If you were not at SuperCheap Auto Archerfield Speedway last night you missed one of the best nights of racing seen in South East Queensland for a number of years. It was Round 10 of the KRE Sprintcar Series and we had current Australian Champion David Murcott, former Australian Champion James McFadden, and American young gun Cap Henry join Sprintcars Queensland front-runners Andrew Scheuerle, Danny Reidy, Luke Oldfield, Bryan Mann, Kevin Titman, Darren Jensen and a strong field of local competitors. Murcott and McFadden led the leader board for most of the night but it was Danny Reidy who took the win in a hard-fought Dash event. Only a very brave man accepts the Kratzmanns Challenge and inverts the top fourteen starters for the A-Main event, knowing the calibre of drivers who would then be starting in front of him. But Danny Reidy is a brave man and in a bold move accepted the Kratzmann Challenge, after negotiating an additional $3000 bonus prize money, making it $5500 on offer, from Archerfield Promoter John Kelly. Reidy added five laps to the duration of the race, with he and James McFadden to start from the seventh row. It took only five laps for Reidy to move into third, another ten laps and he was up to second, while McFadden gradually made his way to the front. It came down to the last few laps of the race, but in the end it was James McFadden who took the win, with Danny Reidy a very impressive second and Darren Jensen, who had led for much of the race, in third. David Murcott and Andrew Scheuerle rounded out the top five.

Qualifying got underway with current Australian Champion David Murcott topping the qualifying order with a blistering 11.564 seconds, an impressive 0.201 seconds quicker than his nearest rival Andrew Scheuerle, who stopped the clock at 11.765 seconds. Danny Reidy was third fastest with an 11.844 second lap, with Luke Oldfield and James McFadden completing the fastest five. Twenty-five cars took to the track for qualifying, with the top fifteen separated by less than one second. Unfortunately though mechanical dramas in qualifying saw the premature retirement of both Dan Murray and Tony Michell, Michell making his return to Sprintcars after several years competing in other speedway divisions.

Heat one got underway with James Grady and Terry Bracken from the front row with Bracken winning the race to the first corner and quickly securing the race lead. Ben Hilder, who started from position four, got a brilliant start on the highline and blasted around the outside of Grady to secure second and set about trying to close the gap to Bracken. Mark Pholi and David Whell had a great battle mid-field until contact between the pair in turn four nearly spelt disaster for both, while David Murcott and Bryan Mann edged their way closer to the front. Murcott put on a master class drive as he seemingly effortlessly manoeuvred his way past Mark Pholi, David Whell and James Grady and rapidly closed in on the tail of Bryan Mann. With both Grady and Pholi limping around the low line for the final few laps of the race trying to make it home, lapped traffic became an issue for the leaders, with Mann pushing searching for a way past Hilder as the laps started to run out. In one last minute move, Mann ducked underneath Hilder as the pair exited turn four for the final time, with Mann having the better line coming out of the corner and just managing to get in front before the fall of the chequered flag. Terry Bracken took the win with Bryan Mann officially second ahead of Ben Hilder and David Murcott. David Whell crossed the line in fifth and led Dan Moes, making his Sprintcar debut, Mark Pholi and James Grady home.

Andrew Liebke and Matthew Butler shared the front row for the start of heat two. James McFadden, piloting the Q36 Titan Garages racer this weekend, made contact with the U54 racer of Cap Henry on the start, nearly ending up in the main straight wall. McFadden recovered well but all eyes were on Henry as he ducked underneath both Brad Ayers and Andrew Liebke in turn one to steal second and set out after Matthew Butler in the race lead. Steven Johnson faded quickly as Andrew Scheuerle began making his way closer to the front of the field, slipping by Ayers and onto the tail of Liebke. Scheuerle and Liebke battled lap after lap, Scheuerle pushing hard and searching to the right moment to make his move, Liebke doing an exceptional job in the Q47 racer running smooth and consistent line. Scheuerle had one big look on the inside of Liebke in turn two, but Liebke fought back hard to maintain his position, both drivers putting on an incredible show of clean and professional racing. Meanwhile James McFadden had made his way past Brad Ayers and was quickly closing in on Liebke and Scheuerle and ready to force Scheuerle on the defensive. With Ayers and Johnson closing in quick on the tail of the Liebke-Scheuerle-McFadden battle and laps quickly running out, McFadden attempted an inside passing move through turn three on the final lap. Unfortunately for McFadden it didn’t quite pay off, and as he ran too wide in the final corner Brad Ayers managed to slip through and McFadden drag-raced Steven Johnson to the line. Matthew Butler took the win with Cap Henry officially second and Andrew Liebke hanging on to finish third. Andrew Scheuerle was next across the line with Brad Ayers, James McFadden and Steven Johnson rounding out the field.

