03/06/2021
Great Work Lockie
McHUGH LANDS STATESIDE AFTER 20 WIN AUSTRALIAN SEASON!
ECP Racing Media
Gold Coast Sprintcar hotshoe Lockie McHugh has already recorded an impressive debut on American soil after cutting short his landmark 20 win season in Australia.
McHugh’s first foray in the intensely competitive US scene was at Atomic Speedway in Ohio for the $20k-to-win KC Classic driving the Jim Muth owned #101 Maxim where he qualified 3rd quickest in his flight, before being promoted to pole position for the 40 lap main event.
A great battle with eventual winner Kyle Larson was hampered by a broken shock mount after hitting a rut early in the event, however McHugh nursed the car home in 4th much to the surprise of new fans and industry experts alike.
“It was a bit surreal being on the entry list with legends like Jac Haudenschild, Danny Smith and Rico Abreu, and then when Kyle Larson entered at the last minute, it was a major reality check,” McHugh laughed, still adjusting to jetlag.
McHugh then made his World of Outlaws debut at Lawrenceburg last Monday and bounced back from a failed steering box in hot laps to qualify 16th for the main event, and finish 10th.
“I’m just so grateful for this opportunity, for Jim and his team making me feel so welcome and trusting me when they don’t’ know me but they’ve just taken Nick’s recommendation. And Nick has been amazing putting this deal together for me and putting his friendships on the line to give me a go too. And Mick Sedl has been backing me since my teenage years and has played a major part in getting me over here. I’m just rapt to have so many good people in my corner.”
“There’s an amazing amount of racing over here, and so even though we have a schedule on paper, Ohio is quite central to multiple series and venues, so the plan could change literally overnight. But I’m happy to race anywhere and Nick has put me with some really great people,” he said, referring to his Australian crew chief in Nick Speed who facilitated the tour.
The McHugh/Speed combination has won a staggering twenty events this season for ECP Racing in their first term together and it’s a feat that various speedway historians believe has never before been achieved by any other racer in any professional division.
“I’m not sure about the twenty wins being an Australian record, but racing with Nick for Barry and Felicity Waldron has been an amazing opportunity. Nick has taught me so much on and off the track and every time I get in the car, I’m confident that it’s going to do what I want it to.”
McHugh’s American schedule now focuses on the Allstar Circuit of Champions Speedweek starting at Attica, Ohio on June 11.
Photo : Corey Gibson Photography
