Thirty-eight Sprintcars turned up at Brisbane International Speedway last night for round two of the Easter Tri-City Sprintcar Shootout. With one night in the bag and only two left for the weekend, there was action, and carnage, aplenty as 38 drivers took to BIS to try to gain every advantage and every point to try to get themselves in the best possible position heading into tonight’s finale at Toowoomba’s Charlton Raceway.

Andrew Scheuerle was absent, having sustained ligament damage during his A-Main crash in Maryborough on Friday night. Paul Morris did not make the competition, feeling a little worse for wear and deciding not to race. But with the addition of Matt Jurczak in the John Weatherall’s #95 racer and Glen Lindenberg in his #57 racer, our car count remained the same. Bryan Mann and Allan Woods both used a spare car after doing substantial damage in separate incidents on Friday night. Melissa Boyes returned, her team having repaired the #8 racer that Melissa crashed in Maryborough.

Time trials got under way and as usual there was only fractions of a second between each of the drivers. David Muir was the early pace-setter, setting quick time in qualifying after recording a blistering 11.525 second lap. James McFadden was hot on his heels with an 11.638, while Adrian Maher, Todd Wanless and Mark Pholi rounded out the fastest five. The fastest 25 cars were separated by less than one second with a couple of surprises thrown into the mix. Mark Pholi was fifth quickest with a 11.802, recording a better time than a lot of his more fancied rivals – Bryan Mann, Brett Thomas, Cameron Gessner, Peter Lack, Kevin Titman, Paul Rooks, Allan Woods, Darrell Hodges and Dan Murray completed the fastest fifteen.

Heat one got underway with Jason Bottin, from position two, getting the jump on the start with Ian Loudoun from position three slipping into second and relegating pole sitter Jason MacDonald into third. Meanwhile in mid-field, Friday nights’ winner Peter Lack was trying to find his way through the field and Anthony Lambert was trying to hang on. Lambert went a little too wide in turn two, giving Lack the opportunity to sneak through. A few laps later Cameron Gessner, who had also managed to find a way past Lambert, slipped past Lack when Peter ran too wide through turn three. Jason Bottin led most of the race, but with the chequered flag almost in sight Ian Loudoun made his move and slipped into the race lead. Ian Loudoun took the win from Jason Bottin with Cameron Gessner in third. Jason MacDonald crossed the line in fourth ahead of Anthony Lambert, Peter Lack, Tony Wynne, Matt Jurczak and Steven Johnson. David Muir was only non-finisher of the event, exiting he race after only two laps.

Scott Baker, who was incredibly impressive in Maryborough on Friday night and showing marked improvement in recent race meetings, started heat two from pole position, with Troy Coomber alongside. Coomber got the jump on the start, while Baker pulled infield with mechanical problems in the #46 racer. Unfortunately for Baker it was drive-line issues and he reluctantly decided his night was over. Baker runs only a small budget race team and with only one crew member to help him out last night he simply didn’t have time to get the car repaired and trackside for the remainder of the night. It may also spell the end of his weekend of racing. Troy Coomber led much of the race, with Kevin Titman hot on his heels and James McFadden patiently waiting for his chance, searching for the right path into the race lead. With the white flag already in the air race-leader Troy Coomber got a little out of shape in turn two. Kevin Titman managed to avoid him, while McFadden knew it was now or never and in a heart-stopping moment pulled off a magnificent passing move on Titman and Coomber through the final corners to steal the lead and the race win, and leave everyone somewhat speechless. Troy Coomber crossed the line in second ahead of Kevin Titman, Tim Garrett and Dan Murray. Brett Thomas, Brodie Tulloch and Niall Chandler also finished the 10-lap journey. Scott Baker was the only non-finisher.

