KWINANA BEACH, Australia  After six months of immense anticipation, the richest race in Australian sprint car history arrived on Saturday night and did so with a bang at Perth Motorplex.

A tremendous crowd filled the marvelous facility and 38 stout nominations packed the pit area to begin the chase for a $100,000 payday, which comes on Monday night outside the WAU capital.

The first of two preliminary nights ended in fitting fashion with an Aussie High Roller stamping his name into the history books as the first winner in High Limit international history.

After spending a full season with Kubota High Limit Racing in 2024, James McFadden of Alice Springs, Northern Territory added a score on Australian soil to his three American wins with the series.

Coming to the win from third starting spot, McFadden watched from the second row as American Cole Macedo outran Western Australian Callum Williamson to assume the early command in the 30-lap main.

Macedo, who was making his debut at The Plex, controlled the opening 14 laps before traffic opened the door for Williamson and McFadden to apply pressure.

Driving the Team Brady Racing No. 23xX, J-Mac took his ride to the point on lap 15 when he was able to slide by Macedo in the thick of the back markers. The one and only restart on Lap 21 set the stage for an intense restart between two of the best Aussies McFadden and Williamson as the rivals slid each other, touched wheels, bounced off the walls, and did everything but wreck while racing as fierce as possible for the $12,500 preliminary score.

McFadden survived Williamsons onslaught and survived to park his ride in victory lane and perform his patented Shoey during his victory lane wing dance. It was a rewarding moment for the proud Aussie with deep roots to both his country and the series sanctioning the mega event.

Step one is complete, a determined McFadden noted. With the way these formats are leading into the $100K race, you really have to do everything right and hit on all cylinders. Im so pumped, man. How cool ton win the first High Limit race in Australia. What a huge crowd tonight. Thank you to Perth, High Limit, everyone involved for believing in Australian Speedway.

McFaddens win marked his second in four tries since aligning with car owner Sheldon Brady and reuniting with legendary crew chief Kim Buswell. The combination also won at Perth last month, that time topping the prominent Western Australia Title.

Buzzy and I have been together a long time now and you think youre going to gel right back together, but you honestly never know, McFadden said. Sheldon has given us everything we could need, and then more. Hes a great car owner, but I did have to tell him to not get too excited after winning that WA Title on first try. To be on the big stage like this, you truly dont know how you are until everyone rolls into town. Its a testament to how much time, money, and effort has gone into this operation.

Local favorite Williamson followed McFadden home to finish second-place in his Mobil1 No. 3.

With his raucous turn one fan club cheering him on, Callum led the way for The Plex Posse as the highest finishing Western Australian in his intense pursuit of chasing down McFadden.

Rounding out the podium on night one of High Limit International was the 2024 Kubota High Limit Racing champion Brad Sweet. The Grass Valley, California returned to Western Australia to again wheel the Landrigan Motorsport No. u49 outfit.

Kyle Larson made his debut in Western Australia and quickly got up to speed at Perth Motorplex, driving the Jason Pryde Motorsport No. 1k from 12^th to fourth.

Cole Macedo finished fifth.

The finish:

Feature (30 Laps): 1. 23-James McFadden[3]; 2. 3-Callum Williamson[1]; 3. U49-Brad Sweet[5]; 4. 1K-Kyle Larson[12]; 5. 2-Dayne Kingshott[7]; 6. U7-Cole Macedo[2]; 7. 8-Andrew Priolo[14]; 8. 18-Daniel Harding[6]; 9. U95-Brock Zearfoss[9]; 10. S52-Matt Egel[15]; 11. 25-Taylor Milling[10]; 12. 60-Kaiden Manders[16]; 13. U17-Cory Eliason[18]; 14. U71-Giovanni Scelzi[11]; 15. 26-Kerry Madsen[20]; 16. 80-James Inglis[17]; 17. U21-Justin Whittall[24]; 18. 24-Jack Williamson[19]; 19. U09-Matt Juhl[21]; 20. 11-Jason Kendrick[13]; 21. 9-AJ Nash[23]; 22. Q65-Luke Oldfield[8]; 23. Q66-Ryan Newton[4]; 24. 4-Cameron McKenzie[22]