It may have taken until the very last lap, but Matthew Iwanow (Iwanow Motorsport) has led the feature race when it counted the most, stealing the lead from Daran Humfrey (Humfrey Racing) in the dying stages to claim the season opening feature race win at the Perth Motorplex.
Going through the heat races last night and tonight undefeated saw Humfrey and Travis Armstrong (Armstrong Motorsport) sharing the front row for the Greg Migro Classic feature event, with Humfrey getting the jump and staying down low with Armstrong running high in second.
Sixth place starter Iwanow was quickly weaving through cars to be third by the end of the opening lap, the top three drivers joined by fourth placed Brandon Sharpe (Sharpe Motorsport) and fifth placed Heydon Hicks (Hicks Racing ) in pulling away from the rest of the field.
Unfortunately the yellow lights came on with four laps complete as Ryan Mitchell (Mitchell Motorsport) came to a stop in turn three, bunching the field back up for a restart.
Kurt McKain and Riley Ogilvie came together on the start, McKain heading infield and Ogilvie dropping a couple of spots. Despite racing through the field after coming through the B Main, Jye Mckenzie (Jye Mckenzie Racing) also lots some spots shortly after spinning while attempting a pass, but able to keep going.
Back up front, Iwanow had managed to get by Armstrong for second, but Humfrey was well clear of the pack, just under three seconds ahead at the halfway point of the race.
The six car battle for second between Iwanow, Armstrong, Sharpe, Hicks and Riley Phillips (Phillips Motorsport ) was going hard, but it was bought to a halt as the red lights came on, Jordan Johnson going upside down in turn three after collecting the wall.
Humfrey was away again on the restart though the restart gave Iwanow the chance to stay in touch, Sharpe, Hicks, and McKenzie all able to get by Armstrong.
McKenzie, Hicks and Sharpe continued to fight it out, swapping positions over a number of laps until it all came undone, Mckenzie slowing, Sharpe left with nowhere and launching over McKenzie, but somehow able to avoid rolling and even able to restart.
With four to go, Humfrey would lead away Iwanow, Hicks, Armstrong and Phillips, but Tom Britton (Tommy Britton Motorsport) was able to get by Phillips for fifth.
Iwanow made several charges at Humfrey over the final laps, but it wasn’t until the last corner of the last lap that a dive for the lead actually paid off, Iwanow able to scoot by Humfrey coming out of turn four to claim the win by 0.287 seconds.
Humfrey held on for second with Hicks, Armstrong and Britton rounding out the top five.
With the first double header of the season now out of the way, teams have a fortnight to get ready once again, with the second Fast Friday on November 14th followed by the Wheat-belt Rumble at Moora Speedway the very next night!
Pics Courtesy Peter Roebuck.
Official Results
Heat Four, 8 laps: 1. Brandon Sharpe, 2. Heydon Hicks, 3. Brad Mitchell, 4. Memphis Knowles, 5. Riley Budd, 6. Adam Van Brakel, 7. Corey Wilson, 8. Ernie George (7), 9. Ben Foster (7), 10. Kate Walsh (7). DNF: Josh Barry (1). Total Time: No Time. Winning Margin: 0.709. Fastest Lap: 17.907 Heydon Hicks.
Heat Five, 8 laps: 1. Travis Armstrong, 2. Riley Ogilvie, 3. Robbie Clark, 4. Riley Phillips, 5. Lachie Robertson, 6. Ryan Mitchell, 7. Daniel Gilmour, 8. Brendan Newmarch, 9. Ethan Flynn. DNF: Matt Owens (4), Darryl George (0). Total Time: 2.30.147. Winning Margin: 3.501. Fastest Lap: 18.420 Travis Armstrong.
Heat Six, 8 laps: 1. Daran Humfrey, 2. Matthew Iwanow, 3. Kurt McKain, 4. Jordan Johnson, 5. Tyler McQuilkin, 6. Blake Scarey, 7. Tom Britton, 8. Mitchell Wilson, 9. Matthew Fitzgerald, 10. Kobee Ziedas. DNF: Jye Mckenzie (5). Total Time: No Time. Winning Margin: 1.939. Fastest Lap: 18.107 Daran Humfrey.
B Main, 10 laps: 1. Jye McKenzie, 2. Brendan Newmarch, 3. Tyler McQuilkin, 4. Matt Owens, 5. Darryl George, 6. Ernie George, 7. Kobee Ziedas, 8. Ben Foster, 9. Kate Walsh, 10. Ethan Flynn. DNF: Mitchell Wilson (1), Daniel Gilmoiur (1). DNS: Josh Barry. Total Time: No Time. Winning Margin: 3.524. Fastest Lap: 18.470 Jye McKenzie.
Feature, 20 laps: 1. Matthew Iwanow, 2. Daran Humfrey, 3. Heydon Hicks, 4. Travis Armstrong, 5. Tom Britton, 6. Brandon Sharpe, 7. Tyler McQuilkin, 8. Riley Phillips, 9. Blake Scarey, 10. Robbie Clark, 11. Lachie Robertson, 12. Brendan Newmarch, 13. Brad Mitchell, 14. Memphis Knowles, 15. Corey Wilson (19), 16. Riley Ogilvie (19). DNF: Darryl George (16), Jye McKenzie (16), Matt Owens (12), Matthew Fitzgerald (10), Jordan Johnson (10), Adam Van Brakel (4), Ryan Mitchell (3). DNS: Riley Budd. Total Time: No Time. Winning Margin: 0.287. Fastest Lap: 18.880 Daran Humfrey.
- Paige Middleton on Nov 03, 2025
- Article Date: 11/3/2025 by DTN Media