Heat three saw Murray Gibson and Melissa Boyes share the front row of the starting grid with Boyes getting the jump on the start. From there she didn’t look back and left the rest of the field to battle it out behind her. Gibson faded a little as the race wore on, with Mathew Butler sitting in second and doing a magnificent job to hold off Richard Morgan and Bryan Mann. Melissa went on to take the win, a much-needed boost to her confidence after Friday night’s crash, with Matthew Butler in second ahead of Richard Morgan, Bryan Mann and Murray Gibson. Adrian Maher put the pressure on Gibson but ultimately finished sixth ahead of Brock Dean, Paul Rooks, Gary Finglas and Glen Lindenberg.

Things started to get messy in heat four. Ray Eager lined up in pole position with Brent Kratzmann alongside and while Kratzmann got a good start to lead the field through the opening corners, Eager seemed to slow leaving Allan Woods with nowhere to go. Contact between Woods and Eager saw Woods invert the #28 racer in turn two. Woods was unscathed but considerably upset. He evacuated his car and started heading down towards turn four where Eager had come to a stop. Sprintcars Queensland did their best to stop and calm Woods but Woods was determined to have words with Eager. There were some very heated words before Woods left the racing circuit. With two broken cars, and less than 24 hours until the tri-city challenge heads to Toowoomba, Woods left BIS early, heading home to try to repair the car he crashed in Maryborough – it was the least broken of the two. Meanwhile heat four continued, minus Woods and minus Eager. Kratzmann too pulled out of the event before taking to the restart. It was young Luke Rowell who eventually took the win from Todd Wanless, Craig Stevenson, Mark Pholi and Darrell Hodges. Gary Hann, Allan Woods, Brent Kratzmann and Ray Eager all failed to finish.

Heat five was supposed to see Jason Bottin start from pole position with Scott Baker alongside, but with Baker out for the evening Brodie Tulloch was elevated to the front row, with the whole outside row of the original starting order moving one row closer to the front. Tulloch got the jump on the start, settling into the race lead as chaos broke out behind him. Brett Thomas got a little sideways in turn four, rode over Dan Murray and inverted the #69 racer. Thomas has had a couple of particularly big crashes in recent times and while this one was only small by comparison, the car sustained sufficient damage to put him out of the race. Brodie Tulloch led the full restart that followed, with Jason Bottin settling into second and holding off Ian Loudoun and Peter Lack. Bottin pulled infield after only two laps, leaving Loudoun to chase down Brodie Tulloch. Tulloch had a massive lead, but Loudoun caught him in lapped traffic and when Tulloch got stuck behind Steven Johnson and was busy searching the highline for a way around, Loudoun seized the opportunity and ducked down to the low line, slipping past both Johnson and Tulloch to steal the race lead with only half a lap to run. Ian Loudoun went on to take the win from Brodie Tulloch, Peter Lack, David Muir, Dan Murray, Niall Chandler and Steven Johnson. Jason Johnson and Brett Thomas both failed to complete the race distance.

Troy Coomber and Jason MacDonald shared the front row of heat six, with MacDonald getting the advantage when the lights turned green. While MacDonald made himself comfortable in the race lead, young Tim Garrett impressed everyone as he moved up into second. Kevin Titman and James McFadden were working their way through the field. With only a few laps to go Tim Garrett, in second, bounced through a rut, giving both Titman and McFadden the chance to make a move, slipping by Garrett and relegating him to fourth. Jason MacDonald went on to take the win from Kevin Titman, James McFadden, Tim Garrett, Cameron Gessner, Anthony Lambert, Tony Wynne and Matt Jurczak. Troy Coomber exited the race after completing only eight laps.

Heat seven hit the track and with the action starting before the lights turned green it was easy to see just how keen everyone was for every point available. Melissa Boyes and Ray Eager started alongside each other on the front row, but both were sent one row back for poor starts. By this stage Craig Stevenson had exited the race with front damage after contact with Mark Pholi on the start so when Boyes and Eager were relegated one row back, Brock Dean and Darrell Hodges were promoted to the front row. It was thought there would be no stopping Hodges from the front row, and for a while that remained true. Darrell got the jump on the start and opened up a massive lead over the rest of the field. But unfortunately for Darrell he would end up in the wrong place at the wrong time. When Glen Lindenberg at the tail end of the field hit a rut in turn three, Hodges, coming around to put Lindenberg one lap down, had no choice but to the spin the beautiful #5 racer to avoid Lindenberg as he flipped the #57 racer through the turn. Glen was uninjured in the incident, but was out of the race, while Darrell restarted but was relegated to the rear of the field. Brock Dean inherited the race lead and went on to take the win from Adrian Maher, who pushed particularly hard in the closing stages of the race. Paul Rooks, Mark Pholi, Darrell Hodges, Melissa Boyes, Gary Hann and Ray Eager. Glen Lindenberg and Craig Stevenson were the only non-finishers of heat seven.

