The first night of the 2014 Easter Tri-City Shootout kicked off last night with twenty-nine Sprintcars heading to Maryborough Speedway for the opening night of competition. It was a star-studded field with current Australian Champion David Murcott and former Australian Champions James McFadden, Robbie Farr and Garry Brazier headlining the event, with a host on Brisbane, North Queensland, and Interstate stars joining them on track – there was even a New Zealand competitor in the ranks. David Murcott dominated all night, thrilling the large crowd in attendance, setting the quickest qualifying time (11.419), and then earning pole position for the A-Main. Murcott elected to start on the outside for the start of the 35-lap event but an incident with fellow front-row starter Robbie Farr as they crossed the line brought out a very premature end to what was otherwise a faultless night for the Australian Champion. Kevin Titman inherited a front row start for the restart and while the opening few laps of the event were marred by several incidents, seeing both Andrew Scheuerle and Robbie Farr exit the race in separate, spectacular incidents, Titman was not going to be denied his chance at victory. Jordyn Brazier challenged early in the race, while the final stages of the race saw both Luke Oldfield and James McFadden closing in fast, but Titman was truly magnificent out in front. He had experienced engine dramas in the #59 racer during the night, the crew even working on it during the open red light stoppage when Scheuerle exited the race, but Titman drove a strong, skilful and mistake-free race to secure his maiden Sprintcar A-Main win in emphatic style. James McFadden finished second with Luke Oldfield officially third after initially starting fourteenth. Brent Aprile and Danny Reidy rounded out the top five.

Qualifying got underway with eight groups hitting the track for a few qualifying laps. David Murcott topped the qualifying order once all cars had hit the track, with Peter Lack, Bryan Mann, Kevin Titman and Danny Reidy rounding out the fastest five. Jordyn Brazier, who qualified just 0.001 seconds quicker than Paul Morris, out qualified his father (Garry), beating him by just 0.031 seconds, while only 0.170 separated eight cars (Jordyn Brazier, Paul Morris, Jamie Bricknell, Garry Brazier, David Whell, Brad Ayers, Darren Jensen and Luke Oldfield) just outside the top ten. Luke Oldfield, who ended up eighteenth after qualifying, was the last car in the 11-second bracket, while the fastest 23 cars were separated by less than one second.

New Zealander Andrew Marks was scheduled to start heat one from pole position but a mechanical problem in the Q27 racer saw him pull to the infield before the race had started. Luke Oldfield was elevated to pole position with Mick Sauer alongside. Behind them, the competition would have to be some of the most experienced and highly skilled drivers this country has seen – Paul Morris, Jamie Bricknell, Robbie Farr, James McFadden and David Murcott, with Anthony Lambert bringing up the rear. Oldfield was always going to be difficult to beat from the front row and when the lights went green he instantly got a great start and settled into the race lead. Mick Sauer did a beautiful job in second, not only managing to secure the position ahead of his more experienced rivals, but even managed to open a comfortable margin over them. Jamie Bricknell and Paul Morris argued over third, while further back in the field Murcott and Farr had a great battle in the opening laps. As the race wore on the cars spread out a little, with James McFadden towards the rear of the field slowly closing in on David Murcott as they raced closer to chequered flag. McFadden had a couple of looks at Murcott, but didn’t quite get close enough to really have a go at getting past. Luke Oldfield went on to take the win with Mick Sauer in second and Jamie Bricknell in third. Paul Morris crossed the line a strong fourth ahead of Robbie Farr, David Murcott, James McFadden and Anthony Lambert.

Heat Two started with Darren Silcock and Brodie Tulloch from the front row, and another field of heavy hitters right behind. Tulloch got the jump on the start and quickly settled into the race lead, but the race was soon brought under caution when Silcock spun the #38 racer coming out of turn two. Tulloch led the restart with Garry Barzier right on his tail, while Peter Lack and Darren Jensen had a close battle for third, until Lack slipped straight by on the inside of Jensen has they raced down the back straight. Lack is always a fierce competitor at any track, and while he may be from Toowoomba, it is at the Maryborough circuit that he is really breath-taking to watch. Last night was no different and once past Jensen he spent a couple of laps reeling in the race leaders. Tulloch ran a little high in turn one, with Brazier on the low side, and Brazier managed to steal the race lead with Lack taking advantage of the situation and slipping by Tulloch to steal second before Tulloch could close the door. Meanwhile, Brent Aprile was slowing trying to make his way through the field. Aprile, from North Queensland, doesn’t race with Sprintcars Queensland often, but is always a strong competitor when he does, and is sure to have a big impact on this weekends competition. In his opening heat last night he made his way past Jordyn Brazier and Brodie Tulloch and began closing the gap to the race leaders. Garry Brazier went on to take the win ahead of Peter Lack, Brent Aprile, Brodie Tulloch, Darren Jensen, Jordyn Brazier, Danny Reidy, Blake Skipper, Dan Moes and Darren Silcock.

