The reigning Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic winner became just the third driver, joining fellow south-west driver Jamie Veal, to set a nine-second lap at the Allansford track when he clocked 9.986 in flight one qualifying.

McCullagh, 28, said it was a thrill.

“It is the quickest I have ever been around here and I think there’s only three people who have done the same thing,” he said.

“It was literally one of the (most) perfect laps I have ever done but also one of the fastest.

“I am just happy to reward the (pit crew) boys, they’ve been doing a good job, and the sponsors for sticking behind me.”

McCullagh said it was pleasing to show improvement.

“I think my previous (best) one was about two years ago when I was 10.26 (seconds), so to knock three tenths off that is pretty cool,” he said.

The Victorian 90 driver said a change to his car set up had him feeling confident ahead of his Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic defence in January.

"We made some changes this morning to the motor and it’s running really well so I am actually more excited about the classic now,” McCullagh said.

“If you asked me last week I wasn’t, so I think we’re getting the 90 car back to where it belongs.”

McCullagh said he felt no added pressure to go back-to-back in Australia’s most esteemed speedway race.

“I have already won it once and I’d like to do it a couple more times but we’ll focus on week by week and see what happens,” he said.

Meanwhile, WSS points leader Kerry Madsen and Warrnambool’s Darren Mollenouyx were in a crash in heat two, throwing doubt over the rest of their round three campaigns.