Heat three started with Joel Millar from pole position with Anthony Lambert alongside and a strong field of cars behind. Lambert got a brilliant start and quickly settled into the race lead, and Millar and Melissa Boyes fought over second. Millar faded quickly but a flat right front tyre heading down the back straight saw him spin the car in turn three and bring the race under caution. A full race restart followed with Darren Jensen now from pole position. Lambert again got a brilliant start and managed to quickly secure the race lead with Jensen and Kevin Titman settling in close behind. Danny Reidy searched for a way past Melissa Boyes whilst simultaneously coming under fire from Luke Oldfield. The trio had a thrilling battle for most of the race, with Oldfield eventually getting the better of both Reidy and Boyes, while up the front Jensen was all over the back of Lambert and searching high and low for a way into the race lead. Jensen ran too high in turn two, giving Titman the only invitation he needed to quickly slip by and secure second only a few laps from home. Anthony Lambert managed to hang on to take the win with Kevin Titman in second ahead of Darren Jensen, after the pair drag race side-by-side across the line, a mere 0.032 seconds between them. Luke Oldfield, Melissa Boyes and Danny Reidy rounded out the finishers while Joel Millar did not finish the race.

Heat four got underway with Andrew Liebke from pole and Terry Bracken sharing the front row. The pair raced wheel-to-wheel into the first corner, neither willing to concede the lead to the other without a fight, but it was Bracken who emerged in front by the time they exited the first turn. Ben Hilder took to the highline and quickly made his way into second, leaving Liebke to try to fend off the advances of McFadden. When Hilder made a small mistake in turn four, Liebke slipped underneath momentarily regaining his position before Hilder fought back on the high line. But Liebke now had other things to keep him busy as James McFadden, Cap Henry and David Murcott were right on his tail and jostling for position. Liebke, by far the least experienced competitor in the quartet, managed to hold McFadden off for a couple of laps as McFadden searched high and low for a way past. Once McFadden found his opportunity and acquired the advantage he took off, sights set firmly on Ben Hilder and second place. Liebke however still had Henry and Murcott on his tail, with the American and the Australian Champion holding nothing back in an epic battle mid field. Murcott pulled off a massive slide job on Henry through turn two, which in the end nearly brought Liebke undone, and then a couple of laps later slipped by underneath Liebke and set about chasing down the leaders. Terry Bracken was untouchable in the race lead though and went on to take his second race win of the night. James McFadden finished second ahead of David Murcott, Ben Hilder, Cap Henry, Andrew Liebke, David Whell and Dan Moes.

James Grady and Darren Jensen shared the front row for the start of heat five, with Brad Ayers and Melissa Boyes right behind and Mark Pholi, Kevin Titman, Andrew Scheuerle coming from behind. Darren Jensen, Melissa Boyes and Kevin Titman got brilliant starts on the outside while pole sitter James Grady faded quickly. Andrew Scheuerle began clawing his way closer to the front, running around the outside of Grady before switching to the low line and slipping quickly underneath Mark Pholi. Scheuerle spent a few laps closing the gap to Ayers, then another few laps trying to find a way past before eventually getting the job done in turn one and setting out after Kevin Titman whilst negotiating lapped traffic. Darren Jensen took the win with Melissa Boyes across the line in second with Kevin Titman hanging on to finish third. Andrew Scheuerle was fourth home and led Brad Ayers, Mark Pholi, James Grady and Kristy Bonsey, competing in her 360ci racer against the 410ci field for the first time, past the chequered flag.

