James McFadden Takes Gold Rush Classic

James McFadden, Corey Day and Justin Sanders in Victory Lane at Placerville Speedway in Placerville, California. (Photo: High Limit Racing Media)

PLACERVILLE, Calif. — Placerville Speedway welcomed the High Limit Racing Sprint Cars on Saturday night for the 35-lap Gold Rush Classic.

James McFadden and Zeb Wise led the 28-car field to kick off the feature event. As the field took off at the start/finish line, Wise popped a wheelie but got the car back under control and took off after McFadden, who had jumped out to the lead.

With 28 laps remaining, McFadden had reached heavy traffic and could not get around no matter what he did. Friday night’s winner, Tyler Courtney, and Chris Windom were in front of him and because the track was so small, McFadden’s attempts to pass were quelled each and every time.

With the lapped cars holding McFadden up, Wise saw the opportunity arise to gain on the Aussie. Four laps later, they went side-by-side throughout the corner and Wise sailed past McFadden coming out of Turn 4, but had to slow down his mojo once he got to the lapped cars, realizing the predicament that McFadden was in. Now on the high side, Wise was stuck there and McFadden got him back going down the backstretch.

Eventually, McFadden and Wise passed the lapped cars, but now a native of the area, Justin Sanders, was making his way into the picture. With eight laps left to go, Sanders inched himself closer and closer to Wise and McFadden, all the while holding Brad Sweet off.

As they headed into Turns 1 and 2, Sanders went to the inside of Wise and ran side-by-side with him down the backstretch. Sanders hit the corner and got ahead of Wise for a couple of moments before Wise went back down to the bottom to reclaim second.

Wise, satisfied with his move, seemed to relax in his car and was about to pass the lapped car of Jamie Veal, when Veal drifted up the racetrack in front of Wise, cutting him off and colliding with Wise. Wise, now stopped because of this, had nowhere to go to avoid the speeding Sweet, who slammed into the side of Wise, sending him into the wall and smoking. Sweet slowed to a stop, shaken up as well. Both drivers were okay.

Sanders, who was practically handed second on a platter, tried to close the gap to McFadden, but with only four laps to do so, he could not make it happen.

High Limit Racing continues on in The Golden State by going to Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California, on the 22nd.