Last night thirty-six Sprintcars rolled into SuperCheap Auto Archerfield Speedway ready for the first night of competition in a big weekend of racing. World Series Sprintcars Round Seven and the Australian Sprintcar Open is a monster two night racing event, culminating in a massive 50-lap A-Main event tonight, paying $20,000 to win. Last nights program saw the all-important qualifying session, two rounds of heats and a preliminary feature event, but there was no denying that Donny Schatz was going to be the man to beat once again. Schatz again dominated last night, wowing the crowd with his faultless and seemingly effortless racing style to top the qualifying order, lead the points ladder heading into the preliminary feature event and then taking the win in the Preliminary A-Main. James McFadden and a very impressive Daniel Pestka joined him on the podium. The preliminary feature was an exciting 20-lap affair, and it was David Murcott who crossed the line in fourth while Brisbane local David Muir impressed with a strong fifth place finish.

As it was a World Series Sprintcar event, qualifying was done individually from the infield with hard chargers Robbie Farr and James McFadden first up. Farr immediately proved the track was exceptionally quick, stopping the clock at 11.539 seconds, while McFadden recorded an 11.546. The track remained fast right through the qualifying order, but it was Donny Schatz, who stopped the clock at a blistering 11.287 seconds on his first qualifying lap that would top the qualifying order. Steven Lines, with an 11.340, and Daniel Pestka, with his 11.380 were next quickest, with Jason Sides and Luke Oldfield rounding out the fastest five. Shane Stewart was next quickest while David Muir, complete with a new front end in the Titan Garages Q36 racer after a small tangle with Terry Bracken in hot laps, was seventh quickest, only two thousandths of a second slower than Stewart. In testament to just how fast the track was the top 31 cars were all in the 11-second bracket, with the next three cars all just a fraction over the 12-second mark, recording 12.035, 12.039 and 12.092 second laps. Ian Madsen and Jamie Veal recorded identical time, both stopping the clock at 11.602 seconds, while right through the field there was only ever the smallest of margin between each car, where even a couple of thousandths of a second could make a huge difference to the qualifying order. Thirty-five Sprintcars took to the track for qualifying, with less than one second, 0.945 to be precise, separating fastest and slowest. Danny Reidy suffered mechanical dramas in hot laps and did not take part in the qualifying session. Unfortunately for Reidy suspected engine problems in the NQ5 racer would sideline the car for the rest of the weekend.

Heat one started with Richard Morgan from pole position and former Australian Champion Garry Brazier alongside. Morgan and Brazier drag raced side-by-side into the first corner, with Morgan getting his nose in front momentarily before Brazier powered around the highline. Also favouring the high line was David Muir, who was in spectacular form, and Robbie Farr. Jason Sides had managed to slip past Robbie Farr on the opening lap, but Farr, as always fought back hard. Farr searched high and low for a way past but soon found himself on the defensive as Donny Schatz began to move. Meanwhile Sides edged closer to Grant Anderson, while David Muir tried to find a way past Brent Aprile, the pair putting on a thrilling show for race fans. Unfortunately the race was brought to a stop after only two laps had been completed when race leader Garry Brazier brought out the reds. Brazier hit the wall hard heading into turn four, ripping the right front wheel from the car and inverted the N21 racer. Brazier emerged from the wreck unscathed but would unfortunately not make it back trackside for the rest of the night. Richard Morgan inherited the race lead when racing resumed, with Brooke Tatnell on his tail and Peter Lack and David Muir ready to strike. Morgan drove a very solid race and while Tatnell was persistent on the low line as he challenged Morgan for the race lead, Morgan held on to take the win ahead of Brooke Tatnell, Peter Lack, David Muir and Brent Aprile. Donny Schatz had another very calculated drive, systematically eyeing off each competitor in front and working out the best and quickest way past. Once he was ready to make his move there was no hesitation and no going back, he was committed to getting the job done and showed everyone why he is widely regarded as the best in the world. Schatz managed to climb as high as sixth before the fall of chequered flag, and led Grant Anderson, Jason Sides, Robbie Farr, Daniel Harding and Paul Rooks across the line. Garry Brazier did not finish the race.

David Whell and Bryan Mann shared the front row for the start of the second heat. Whell got a truly brilliant start on the low line, quickly settling into the race lead with Mann and Andrew Scheuerle right on his tail tank. Whell eventually managed to open a small lead over his rivals, while Mann and Scheuerle fought over second. Further back in the field Jamie Veal was running the highline but James McFadden came charging through on the low line and gradually picked his way through the field. The last half of the race he became embroiled in a tight battle with Terry Bracken, with USA99 racer Brad Sweet joining them in the final few laps of the race. Luke Oldfield has been having a rather impressive season, with last night no exception. He had a race long battle with Steven Lines and Brad Sweet, until Sweet managed to pull ahead in the closing stages of the race and left Oldfield on the tail of Jamie Veal. David Whell went on to take the win ahead of Bryan Mann, Andrew Scheuerle, Jordyn Brazier, Terry Bracken, Brad Sweet, Jamie Veal, Luke Oldfield, Steven Lines, Brent Kratzmann and Steven Rowell.