Stephen Greer and Melissa Boyes lined up alongside each other for the start of heat three and while Boyes got the initial jump and lead the field into the first corner, Greer fought back hard on the low line and challenged for the lead going into turn two. Boyes had more drive on the high side and managed to secure the race lead as the pair raced down the back straight. The real spectacle though was Andrew Scheuerle, who captivated the attention of the large crowd in attendance as he blasted down the back straight in spectacular fashion, slipping past both Brad Ayers and David Whell before entering turn three. Brent Kratzmann followed him through, leaving Ayers and Whell to battle amongst themselves, while closer to the front Andrew Scheuerle was gradually closing in on racer leader Melissa Boyes. Boyes drove a truly brilliant race, and despite Scheuerle searching high and low for a way past, evening having a couple of big attempts, Boyes always fought back hard and managed to maintain her position, even when lapped traffic came into play. It was one of the best runs Boyes has ever had in a Sprintcar, and it was a thrilling display of professionalism from both drivers in the close, but clean competition. Melissa managed to hang on to take the win with Andrew Scheuerle in second and Kevin Titman home in third. Brent Kratzmann crossed the line an impressive fourth and led Brad Ayers, Bryan Mann, David Whell, Stephen Greer, Luca Cox and Kristy Bonsey across the line.

Heat four started with Blake Skipper and David Whell from the front row, with Whell getting the jump on the start and quickly settling into the race lead. Jamie Bricknell was quick to follow Wheel on the high side, managing to secure second by the time he exited turn two, while Skipper was left to battle with Brad Ayers and Paul Morris. Ayers managed to pull away slightly, and Skipper faded over the next few laps as Morris and Robbie Farr made their was past, with Skipper now in a tight battle with Brent Aprile and Peter Lack, while Sprintcar new-comer Dan Moes, in the immaculately presented #60 racer, really held his own and stayed close on the tail tanks of his more experienced rivals. Skipper, Aprile and Lack put on a brilliant show, but once Lack managed to get past Aprile there was little Skipper could do to stop Lack getting past. Meanwhile Brad Ayers was having a great battle with Robbie Farr, with Ayers holding out until the final lap when Farr managed to get past with only half a lap to run. David Whell went on to take the win, with Jamie Bricknell in second and Robbie Farr officially third. Brad Ayers crossed the line in fourth with Paul Morris, Peter Lack, Blake Skipper, Brent Aprile and Dan Moes all close behind.

Anthony Lambert and Darren Jensen shared the front row for the start of heat five, with Jensen getting the jump on the start and quickly settling into the race lead. David Murcott was breath-taking on the high line, making his way closer to the front while Andrew Scheuerle found his way past Garry Brazier and Melissa Boyes, leaving Brazier and Boyes to fight over the minor positions. A yellow light stoppage for the spun car of Andrew Marks in turn four bunched the field back up with just four laps left to run. Marks restarted at the rear of the field while Jensen and Jordyn Brazier led the field away. Only two laps into the restart though and the race was again brought under caution, this time for Garry Brazier who had lost it in turn four and sped onto the infield, before slowing to a stop on the edge of the track on the main straight. Garry Brazier restarted at the rear of the field for a green-white-chequered two-lap dash to the finish. Jensen and Jordyn Brazier led the restart and while Garry Brazier was able to get past both Anthony Lambert and Andrew Marks in the first corner, Marks fought back hard coming out of turn four on the final lap and actually managed to cross the line a fraction in front of the former Australian Champion. Darren Jensen took the win with young Jordyn Brazier officially second ahead of Danny Reidy, David Murcott, Andrew Scheuerle, Melissa Boyes, Darren Silcock, Andrew Marks, Garry Brazier and Anthony Lambert.

