GRANVILLE, Australia – Cory Eliason led an American sweep of the top-four positions during Saturday’s fifth round of Ultimate Sydney Speedweek at Valvoline Raceway.
Eliason raced to his first victory of the week in his first appearance of the winter at the .285-mile dirt track after a titanic battle with fellow countrymen Aaron Reutzel, Carson Macedo and Brad Sweet.
In reigning victorious, Eliason became the 33rd American all-time to win a main event at Valvoline Raceway.
Saturday was also the first time since Jan. 8, 2011 that United States drivers occupied the first four placings in a Valvoline Raceway sprint car feature at the finish.
“I can’t tell you what it means to get a win here,” said Eliason after the race, “I really, really wanted to be someone who can look back and say I won at Parramatta. I can’t thank my team enough for all of the hard work they’ve put in. The Stathy family have invested a lot in my racing in Australia and it’s great to pay them off with a win tonight.”
Macedo led the first 11 laps from the front row before Eliason took over for the first time, but it was just four circuits later that Reutzel stormed to the point on the 15th revolution.
While Reutzel led laps 15 through 17, Eliason re-passed the two-time Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions titlist on the 18th lap of the 35-lap feature and held Reutzel at bay for the second half of the race.
Though Reutzel had a run at Eliason on the final lap, he couldn’t get to the outside of the Californian coming off the second corner and had to settle for a runner-up finish.
Macedo filled the podium, followed by Brad Sweet, who raced all the way to the lead from ninth but had the pass negated by a lap-seven caution and fell back to fourth in the end.
Robbie Farr completed the top five, followed by Ben Atkinson, Jessie Attard, Marcus Dumesny, Ryan Jones and Grant Tunks.
Lynton Jeffrey was 11th, while McKenna Haase crossed 15th in her best Speedweek run to-date.
The finish:
Cory Eliason, Aaron Reutzel, Carson Macedo, Brad Sweet, Robbie Farr, Ben Atkinson, Jessie Attard, Marcus Dumesny, Ryan Jones, Grant Tunks, Lynton Jeffrey, Michael Stewart, Michael Saller, Jackson Delamont, McKenna Haase, Danny Reidy, Matt Geering, Ben Atkinson Jr., Mick Matchett, Daniel Sayre, Warren Ferguson, Troy Little, Brett Sullivan, Max Dumesny.