The third heat started with Paul Morris, back after his massive roll over in the B-Main event last weekend, and Dylan Jenkin from the front row. The two raced side-by-side into turn one but it was Jenkin on the high side who found the extra drive to run the outside to secure the race lead. Mid-field Ian Madsen was also impressive on the highline, while David Murcott worked the low line beautifully. One lap into the event though and the race was brought to a sudden stop. Madsen had been running the highline around Murcott when Murcott moved ever so slightly up track as the two raced for the same piece of track heading into turn two. Contact between the two left both in the fence, Madsen inverting the Q29 racer and landing on top of Murcott. Madsen balanced on top of the Q83 racer of Murcott for several seconds before gently rolling off. Neither driver was injured in the crash and while both crews, with the help of quite a number of other teams from the pit area, working hard on both cars to try to get them ready for the restart, both would fail to make it in the two minutes allocated for repairs. Dylan Jenkin led the restart from Paul Morris and Andrew Wright. Wright soon found himself under increasing pressure from Jackson Delamont, the two interstate racers putting on a brilliant show for the Brisbane fans. Jenkin and Morris both pulled away from the field, while Luke Dillon, Shane Stewart and Daniel Pestka argued over minor placings. Pestka had an inspiring run on the low line early in the race, slipping by both Shane Stewart and Brodie Tulloch before setting his sights on Luke Dillon. In the end it was Dylan Jenkin who took the win, leading Paul Morris, Andrew Wright, Jackson Delamont, Daniel Pestka, Shane Stewart, Luke Dillon, Brodie Tulloch and Steven Johnson across the line. Ian Madsen and David Murcott both failed to finish the event.

Bryan Mann and Richard Morgan shared the front row for the start of heat four. Both drivers got a great start and as they raced two abreast into the first corner neither was willing to relinquish the race lead. Morgan managed to secure the advantage by the time the pair exited turn two, but Mann stayed with him and before long had stolen the lead. Behind them Andrew Scheuerle and Peter Lack were holding nothing back as they fought over the minor places and further back in the field it was hard not to watch Robbie Farr as he tried to make his way forward. Steven Lines is always a force to be considered and he too came on strongly, having a great battle with Jason Sides and Brad Sweet. Bryan Mann took the win with Andrew Scheuerle and Jamie Veal getting the better of Richard Morgan in the closing stages of the race. Morgan crossed the line fourth and led Peter Lack, Robbie Farr, Steven Lines, Jason Sides, Brad Sweet, Brent Kratzmann, Grant Anderson and Daniel Harding across the line.

When Garry Brazier did not make the start of heat five, Brooke Tatnell was elevated to pole position alongside Paul Morris. Tatnell was always going to be tough to beat from the front row, and got a beautiful start in the W2 racer, quickly settling into the race lead. Morris held down second but Brent Aprile was coming on strong and before long had secured second and set about chasing after Tatnell. Jackson Delamont had a great run in the N48 racer while Brisbane local David Muir put the pressure on. Donny Schatz was on a mission and within only a couple of laps had moved his way through the field and into third. Schatz began chasing down Aprile in second, but a yellow light stoppage bunched the field back up. Shane Stewart had been having a solid run but after slamming the wall coming out of turn four he quickly slowed to a stop high on the track only half a lap later. He would not take part in the restart, which was led by Tatnell, Aprile and Schatz. Schatz wasted no time and immediately took to the high line. Aprile fought hard but it only took one lap before Schatz completed the pass and set his sights on Brooke Tatnell in the race lead. Luke Dillon and Jackson Delamont argued at the rear of the field while David Muir was all over the back of Paul Morris. All eyes however were on Schatz as he edged ever closer to Tatnell and the chequered flag. Schatz looked set to attempt an outside passing move as they exited turn four for the final time, but Tatnell managed to hang on to take the win with Donny Schatz across the line in second ahead of Brent Aprile, Paul Morris, David Muir, Jackson Delamont, Luke Dillon, Paul Rooks, Brodie Tulloch and Steven Johnson. Shane Stewart did not finish the race.