Heat six saw Joel Millar and Matthew Butler share the front row with the outside row again getting a brilliant start. Butler settled into the race lead with Steven Johnson and Danny Reidy making the most of the highline and secured second and third respectively. Johnson made a couple of small errors, running too wide a couple of times, allowing both Reidy and Bryan Mann through before going on the defensive as Luke Oldfield tried to find his way past. Matthew Butler went on to take the win with Danny Reidy in second and Bryan Mann in third. Luke Oldfield was fourth past the chequered flag, and led Steven Johnson, Anthony Lambert and Joel Millar across the line.

David Murcott was highest points scorer going into the dash event, but it was Danny Reidy and Andrew Scheuerle who shared the front row for the start of the six-lap event. Kevin Titman and David Murcott shared the second row for the start, with Luke Oldfield and James McFadden from the back. Reidy and Scheuerle raced side-by-side into the first corner when the green flag flew. Reidy had the edge on the low line and secured the lead by turn two, but Scheuerle fought back, switching to the low line and putting the pressure on. Reidy was having none of it though and not only managed to maintain his lead, he even started opening a comfortable margin over his rivals. Scheuerle was soon to turn his attention to David Murcott right behind him, the two becoming embroiled in an intense battle that ended with slight contact on the back straight and left Murcott spun to a stop on the inside edge of the track. The race was brought under caution with Reidy to lead the restart and Murcott at the rear of the field. Scheuerle and McFadden had a thrilling battle over second and third, while Kevin Titman and Luke Oldfield put on a show while battling for fourth and fifth, until Titman clipped the back straight wall and pulled out of the event. Reidy went on to take the win with James McFadden in second ahead of Andrew Scheuerle, Luke Oldfield and David Murcott. Kevin Titman did not finish the event.

As winner of the Dash event Danny Reidy was offered the chance to accept the Kratzmann Challenge and invert the top fourteen starters in the A-Main event. The Kratzmann Challenge has been on offer for a number of years, with few people brave enough to take on the Challenge but last night Reidy, not for the first time, negotiated an increased bonus prize money figure before accepting the challenge and putting Ben Hilder and David Whell from the front row of the A-Main event.

Before the A-Main event could get underway though there was a 10-lap B-Main to be contested by nine cars, with only the top four finishers to transfer to A-main. Steven Johnson started from pole position, with Cap Henry alongside and while Johnson got the better start and led the field through the first two corners, Henry quickly slipped by on the low line to steal the race lead. Anthony Lambert and Dan Moes had a great battle at the rear of the field until contact between them sent Lambert directly into the concrete barrier on the inside of the back straight. Lambert was unscathed but out of the event as Henry was to lead the field away with seven laps to run. Brad Ayers and Steven Johnson had a great battle for second and third until another yellow light stoppage, this time for the spun car of Joel Millar in turn four, brought the race under caution once more. Cap Henry went on to take the win with Brad Ayers, Steven Johnson and Sprintcar new-comer Dan Moes all transferring to the back of the A-Main. Andrew Liebke finished fifth and led James Grady, Kristy Bonsey and Joel Millar across the line. Anthony Lambert did not finish the event.

The A-Main field rolled out onto the track for a gruelling 35-lap journey that would be one of the most thrilling and action packed races seen in South East Queensland in a long time. Ben Hilder and David Whell led the field around for the start, with Mark Pholi and Terry Bracken right behind. Ben Hilder had a brilliant start and quickly settled into the race lead, with David Whell doing a magnificent job in second and Mark Pholi comfortable in third. Danny Reidy began making his way towards the front, sticking to the highline and making significant progress early in the race. Bryan Mann was trying to make his way forward as Mark Pholi faded a little, but contact between the two in turn three ended with Pholi up-side-down against the fence and the race brought to a stop. As Brad Ayers pulled his car up to a stop before the crash scene Dan Moes collected with the right rear of the Ayers car and nearly ended up in the fence himself. Pholi was not hurt in the incident and damage to the Q14 racer seemed to be mostly the crumpled main wing and as the rest of the field began to push off Pholi and his crew began trying to tie down the main wing enough to allow him to restart the event. Brad Ayers and his crew worked feverishly to change the flat right tyre but was unable to get the car ready in time and did not make the restart. Pholi restarted at the rear of the field.

