to see some close racing.

And they weren’t disappointed.

The prestigious Super Rod Cup once again proved a great spectacle, with Stan Marco Jnr taking the chequered flag after a head-to-head run to the line with Jacob Pitcher.

In a heart-stopping incident, Pitcher endured a dramatic final-lap contact which saw his car airborne as it crossed the line.

With the red lights activated after the chequered flag had been waved (the remainder of the field had not crossed the line and the race was declared complete), results reverted to the previous completed lap, promoting Shannon Meekins to third.

In a social media post earlier this week, it was said that Pitcher was recovering in a Melbourne hospital with a punctured lung and three fractured vertebrae in his neck but was in high spirits and was already talking of a return to racing once 100 per cent recovered.

Thoughts are with him for a speedy recovery.

The annual fireworks show and an appearance by the Easter Bunny added to the family-friendly atmosphere of the night.