Brent Kratzmann and Murray Gibson started off the front row of the final heat of the night, but the first start was aborted when officials deemed Kratzmann to have jumped the start. Second time around it was Gibson who got the advantage and led the opening laps. Todd Wanless was working his way through the field, but with only four laps to go the yellows were brought on for the spun car of Matthew Butler. On the restart contact between Murray Gibson and Todd Wanless saw Wanless complete a 360-degree spin in turn two and keep the car moving, but left Bryan Mann with nowhere to go. Mann became stranded in turn two and the yellows were brought out once more. Murray Gibson pulled his #91 racer to the infield before the restart, gifting the race lead to Wanless. Richard Morgan, who had been biding his time in the minor placings was now up to second and with a heat race victory within his grasp he made a bold move on Wanless and slipped into the race lead. From there Morgan didn’t look back and went on to take the race win, while Todd Wanless and Matthew Butler had a thrilling battle for second over the last two laps. Butler, sitting in third, slipped past Wanless to momentarily steal second, before Wanless took his position back. Richard Morgan won the heat from Todd Wanless, Matthew Butler, Bryan Mann, Luke Rowell, Brent Kratzmann and Gary Finglas. Murray Gibson was the only non-finisher.

Jason Bottin was meant to start from pole position in the C-Main, but never made it trackside, leaving Niall Chandler and Troy Coomber to lead the start. Coomber got the jump on the start and opened a small but comfortable lead, while Murray Gibson tried to work his way forward. No one could get near Coomber out the front and he went on to take the win with Murray Gibson eventually slipping into second and securing the final transfer to the B-Main. Gary Finglas slipped into third in the closing two laps with Niall Chandler crossing the line in fourth ahead of Brent Kratzmann and Gary Hann. Steven Johnson hit a rut in turn three only three laps into the race and inverted the #38 racer. Steven was a little shaken but uninjured and out of the race. He was the only driver to fail to finish the C-Main.

Watching the Dash event anyone could be forgiven for thinking all the points and prize money were to go to the winner of the six lap race. Todd Wanless and James McFadden shared the front row of the grid and when the lights turned green the pair both took off like rockets, leaving the rest of the field in their wake. Sprintcars Queensland officials didn’t like the start, pointing the finger at Wanless for jumping the start. Second time around it was much the same with Wanless getting the advantage, McFadden slipping into second and the rest of the field trying to catch up. McFadden gave Wanless everything, searching high and low in a thrilling battle that lasted the entire race distance. Todd Wanless was the first to greet the chequered flag with James McFadden in second ahead of Adrian Maher, Bryan Mann, Mark Pholi (in his first Dash event) and Kevin Titman.

Darrell Hodges started from pole position in the B-Main event and was not about to let anyone or anything stand in his way. Hodges got the jump on the start, with fellow front row starter Dan Murray settling into second. Tim Garrett, from position five, had a magnificent drive to slip into third with the leading three opening a small margin over the rest of the field. Jason MacDonald had problems early with the turn two wall, while Craig Stevenson was forced to retire early from the race with a very flat right rear tyre. Murray Gibson got a little sideways coming out of turn four and headed towards the infield, getting stuck on the main straight concrete barrier. As the yellows were thrown on for Gibson, Luke Rowell and Tony Wynne came together in turn four. Gibson, Rowell and Wynne were all unable to restart. Darrell Hodges led the restart from Dan Murray and Tim Garrett with the leading trio going on to finish first second and third in the B-Main event. C-Main winner Troy Coomber had a brilliant drive to come right through the field, and cross the line in fourth, securing a transfer to the A-Main. Brett Thomas and Brodie Tulloch crossed the line in fifth and sixth respectively and both also transferred to the A-Main event. Matthew Butler was next across the line ahead of Brock Dean, Anthony Lambert, Melissa Boyes and Matt Jurczak. Luke Rowell, Tony Wynne, Murray Gibson, Craig Stevenson and Jason MacDonald all failed to finish the 20-lap journey.

