Thirty-six Sprintcars rolled into Brisbane International Speedway last night for night one of competition in the 2010 Queensland Sprintcar Title. With some big names in the field, and at least a dozen drivers with a serious shot at Title honours, there was never any doubt it would be a no-holds-barred night of fierce racing action. Early favourite and defending Champion James McFadden recorded the fastest qualifying time, but it was Robbie Farr who took out the preliminary A-Main, with Danny Reidy in second, McFadden in third and Todd Wanless and Darrell Hodges completing the top five.

Time trials got under way and by the time all 36 cars had completed their two qualifying laps, it was clear just how closely matched they all were. The fastest 20 cars all recorded times under 12-seconds with many cars separated by the smallest fraction of a second. James McFadden clearly meant business right from the start and recorded a blistering 11.493 second lap to secure the fastest qualifying time and maximum points. Robbie Farr was second quickest in qualifying while Danny Reidy was third quickest, only a mere 0.001 seconds faster than David Murcott. Peter Lack, Todd Wanless, Richard Morgan, Bryan Mann, Peter Thorley and Craig Stevenson rounded out the fastest ten qualifiers, while Cameron Gessner salvaged 11th quickest after loosing time on his first qualifying lap with a massive wheel stand coming out of turn four. Allan Woods was 0.002 seconds faster than Darrell Hodges, while Andrew Scheuerle was only 0.001 seconds faster than Mark Pholi. Brett Thomas and David Muir both recorded an 11.919 second lap, while Ricky Mitchell beat Kevin Titman by a tiny 0.002 seconds. Tony Wynne out-qualifies Tim Garrett by 0.002 second, while the top 31 cars were separated by less than one second proving just how tough this weekend was going to be.

Things started off on the wrong foot for Peter Lack when he inverted the #58 racer on the entry to turn four on his warm up lap. Fortunately for Lack, the damage was minimal, barely a scratch on his wings, and once officials gave the car a quick once over and the all clear, Lack was restarted and completed his two qualifying laps. Mark Pholi also had no luck, slamming the back straight wall during his qualifying laps and damaging the drive line in the #14 racer.

Heat one saw Murray Gibson and Melissa Boyes share the front row of the starting grid, with the pair having a great battle for the lead when the lights went green. Boyes however raced around the highline and managed to secure the race lead, while Gibson settled into second and the rest of the field were left to try to sort themselves out. Boyes drove a strong race out in front, while David Muir, Bryan Mann and James McFadden had a thrilling race going and started putting the pressure on Gibson. Melissa Boyes went on to take the win with Gibson holding onto second despite the best efforts of Muir, Mann and McFadden, who finished third, fourth and fifth respectively. Brett Thomas crossed the line in sixth ahead of Ronnie Barber and Peter Thorley, while Steve Johnson completed only seven of the ten laps.

Matthew Butler and Adrian O’Connell started alongside each other on the front row of heat two, but it was the action further back in the field that brought about the abandonment of the first start. Craig Stevenson and Steve Wright came together in turn two, sending Stevenson hard into the turn two concrete. Craig was somewhat winded and out of the race, and while Craig was unscathed the same cannot be said for his car. Unfortunately for Craig his 2010 Queensland Title campaign is over. Adrian O’Connell got the jump on the second start with Matthew Butler settling into second ahead of Ricky Mitchell and Tim Garrett. The end of the first lap spent disaster for Butler however, dropping the drive shaft on the track in turn one after slamming the wall coming out of turn four. While Butler was lucky not to roll, or to become entangled with anyone behind, he was out of the race and would also miss the second round of heats. Adrian O’Connell led the restart with Ricky Mitchell in second. A few laps in young Tim Garrett made his move from third with an impressive inside pass on Mitchell through turn two to secure second place and set out after race leader O’Connell. Garrett, with a little more horsepower underfoot than normal having borrowed team-mate Steven White’s engine after hurting his own a couple of weeks ago, spent only a couple of laps eliminating O’Connell’s lead and before long the pair were embroiled in a fierce battle for the lead. Garrett was having a look up the inside of O’Connell through turn two when contact between nearly spelt disaster for both. Garrett managed to get through and settle into the race lead, while O’Connell completed a 360 degree spin, front wheels high in the air, and somehow managed to get the car back on the ground and heading in the right direction having only lost a couple of positions. It was a brilliant drive by young Tim Garrett, and only a hint at what was still to come from him, and he went on to take the race win from Robbie Farr, Ricky Mitchell, Adrian O’Connell, Richard Morgan and Steve Wright. Matthew Butler and Craig Stevenson were the only non-finishers.

