Macdonald brings home 2nd in Outlaw Title
Tuesday April 10, 2007

Nathan Macdonald came close but not close enough to winning the Australian Outlaw Title in Mackay held over the Easter weekend.  Nathan qualified from position four with Adam Jorgensen on pole, Jason Boss in 2 and two time winner of the event Jeff Ohl in 3rd.  Martin Cross had qualified from position 5 but did not contest the feature race when he discovered problems with his engine.   

The 50 lap feature race was lucky to be run, as rain fell just as the cars were lining up to race.  Two attempts were made to get the race started, but the light drizzle had already played havoc as cars were sliding everywhere before the green lights even come on.  The cars were directed back to the pits, as a meeting was held with the drivers.  The rain had stopped and all cars went out to try and pack it down.  The grader was then brought out for a track grade, amazingly the surface looked great as all cars went back out to get the racing underway. 

The lights went green with Jorgensen and Boss at full noise at the exit of turn 4.  Boss got held out wide by Jorgensen and scraped the fence, Macdonald hit a wet spot and also slid into the wall up the straight and hit the back of boss'  car.  Macdonald was then back to 5th after the first turn.  Nathan got underneath Jeff Ohl into 4th, and was then chasing Chris Jensen for 3rd.  After several laps looking for a way round, Jorgensen, Jensen and Macdonald went passed a lapped car in turn 4.  Jensen got the car sideways to avoid Jorgensen which saw Macdonald come together with Jensen.  The race was restarted with Jensen on the infield with a flat tyre.  Jason Boss was out in front with several lapped cars put in place between Boss and Jorgensen. 

The restart got underway, as Jorgensen and Macdonald moved past the lapped cars.  Nathan drove underneath Jorgensen up the back straight and into 2nd, as he started to chase down Jason Boss.  The yellow lights come on for another restart, which saw one lapped car between Boss  Macdonald.  Macdonald got passed the lapped car in the first turn, as he kept with Boss.  More lapped cars come into play as Nathan drove around the outside of several lapped cars and the race leader in turn 4.  Nathan now had control of the race but knew Boss would be relentless in chasing his first Australian Title win.  Macdonald charged passed more lapped traffic as Boss snuck up the inside.  Nathan drove back into the lead around the outside and up the back straight.  Nathan went on to lead the race for several laps until Boss found a way past through lapped traffic again.  Nathan kept on his tail as the laps wound down.  Boss got a slight buffer through several cars as the 2lap board come out.  Nathan gave it all but couldn't make up the ground in the 2 laps, crossing the line in second in what was a race worth waiting for, with the appreciate crowd staying for the final event after rain threatened.  Boss took the checkered flag along with the $2000 for the win.

Macdonald congratulated Boss on a great drive and clean racing.  The two cars racing side by side through lapped traffic without touching.  "I'm happy to finish a race in second, especially when the racing is that close!" Macdonald said.  Nathan's car suffered some damage to the front of his car but was luckily only superficial. 

Nathan Macdonald had a great start to his Australian Outlaw Title campaign in Mackay after night one heats.  Nathan started from position 5 in his first heat, after picking up a few places Macdonald was held up by another car down low, not allowing him to run the line he wanted.  After Macdonald chose his line he charged around the outside and into 2nd place, as he started to chase down Mathew Hawkins in his VT Commodore.  Nathan knew he had the speed, but struggled early on to get a good run on Hawkins up the straight.   With a few laps to go Macdonald kept on the gas and had a brilliant run out of turn 4 and up the straight, both cars side by side in the first turn, Macdonald having the better line and drove into the lead.  Nathan went on to win the heat while Martin Cross was black flagged for tagging Macdonald early on and almost spinning him.

Macdonald was to start from position 5 in heat 2, as the lights went green Nathan moved forward and found his way into 2nd behind "Mad Mick" in his trusty Torana.  The track was starting to chop up a bit on the racing line, as Mick went high in turn 1, Macdonald drove straight underneath him and into the lead.  Nathan went on to win the heat.

For heat 3 Nathan had a good chance of running up the front starting from position 3, but unfortunately the car ahead of Macdonald was very slow on the start.  Nathan ducked down on the inside, but in the same instance so did the car in front of him, by this stage Nathan was almost on the infield.  Realising this wouldn't work, Nathan went to go around him but had to wait for the freight train of cars to go by as he was boxed in behind the pole car, by this stage Nathan was merely dead last by the first turn.  Nathan went straight around the car, feeling very frustrated.  By this stage the front cars were already a full straight away.  Macdonald was able to get by a few cars, and went around the outside of Chris Jensen on the final corner which saw a photo finish.  Officially Nathan finished 5th and Jensen 4th.

After a quick Calculation Adam Jorgensen has the highest points after the first nights racing, followed by current Australian Champ Jeff Ohl, Graham Jorgensen, Nathan Macdonald and Jason Boss.  Nathan is hoping for a good run in tonight's two heats, starting both from position 7, he will have his work cut out for him.

Martin Cross had his car firing well for his next two heats, starting on the front row for one and the rear for the other.  Cross stretched away to win both comfortably.

On night 2 Nathan started from position six behind Jeff Ohl.  Macdonald had a great start and went around the outside of the field into 2nd place up the back straight, but unfortunately the yellow lights come on after two cars come together.  After a full restart, Macdonald drove back into 2nd place in the the first lap.  Macdonald went to go around the outside of turn 1 for the lead, and had the lead but mis-judged it and got sideways in front of the field and then got turned around.  The race was stopped and Macdonald put to the rear.  Nathan got back up to 4th place and finished behind Adam Jorgensen.

Macdonald started from position 6 in the final qualifying heat.  Nathan moved his way forward into 2nd place behind Jeff Ohl, then moved into the lead past Ohl.  Macdonald held onto the lead and crossed the line ahead of Ohl.

Nathan would like to thank Scott Spiller for helping out with the car in the pits, and also the East family.