Stephen Greer and Brodie Tulloch shared the front row for the start of the sixth and final heat of the night. Tulloch got the jump on the start and did not look back, running a beautiful and dominating race despite pressure from both James McFadden and Luke Oldfield. Tulloch and his small, family team have spent a great deal of the past week trying to sort out gremlins in the engine of the Q74 racer and almost didn’t make it to Maryborough last night, having worked literally to the very last minute in order to try to make the car run. While Tulloch may have secured the lead by the first corner of the race, the pressure from behind was relentless, with Luke Oldfield on his tail by the time they rounded the second corner of the race. Tulloch did manage to pull away a little, but the race was plagued by yellow light stoppages so the field was continuously bunched back up. The first stoppage, after only lap, saw Brent Kratzmann put back two positions for hitting a cone on the edge of the track and bringing about a stoppage so officials could retrieve the cone from the racing surface. Tulloch and Oldfield led the restart with James McFadden quick to make his move on Stephen Greer, while further back in the field Bryan Mann and Kevin Titman were having a great battle over the minor paces. Luca Cox brought the race under caution once more when he spun in turn two, with Tulloch, Oldfield and McFadden to lead the restart. McFadden and Oldfield had a great battle as they argued over second, while Stephen Greer and Mick Sauer fought over the minor paces, with Bryan Mann, Kevin Titman and Brent Kratzmann following in quick succession. Only a few laps in and Greer spun the Q84 racer coming out of turn four, with Luca Cox spinning to avoid contact. Tulloch again led the restart, with McFadden now in second and challenging hard, but the restart was only a few laps old when another caution period, for another cone on the track surface, brought the race to a stop. Tulloch again led the restart, with McFadden and Oldfield keeping things interesting in the battle for second, while further back in the field Bryan Mann and Mick Sauer were putting on a show. Brodie Tulloch went on to take the race win, with James McFadden across the line in second ahead of Luke Oldfield, Mick Sauer, Bryan Mann, Kevin Titman, Brent Kratzmann, Kristy Bonsey and Stephen Greer. Luca Cox did not finish the event.

Instead of a traditional Dash event, we did a Gold, Silver, Bronze Shootout with the fastest eight qualifiers after the heats. First up on the track was Robbie Farr, James McFadden, Danny Reidy and Andrew Scheuerle for the Bronze Shootout. The four cars did three qualifying laps, with the fastest two, Farr and Scheuerle, transferring to the Silver Shootout. James McFadden and Danny Reidy would return to the infield for the remainder of the Shootouts and would start the A-Main from positions seven and eight respectively.

Kevin Titman and Bryan Mann joined Robbie Farr and Andrew Scheuerle on the track for the Silver Shootout. Three qualifying laps later and it was Andrew Scheuerle and Bryan Mann who returned to the infield, set to start the A-Main event from positions five and six respectively. The margin between the four cars of the Silver Shootout was just 0.141 seconds so it is clear just how tough the competition really is.

Robbie Farr and Kevin Titman were joined on track by Peter Lack and David Murcott for the Gold Shootout, and while there was a slightly larger margin between the times in the Gold Shootout, Murcott’s fastest time, an 11.193 seconds, was faster than his earlier top qualifying time. Murcott won the Gold Shootout, earning Pole position and lane choice for the start of the A-Main event, with Robbie Farr to start alongside. Kevin Titman and Peter Lack would share the second row of the starting line-up for the A-Main after finishing third and fourth in the Gold Shootout.

Fifteen cars took to the track for the 15-lap B-Main event with David Whell and Darren Jensen to lead them away. David Whell got the jump on the start and quickly settled into the race lead, while Darren Jensen and Garry Brazier fought over second. Mick Sauer began moving forward while, making his way past Darren Jensen only moments before Luca Cox spun at the rear of the field and brought the race under caution. Wheel led the restart with Garry Brazier right on his tail, and Mick Sauer also ready to strike if the opportunity presented itself. Darren Jensen was having a look underneath Mick Sauer in turn four, with Brad Ayers also in the mix, but contact between Jensen and Ayers sent both towards the infield and while both were able to keep going, and eventually re-join the race, any chance of a transfer to the A-Main was lost. Stephen Geer slowed down in the poor visibility that resulted from the dust storm as Ayers and Jensen rejoined the race track, with Luca Cox soon bringing the race under caution once more after spinning in turn two. By this stage Brazier had stolen the lead from Whell and led the restart with Whell, Sauer and Brodie Tulloch close behind and all set to transfer to the A-Main. Garry Brazier went on to take the win with David Well, Mick Sauer and Brodie Tulloch holding on to their positions for the final few laps. Stephen Greer had a great run to finish an impressive fifth with Brad Ayers, Blake Skipper, Darren Silcock, Anthony Lambert, Dan Moes, Andrew Marks, Kristy Bonsey and Darren Jensen rounding out the finishers. Luca Cox and Melissa Boyes did not finish the event.

