---

History Made!

Last night at the Perth Motorplex was a defining night in the career of Abbey Pickering (All About Racing).

Although she has claimed a Late Model feature race win before, it had never been on the big stage and certainly never in the Pro Dirt Series, but after driving a cool, calm and collected feature race, Abbey Pickering has officially become the thirty first person, and first female ever, to claim a feature win in the Series history.

Making the win even more special, or perhaps meant to be, is the fact that the night was all about the #95 for the boys, the number that Abbey campaigns on her machine.

With the Late Models under pressure to perform and go green to chequer, all seventeen cars that started the night would start and finish the feature race, with the front row comprised of Luke Halliday (Halliday Racing) and Pickering.

As the thirty lap feature event went green Halliday jumped straight into the lead and although Pickering had a sneaky look on the outside in the early stages, Halliday began to pull away as he looked to claim his first ever Pro Dirt Series podium, let alone feature win.

Halliday began to pull away from Pickering with Rod Musarra (Team Rocket) settling into third while behind him Jay Cardy (Cardy Racing Components), Joe Chalmers (Team BCM Motorsport:), Peter Walker (Team Eighty1 Racing) and Veronica McCann (Veronica McCann - Red Hot Racing) were fighting for fourth.

Warren Oldfield (Oldfield Racing) came from nowhere and by the time ten laps were complete he had raced into fifth behind Musarra, who had been passed by Chalmers for third.

Up front Halliday was well clear, over three seconds ahead of Pickering with Chalmers now clear as Oldfield led a seven car battle for the position.

Chalmers began to close the gap on Pickering but couldn’t quite make a move, while Halliday encountered the first of the lapped traffic just a few laps past the halfway point.

With ten to go Pickering had actually managed to begin closing the gap, from well over three and a half seconds to just under two in the space of a couple of laps. By the time six laps remained Pickering was right behind Halliday, and the very next lap she dove underneath Halliday going down the back straight to take over the lead.

Halliday fought hard to stay in touch on the outside but Pickering held strong down low and maintained the lead, while Chalmers also found himself right in contention, Halliday now forced to defend rather than attack.

Pickering was now pulling away from Halliday while Chalmers continued to apply the pressure on Halliday and took the position with just two laps remaining.

From here Pickering held her nerve, racing away and crossing the line first by nearly three seconds in what was a history making performance. Chalmers would fight back for second while Halliday would hold on for his first ever Pro Dirt Series podium finish.

All seventeen cars who started the feature would finish, showing just how good Late Models are and setting the division in great stead ahead of the Five Nights of Fury coming up in just a few weeks’ time!

The 2025/26 Pro Dirt Series is proudly supported by Canning Vale Toyota & Maddington Toyota, ABN Trade Mates, McPhee Freight, Scardifield Smash Repairs, CTM Recruitment Pty Ltd, Heatleys Safety, Industrial & Automotive, Ross's Auctioneers & Valuers, SupaFit Seat Covers, Westlec Auto Electrics, My Race Pass, Wilson Brewing Company, The Event Mill and Dirt Track Nutters.

Release by DTN Media.

Pics Courtesy Richard Hathaway Photography and Cochrane Photography.

Contingency Awards
DTN Pole Sitter – Luke Halliday
Heatley’s Hard Charger – Beau Oldfield (+5)
Ross’s All Star – Abbey Pickering
Supafit Supa Seventh – Beau Oldfield
CTM Recruitment Money Ball – David Nylander
Wilson Warrior – Michael Holmes

Official Results

Heat One, 8 laps: 1. 21 Rod Musarra, 2. 94 Luke Halliday, 3. 95 Abbey Pickering, 4. 54 David Nylander, 5. 23 Joe Chalmers, 6. 50 Veronica McCann, 7. 15 Warren Oldfield, 8. 26 Ken Macpherson, 9. 77 Jorj Park, 10. 74 Nathan Richards. DNF: 11 Beau Oldfield (0), 91 Michael Holmes (0). Total Time: 2.24.2189. Winning Margin: 4.462. Fastest Lap: 17.723 Rod Musarra.

Heat Two, 8 laps: 1. 81 Peter Walker, 2. 52 Jay Cardy, 3. 23 Joe Chalmers, 4. 95 Abbey Pickering, 5. 90 David Boyes, 6. 54 David Nylander, 7. 21 Rod Musarra, 8. 36 Jay Bassanelli, 9. 26 Ken Macpherson, 10. 39 Chris Barrow, 11. 74 Nathan Richards. Total Time: 2.20.930. Winning Margin: 0.076. Fastest Lap: 17.005 Peter Walker.

Heat Three, 8 laps: 1. 11 Beau Oldfield, 2. 94 Luke Halliday, 3. 77 Jorj Park, 4. 15 Warren Oldfield, 5. 50 Veronica McCann, 6. 52 Jay Cardy, 7. 81 Peter Wlker, 8. 90 David Boyes, 9.36 Jay Bassanelli, 10. 39 Chris Barrow (7). DNS: 91 Michael Holmes. Total Time: No Time. Winning Margin: 1.205. Fastest Lap: 16.852 Beau Oldfield.

Feature, 30 laps: 1. 95 Abbey Pickering, 2. 23 Joe Chalmers, 3. 94 Luke Halliday, 4. 52 Jay Cardy, 5. 15 Warren Oldfield, 6. 50 Veronica McCann, 7. 11 Beau Oldfield, 8. 21 Rod Musarra, 9. 54 David Nylander, 10. 26 Ken Macpherson, 11. 81 Peter Walker, 12. 90 David Boyes, 13. 36 Jay Bassanelli, 14. 91 Michael Holmes (29), 15. 77 Jorj Park (29), 16. 39 Chris Barrow (29), 17. 74 Nathan Richards (28). Total Time: 9.14.929. Winning Margin: 2.722. Fastest Lap: 17.235 Luke Halliday.

---

Article Media

Back to News