Anthony Lambert got the jump on the start of heat three, with fellow front row starter Des Collier settling into second. Further back in the field Kevin Titman got into the back of Tony Wynne, the pair leaving the hapless Cameron Gessner with nowhere to go. Gessner collided with Titman, sending the immaculately presented #68 racer into the turn one fence and out of the race. Anthony Lambert jumped the second start and it was third time lucky for Des Collier who managed to secure the race lead on the third restart. Lambert settled into second while at the tail end of the field Todd Wanless and Danny Reidy had a thrilling battle for position. Collier had managed to build up a massive lead over the rest of the field, but with two laps remaining Danny Reidy spun the NT5 racer in turn four, bringing out the yellows and bunching the field back up. Collier led the restart with Andrew Scheuerle right on his tail and Tony Wynne sitting in third. Des Collier managed to hang on to take his maiden heat race win with Andrew Scheuerle in second ahead of Tony Wynne, Todd Wanless, Danny Reidy, Kevin Titman, and Niall Chandler. Anthony Lambert and Cameron Gessner were the only non-finishers of the event.

Heat four got off to a bad start when pole sitter Brent Kratzmann and fellow front row starter Martin Lawes came together in turn one. Lawes went airborne into the turn one fence, and while he was uninjured the car was sufficiently damaged to end his race and more than likely his weekend of competition. Kratzmann restarted at the rear of the field elevating both Jason Bottin and Dan Murray to the front row for the restart. Murray got the jump on the start and didn’t look back, while Allan Woods settled into second. Dan Murray went on to take the win with Woods in second ahead of David Murcott, Darrell Hodges, Jason Bottin, Peter Lack, Chris Condon and Brent Kratzmann. Martin Lawes was the only one to fail to complete the race distance.

With Matthew Butler still trying to get the #71 racer ready to race again, Tim Garrett was elevated to the front row alongside pole sitter Melissa Boyes for the start of heat five. Boyes and Garrett raced wheel to wheel through the opening corners, both keen to get a second heat race victory on the board, but it was Garrett who finally managed to slip into the race lead. Both Garrett and Boyes drove a great race, while the battle for the minor positions raged behind them with David Muir, Richard Morgan and James McFadden all coming on strong. Tim Garrett went on to greet the chequered flag first ahead of Melissa Boyes and James McFadden, while Richard Morgan led David Muir, Peter Thorley Mark Pholi and Steven Wright across the line.

Heat six got underway and it was Murray Gibson who secured the race lead when the green flag flew, while Ricky Mitchell settled into second. Mitchell spent most of the race searching for a way around Gibson, but Gibson was not about to surrender his lead without a fight. Mitchell did eventually find a way through and managed to hang on to take the win, but Gibson fought back hard in one of the best drives he’s had in a Sprintcar at BIS. Ricky Mitchell took the win with Murray Gibson across the line in second ahead of Robbie Farr, Adrian O’Connell, Brett Thomas, Bryan Mann and Steve Johnson. Unfortunately for Ronnie Barber, making a rare appearance this season, he inverted the beautifully presented #55 racer in turn one with less than a lap to run, the race leaders having already finished the race. Barber recorded a DNF for the heat.

Des Collier got the jump on the start of heat seven, while fellow front row starter Brent Kratzmann had a little wobble heading into turn one that nearly brought the entire field undone. Cars went in every direction and Cameron Gessner, desperately keen to get out of the chaos and get a good result on the board, came from nowhere, right up the inside and slipped almost effortlessly into second, leaving the rest of the field to sort themselves out. Gessner set out after race leader Collier and spent a lap or two searching for the right time and place to make his move. It wasn’t long before Cameron moved into the race lead and set about trying to open a lead over the tough field coming on strong behind. Darrell Hodges, Danny Reidy and Peter Lack all came on strong, but no one had anything for Gessner. Cameron Gessner went on to take the win, with Darrell Hodges in second ahead of Danny Reidy, Peter Lack, Des Collier, Kevin Titman, Jason Bottin and Chris Condon. Brent Kratzmann did not finish the race. Unfortunately for Gessner his run of bad luck was not quite over – Cameron was slammed by another competitor after the race concluded and had his right rear tyre cut down as he headed towards the scales.

Heat eight proved to be an interesting one with pole sitter Martin Lawes unable to take to the start, and fellow front row starter Anthony Lambert pulling out of the race before it even started. Dan Murray and Tony Wynne were both elevated to the front row for the start, with Murray getting the jump on the start. It was short lived though with the red lights coming out for David Murcott who had a wild ride in turn three, shredding the main wing of the #29 racer, after the front axle broke and launched him skywards. Murcott was unscathed in the incident, but was out of the race. Tony Wynne got the jump on the start the second time around, with Andrew Scheuerle slotting himself into second. Scheuerle was attempting a passing move on Wynne through turn three when contact between the pair left Wynne stranded in turn three facing the oncoming field, leaving both Todd Wanless and Dan Murray with nowhere to go. Both Wanless and Murray hit the stranded car of Wynne and while both Todd and Dan were able to restart from the rear of the field, Tony’s race was over. Wynne, uninjured, was clearly none too happy with Scheuerle, who himself had a rapidly deflating right rear tyre. Scheuerle led the restart, with the right rear loosing air, Allan Woods made short work of slipping into the race lead, going on to take the race win, with Scheuerle managing to hold to finish second. Niall Chandler, drove an impressive race to finish third after a race long battle with Todd Wanless, with Wanless crossing the line in fourth ahead of Dan Murray. Tony Wynne, David Murcott and Anthony Lambert all failed to finish the event.