Ben Hilder led the restart with 32 laps left to run and David Whell and Darren Jensen right on his tail and Danny Reidy already up to fifth after only three laps. Jensen moved into second while Whell found himself the leading car in three-way battle for third with Terry Bracken and Danny Reidy all over his tail tank. After barely a lap the race was under caution once more, with Steven Johnson retiring from the event, and Ben Hilder and Darren Jensen to lead the restart. Less than a lap in and contact between Andrew Scheuerle and Matthew Butler mid-field left Butler stranded in the middle of the track in turns three and four, the front end completely torn from his car, only moments after Reidy had slipped by underneath Bracken to steal fourth.

Ben Hilder again led the restart, the youngster showing impressive form in the Q95 Motorguard Motorsport racer and doing a magnificent job out in front. Jensen held down second with Reidy back in fifth and James McFadden taking his time and back in eleventh. On the first lap of the restart Danny Reidy ran around the outside of the Bracken before ducking underneath Whell to move into third only five laps after starting fourteenth. McFadden began his climb towards the front, having a great battle with Andrew Scheuerle and David Murcott as each tried to get closer to the front. It was one of those races, with so many immensely talented and determined drivers, where there was plenty of racing action right though the field. Andrew Scheuerle doesn’t seem to know how to finish outside the top five and put on a great show as he climbed towards the front of the field, Murcott is always breath-taking to watch but this year in particular has been in truly magnificent form, while McFadden makes it look effortless, despite being in an unfamiliar car. Luke Oldfield has done countless laps around the SuperCheap Auto Archerfield Speedway and is fast becoming one of the fiercest Sprintcar competitors on the local scene and can always be counted on to put on a spectacular show for the race fans. Darren Jensen is a seasoned competitor who has a knack of quietly making his way to front and running a very clean and calculated race. Jensen in fact had a great race with Ben Hilder, stealing the lead, with Reidy soon making his way into second and leaving Hilder to battle with Bracken. When the race was almost half way through contact between Ben Hilder and Terry Bracken brought the race to a stop when Bracken up-ended the Mitchell Motorsport racer in turn two. Bracken was not hurt in the incident but was out of the race.

Darren Jensen led the restart with Danny Reidy now into second and Ben Hilder having a great run in third with 17 laps still to run and James McFadden up to fourth. Kevin Titman and David Murcott had a great battle for position with Luke Oldfield just in front, until Oldfield uncharacteristically spun to a stop in turn two. Jensen again led the restart from Reidy, McFadden and Murcott with twelve intense laps to run. Two laps in and McFadden stole second from Reidy while Bryan Mann and Cap Henry argued over position. With three laps to run the yellows came on again, this time for Melissa Boyes who had slowed to a stop on the back straight after contact with the wall in turn two. Jensen led the restart but one lap in and McFadden stole the lead but barely a lap later the race was brought under caution once more, for the spun car of David Whell. It was a two lap green-white-chequered dash to the finish the James McFadden to lead them away, with Darren Jensen and Danny Reidy right behind. Reidy wasted no time and slipped underneath Jensen in the second corner of the restart. James McFadden took the win ahead of a very impressive Danny Reidy in second and Darren Jensen filling the final podium position after a strong run. David Murcott finished fourth with Andrew Scheuerle, Cap Henry, Bryan Mann, Luke Oldfield, Kevin Titman, Mark Pholi, Ben Hilder and David Whell rounding out the finishers. Melissa Boyes, Terry Bracken, Matthew Butler, Steven Johnson, Brad Ayers and Dan Moes all failed to finish the event.

Sprintcars Queensland will head to Maryborough Speedway next weekend before returning the SuperCheap Auto Archerfield Speedway the following weekend. Get yourself trackside and see these guys and girls for yourself – they are putting on breath-taking shows week in and week out and it really is something that needs to be seen. Get your backside trackside and cheer on your favourite driver, then pop down to the pits after the racing is finished and say hi, grab an autograph, a photo or even some merchandise and let the stars know you enjoyed the show. See you next time…