Eighteen cars lined up for the start of the 30-lap A-Main event. Todd Wanless and James McFadden off the front row picked up right where they left off in the Dash. With only a few laps run Wanless led from McFadden, Maher and Mann, but further back in the field Ian Loudoun had a spin in turn two while Troy Coomber slammed the wall. Coomber left the race while Loudoun restarted at the rear of the field. On the restart James McFadden pulled of a beautiful slide-job on Wanless to steal the race lead and immediately set about opening up a comfortable lead. Two laps into the restart Tim Garrett had dramas in the #31 Brisbane Foundry racer – the engine suddenly cutting out heading down the back straight. Garrett slammed the back straight wall, managed to keep the car on all fours, slowed quickly as he circulated on the high-line hoping everyone would see him in time to avoid contact. He slowed to a stop in turn four, without anyone else becoming involved, but Garrett’s race was over.

James McFadden led the rest from Wanless and Adrian Maher, while Kevin Titman found a way past Bryan Mann relegating Mann to fifth with Cameron Gessner biding his time in sixth. Disaster struck for Brett Thomas in turn four only seven laps into the race. Contact with Brodie Tulloch launched Thomas high into the turn four catch fence in a massive crash before he fell back to track and landed hard. Thomas emerged from the wreck uninjured but was out of the race. James McFadden once again led the restart from Todd Wanless and Adrian Maher with Cameron Gessner now up to fourth and coming on strong. Half a dozen or so laps later Bryan Mann, who had faded to about sixth, had a huge moment in turn four when mud jammed his throttle open. Mann became nothing more than a passenger as the #16 racer flew at the fence, crashing violently, ripping the car apart before landing, with the throttle still stuck open and massive fire erupting in his engine department before Bryan managed to shut it down. Bryan emerged from the wreck unscathed and in reasonably high spirits considering it was his second wreck of the weekend. James McFadden led the restart and was untouchable in a class of his own. Cameron Gessner decided it was time to make his move and slipped from fourth past Maher and Wanless and into second. But even Gessner had nothing for McFadden who was WAY out in front. Meanwhile further back in the field B-Main winner Darrell Hodges was flying – working his way through the field in the a typical Darrell Hodges way. He made big passing moves on David Muir, Richard Morgan and Kevin Titman and moved his way up to fifth in an incredible drive. James McFadden went on to take the win, much to the delight of the BIS crowd, with Cameron Gessner in second and Adrian Maher snatching third from Todd Wanless in the closing corners of the race, beating Wanless across the line by only 0.118 seconds. Todd Wanless finished fourth ahead of a very impressive Darrell Hodges with Richard Morgan, Ian Loudoun, Kevin Titman, Peter Lack and David Muir rounding out the top ten. Dan Murray, Brodie Tulloch, Mark Pholi and Paul Rooks all finished the race, while Bryan Mann, Brett Thomas, Tim Garrett and Troy Coomber failed to greet the chequered flag.

The Sprintcar stars and their cars will head on up to Toowoomba’s Charlton raceway tonight for the final night in the Easter Tri-City Sprintcar Shootout competition and with tonight being the last chance to move up the leader board, you can be sure the racing action seen at Maryborough and Brisbane International Speedway really is only just the beginning. It will be action aplenty when the Sprintcars roll into Charlton tonight so get yourself trackside and see it all for your self! With last years Twin-City Challenge winner Andrew Scheuerle out injured we will be tonight crowning a new champion. Only time will tell who it will be.