The Warrnambool-based racer started the A main feature in 13th position on Sunday night before cruising to fourth behind back-to-back winner Brooke Tatnell.

It was an impressive turn-up for the 23-year-old, who only signed on for the titles in October.

Veal told The Standard yesterday he originally angled his 2011-12 campaign towards the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic in Warrnambool, with the national championships scheduled for the following weekend well off his radar.

But Horrell Motorsport came knocking late last year offering the young talent a seat in one of their machines.

“I wasn’t going to do it,” he said.

“It was already going to be a big week with the grand annual.

“But Horrell Motorsport is a world series team and I thought it would be good to race someone else’s car.”

Veal jumped behind the wheel of the Q83 on Wednesday for the Prelude to the Championship in Adelaide.

He got his bearings on the Speedway City circuit, winning the B main and placing ninth in the feature, before charging into the first night of the titles on Friday.

Working hard to avoid trouble, the young Victorian kept his head down for the three-day event.

Veal placed third and fifth in heats and 14th in the preliminary A main, immediately behind Tatnell.

The second chapter was run over Saturday and Sunday night, due to rain.

Veal finished sixth and second in heats to secure 13th sport on the grid for the championship.

“It was good to race for a different team,” he said.

“They were pretty laid back but I put pressure on myself.

“I was just happy to make the final.”

Steven Lines, who won the preliminary A main, started in pole and looked to have regained his form until he clipped the fence in the 19th lap.

He later retired with a right rear wheel missing from his car, followed by fellow front-row starter Ryan Farrel who had mechanical dramas.

Young Tasmanian talent Shaun Dobson and Tatnell battled for the lead which left Veal to sneak up behind eventual third-placegetter David Murcott.

“I only got one caution for the race,” Veal said.

“I just kept picking them off one by one and all of a sudden the race was over.”

Veal returns to SRA action in his own car this weekend at Moama.

He is leading the points tally ahead of Warrnambool’s Darren Mollenoyux and Simpson’s Tim Rankin.

Meanwhile Rankin finished 16th in the B main at the championships on Sunday night, while Allansford’s Simon Van Ginneken recovered six spots in the C main to place 10th.