The sixth and final heat of the night saw Dylan Jenkin and David Whell share the front row for the start of the 10-lap journey. Jenkin won the race to the first corner and settled into the race lead, while further back in the field Ian Madsen and Jordyn Brazier were both, separately, working the high line. Luke Oldfield was trying to make inroads on the low line, while Daniel Pestka run underneath Jordyn Brazier. Terry Bracken was having a great run on the low line and slipped by underneath Brazier with Oldfield trying to follow him through. Brazier ran too high coming out of turn two before heading back down track. He clipped the back of Luke Oldfield and began rolling down the back straight, right in front of James McFadden. McFadden hit the brakes and tried to spin the car to try to lessen the impact but there really was little he could do. The top wing was ripped from Braziers Q21 racer and while Jordyn walked away from the crash, he would take no further part in last nights competition. McFadden was pushed to the infield where half the people in the pits rushed to his aid, working feverishly to try to fix his car and get him back in the race. His own crew were assisted by other crews and competitors alike and, much to the delight of the SuperCheap Auto Archerfield Speedway crowd, McFadden restarted the event, albeit with his front wing held on with race tape and a damaged top wing. Jenkin and Whell lead the restart while further back in the field David Murcott and Ian Madsen were fighting over position. Daniel Pestka had a great run in the S27 racer, until he spun in turn two. James McFadden was quick to avoid the spun car but Terry Bracken didn’t have a chance. Bracken collided with the stranded car and the race was brought under caution. Both Pestka and Bracken were forced to the infield with too much damage to continue the race. Jenkin led the restart and began opening a small but comfortable lead, while David Murcott was really on the move, making his way into second and setting his sights on Jenkin. Ian Madsen and Andrew Wright had a breath-taking battle mid-field, running two abreast for several laps and putting on a spectacular show. Dylan Jenkin took the win with David Murcott across the line in second ahead of James McFadden, Ian Madsen, Andrew Wright and Steven Rowell. Daniel Pestka, Terry Bracken, Jordyn Brazier and Luke Oldfield all failed to finish the event while David Whell was disqualified from the event, after initially crossing the line in third, when he failed to go to the scales when called after the race.

Donny Schatz and Daniel Pestka lined up alongside each other for the start of the 20-lap Preliminary A-Main event. The race ran green to chequer without a stoppage and Schatz dominated the entire event, getting the jump on the start and never looking back or holding back. Schatz was clinical and methodical as he weaved through lapped traffic, nothing seemed to phase him or slow him down. Pestka settled into second with James McFadden, nursing a sore arm after the earlier incident with Jordyn Brazier, right on his tail in third. With heavy hitters Robbie Farr and Bryan Mann from the back row of the grid, and a full field of talented drivers in front of them, there was always going to be plenty to watch as everyone raced hard for each and every position. As always Schatz was hard to ignore, but if you could tear your attention from the US15 racer, it was more than likely the battle between Brad Sweet and Luke Oldfield that captivated your attention. Sweet and Oldfield both gave it their all, holding nothing back and running wheel-to-wheel for large parts of the race, with Brent Aprile also involved. David Muir was spectacular in the Titan Garages #36 racer, on occasion challenging McFadden for third, but couldn’t quite find a way past. Donny Schatz went on to take the win with James McFadden in second and Daniel Pestka a very impressive third. David Murcott managed to get past David Muir to steal fourth, with Muir the best placed Brisbane regular in fifth. Brooke Tatnell was next across the line and led Steven Lines, Brad Sweet, Luke Oldfield, Brent Aprile, Andrew Scheuerle, Luke Dillion, Shane Stewart, Jamie Veal, Robbie Farr, Dylan Jenkin and Bryan Mann across the line. Jenkin and Mann actually came together on the final lap of the race, both stopping in turn two, but the leaders had already greeted the chequered flag and ended the race. Jason Sides had a terrible run of luck and in only two laps had endured contact with several other cars, one of which saw him slam the concrete wall coming out of turn four. He managed to pull off the race track without causing a stoppage but only completed the first two laps of the race.

The Sprintcar stars will return to SuperCheap Auto Archerfield Speedway tonight for the second night of Competition in World Series Sprintcars Round Seven and the 2014 Australian Sprintcar Open. Donny Schatz leads the points heading into the second night of competition and is hot favourite to walk away with the win in tonights 50-lap $20,000 to win A-Main event. Daniel Pestka is second in points and for a young racer with only limited experience on the tight Brisbane circuit, has certainly acquitted himself well amongst tough competition. David Muir is currently third on points heading into tonights racing and is the only Brisbane Speedway regular in the top ten. Luke Oldfield and Andrew Scheuerle both sit just outside the top ten, but neither can be discounted even now. The only thing one can guarantee about tonights racing is that it will be thrilling, edge-of-your-seat racing action. Get your backside trackside at SuperCheap Auto Archerfield Speedway tonight, Saturday 11 January 2014, and see it all for yourself. Cheer on your favourite, see if the Queenslanders can make their mark in a very strong field and see if anyone can stop Donny Schatz winning this event again. Come and see the racing, grab an autograph and purchase some merchandise from one of the many options available and have a fantastic night out. See you all trackside tonight!