Heat nine got underway with team-mates, and brothers-in-law, Mark Pholi and Adrian O’Connell sharing the front row of the starting grid. Pholi got the jump on the start, while O’Connell settled into second and got busy trying to hold off the advances of the oncoming field. From the back of the field Robbie Farr was clearly a man on a mission, working his way forward and showing once again why he is one of the best in Australia. Mark Pholi walked away with the race win, with Adrian O’Connell holding onto second and Peter Thorley in third. Robbie Farr worked his way into fourth by the time the chequered flag flew, crossing the line ahead of Brett Thomas, Melissa Boyes, Richard Morgan, Peter Lack, Ricky Mitchell, Ronnie Barber and Steven Johnson.

Tony Wynne finally had a stroke of luck in heat ten, getting the jump on start and making himself comfortable in the race lead. Jason Bottin held a strong second, while Andrew Scheuerle was searching for a way past Tim Garrett, while Garrett tried to find a way past Kevin Titman, and James McFadden tried to make progress from the back of the field. Tony Wynne went on to take the win from Jason Bottin, Kevin Titman, Tim Garrett, Andrew Scheuerle, James McFadden, Todd Wanless, David Murcott, Dan Murray and Steven Wright.

The final heat of the night saw Murray Gibson get the jump on the start, while David Muir wasted no time slipping into second, while Cameron Gessner and Danny Reidy turned up the heat at the rear of the field. David Muir slipped past Gibson to steal the race lead and ran away from field, opening a massive lead over his fellow competitors. Darrell Hodges eventually got past Gibson to secure second place for himself, with Danny Reidy following suit. David Muir greeted the chequered flag as Niall Chandler and Chris Condon, racing for last place, came together in turn four, launching Condon into the turn four fence. The race was declared with David Muir the winner ahead of Darrell Hodges, Danny Reidy, Cameron Gessner, Murray Gibson, Allan Woods, Bryan Mann, Matthew Butler, Des Collier and Niall Chandler. Chris Condon recorded a DNF for the heat event.

The Preliminary A-Main was a sight to behold. Sixteen of the best in Queensland took to the start, with all sixteen greeting the chequered flag in a race that ran all 20-laps without incident in a thrilling green to chequer battle that is sure to continue tonight. Robbie Farr started from pole position, got the jump on the start and was never seriously challenged for the race lead. James McFadden initially settled into second, but Danny Reidy had something to say about that, slipping past McFadden to secure second for himself. Meanwhile further back in the field Peter Thorley, Bryan Mann, David Murcott, Andrew Scheuerle and Tim Garrett were all moving forward, but no one seemed to have anything for the leading three. Robbie Farr went on to take the win with Danny Reidy and James McFadden filling the preliminary podium and Todd Wanless and Darrell Hodges completing the top five. Andrew Scheuerle is far from out of the picture crossing the line in sixth, ahead of Peter Thorley, Peter Lack, Bryan Mann, David Murcott and Allan Woods. Tim Garrett, in perhaps the best drive in his Sprintcar racing career, crossed the line in 12th, after initially qualifying 23rd in time trials, to conclude an impressive night of racing from the 23-year-old. Cameron Gessner finished 13th ahead of Richard Morgan, Ricky Mitchell and David Muir. Robbie Farr completed the 20-lap journey in a little over four minutes and is looking strong heading into tonight’s finale.

Robbie Farr leads the points battle with one round of heats left to run tonight before we head into the feature events and crown the 2010 Queensland Sprintcar Champion. Farr sits on 154 points, with Danny Reidy on 145 ahead of defending Champion James McFadden on 141. Todd Wanless (127), Darrell Hodges (127), Andrew Scheuerle (121), Allan Woods (116), Peter Lack (115), Peter Thorley (111) and Bryan Mann (109) complete the top ten qualifiers after night one with the rest of the field as follows: Richard Morgan (103), David Murcott (102), Tim Garrett (99), Cameron Gessner (96), David Muir (95), Ricky Mitchell (87), Brett Thomas (79), Melissa Boyes (78), Kevin Titman (75), Dan Murray (75), Mark Pholi (74), Jason Bottin (74), Adrian O’Connell (72), Tony Wynne (68), Murray Gibson (68), Des Collier (62), Craig Stevenson (48), Niall Chandler (42), Ronnie Barber (36), Steven Wright (35), Chris Condon (26), Steve Johnson (24), Brent Kratzmann (22), Matthew Butler (20), Martin Lawes (14), Anthony Lambert (12).

The cars and stars will be back at Brisbane International Speedway tonight for what is sure to be one of the best night’s of racing in South-East Queensland’s calendar. It will most certainly a night of racing you will not want to miss, so get yourself out to BIS tonight and see if young James McFadden can successfully defend his Title, or if one of the other hard chargers can stand atop the podium at the conclusion of tonight’s finale.