Eighteen cars rolled out onto the race track for the 35-lap A-Main event. It was set to be a spectacular show, with one of the strongest field of Sprintcars assembled to thrill the crowd. David Murcott and Robbie Farr shared the front row, with Murcott electing to start from the outside of the front row. With the current Australian Sprintcar Champion, and three former Australian Sprintcar Champions, plus local stars, Queensland Champions and former World Series Sprintcars contenders, it was set to be a brilliant, breath-taking, edge-of-your-seat exciting race to thrill the packed Maryborough house. While it was a spectacular race, it was unfortunately spectacular for all the wrong reasons. Much to the disappointment of Sprintcars Queensland officials, drivers and crew, a very wet pole line, having been watered not long before the Sprintcars took to the track, wreaked havoc in the opening few laps of the race, the first incident unfolding as the field took the first green. Trying to find some dry track on the low line pole sitter Robbie Farr drifted up track a little and made contact with David Murcott. This set off a chain reaction that decimated the outside row of the starting grid. Murcott was turned around in front of the field, leaving Peter Lack, Bryan Mann and Danny Reidy nowhere to go. Several other cars were involved as everyone tried to avoid the chaos with Murcott, Lack and Mann all out of the event.

Robbie Farr was relegated to the second row for the restart with Kevin Titman now from pole position, and young Jordyn Brazier, originally out of position 10, now alongside. Titman got the jump on the start but the race was soon brought to another abrupt stop with Andrew Scheuerle flipping wildly into turn one. Scheuerle, also caught out by the wet pole line, rolled end-to-end several times and climbed high into the catch fence before landing hard back on the track. Cars took evasive action but several were caught up in the incident. Scheuerle did walk away from the wreck and while he is quite sore he is hoping to compete for the rest of the weekend. His team are busy putting together a spare car for him to, hopefully, use tonight. The open red light gave both Peter Lack and Bryan Mann and their respective crews a chance to work on their cars and, as a lap had not yet been completed, rejoin the event for the next restart. Kevin Titman and his crew worked on the engine of the #59 racer, tweaking it and trying to eliminate the gremlins.

Kevin Titman and Jordyn Brazier again led the start, with Titman securing the race lead and Brazier settling into second. Luke Oldfield and Danny Reidy were both impressive on the highline, while Farr relieved Jordyn Brazier of second. Unfortunately only three laps into the race and the red lights were on again, this time for Robbie Farr who had hit the wall on the main straight and flipped into the catch fence. Farr was not hurt in the incident but he would take no further part in the nights competition and his crew will also be working hard today in order to get him back on track in Brisbane tonight.

Due to an impending and very strict 10.30 curfew, the race distance was reduced to 25 laps, with three already run and only 22 remaining. Kevin Titman led the restart from Jordyn Brazier, Luke Oldfield and James McFadden. Oldfield and McFadden had a thrilling race long battle, two young guns of the sport holding nothing back as they put on a show for race fans. Titman out in front was smooth, consistent and dominate, and almost always had a small, but comfortable lead over his rivals. Brazier held his own for a while but ultimately faded through the field. Oldfield and McFadden didn’t hold back, but neither really seemed to have anything for Titman, who was seldom challenged for his position. Danny Reidy, who at one stage looked unlikely to make the restart after Scheuerle’s crash, was having a great run in the NQ5 racer and was up to fifth, but Brent Aprile was coming on strong. Peter Lack and Bryan Mann both began working their way closer to the front of the field, both making the most of a second chance in the race. Kevin Titman went on to take the win, his first in Sprintcar Competition, and one that he probably was not expecting to win when he arrived at the track. Despite difficult track conditions Titman survived the carnage and drove spectacularly well all night and very much deserved the win. Titman has improved in leaps and bounds in the past year or two of racing and really was just a matter of time before he stood atop the podium, having come so close so many times. James McFadden and Luke Oldfield joined him on the podium with Brent April and Danny Reidy rounding out the top five. Jordyn Brazier finished an impressive sixth and led Jamie Bricknell, Garry Brazier, Brent Kratzmann, Bryan Mann, Peter Lack, David Whell and Mick Sauer across the line. Paul Morris, Robbie Farr, Brodie Tulloch, David Murcott and Andrew Scheuerle all failed to finish the event.

The cars and stars will head to SuperCheap Auto Archerfield Speedway tonight (Saturday) for Night Two of the East Coast Logistics Tri-City Shootout before heading to the Toowoomba Speedbowl tomorrow night (Sunday) for the final night of competition. Can Kevin Titman back up his win from last night and make it two in a row? Will Robbie Farr, David Murcott or Andrew Scheuerle make up lost ground? Can James McFadden or Luke Oldfield climb any high on the podium? Or can any one of the other local stars steal the limelight? Come on out to SuperCheap Auto Archerfield Speedway tonight and see it all for yourself. With four current or past Australian Champions and all the local stars, it is guaranteed to be one thrilling night of racing action and you wont want to miss a moment of the action. See you trackside tonight to cheer on your favourite driver!