Kicking Up The Dirt - 2014 Tri-City Shootout Night Three
Joanne White posted Monday April 21, 2014.
The third and final night of the 2014 East Coast Logistics Tri-City Sprintcar Shootout at Toowoomba Speedbowl last night was every bit as thrilling as the first two nights competition. Difficult track conditions all night proved troublesome for almost everyone and certainly impacted on proceedings, with even some of Australia's best Sprintcar competitors struggling to get a grip on the slippery surface. David Murcott started things off all wrong, clipping the wall in qualifying and flipping down the back straight. James McFadden had a scary moment in turn one while leading the A-Main event, which cost him the lead of the race, while several others came to grief over the course of the evening. Robbie Farr and James McFadden put on a truly brilliant show for most of the A-Main event, the pair clearly a class above the rest of field. Farr ended up pulling out of the event with sudden and unexpected mechanical problems, leaving McFadden in control of the race. McFadden was never challenged again for the lead and opened a sizeable lead on every restart, skillfully navigating lapped traffic before going on to take the win. James not only won last nights A-Main, but also managed to secure the overall East Coast Logistics Tri-City Shootout Series win and the Crispy Memorial. Joining him on the podium, both for last nights race and the overall weekend series, were Garry Brazier and Luke Oldfield, both of whom put in sensational drives to entertain the crowd. Danny Reidy and Peter Lack rounded out the top five finishers in last nights action-packed A-Main event, which was enough to see them finished fourth and sixth overall for the weekend, Andrew Scheuerle, while failing to finish last nights A-Main event, had earned enough points in all his qualifying efforts to secure fifth overall for the weekend.
Qualifying got underway in less than ideal conditions and while Robbie Farr topped the qualifying order with an 11.540 second lap, things didn’t go quite so smoothly for others. David Murcott drifted a little too high heading down the back straight before clipping the wall and flipping towards turn three. Murcott was not hurt in the incident but was certainly disappointed at his continued run of bad luck. Murcott and his crew worked feverishly to repair the car and actually made it back trackside for a couple of hot laps at the end of the qualifying sessions. Andrew Scheuerle and Peter Lack were quick around what could be considered their home track, securing second and third fastest in the qualifying runs, with Kevin Titman and Bryan Mann rounding out the fastest five. Garry Brazier was sixth quickest and the last car to go sub 12 seconds, while less than one second separated the top eleven qualifiers.
Heat one started with Andrew Marks and Melissa Boyes from the front row, with Boyes securing the race lead when the lights went green. David Whell, from position four, quickly secured second leaving Marks in third with Luke Oldfield and Robbie Farr right on his tail. When Marks ran high in turn four, Oldfield somehow managed to squeeze between Marks and Farr as they exited turn four, with Garry Brazier joining the battle, making it almost four wide coming out of the turn. Marks held on for another half lap before Farr and Brazier were able to get by on the inside as they headed down the back straight. Melissa Boyes had built up a comfortable lead but bought the race under caution when she spun in turn four at the half race distance mark. David Whell inherited the race lead for the restart, with five laps left to run and Luke Oldfield and Robbie Farr right on his tail. Whell had a great run on the highline, but ultimately faded as his more experienced rivals charged to the front. Luke Oldfield secured the win with Robbie Farr across the line in second and Garry Brazier in third, Farr and Brazier put on a spectacular show for race fans. David Whell crossed the line in fourth and led Brad Ayers, Andrew Marks, Brodie Tulloch, Melissa Boyes and Darren Silcock across the line.
Heat two started with Stephen Greer and Anthony Lambert from the front row, and hard chargers Brent Kratzmann and Mick Sauer right behind. The first start was aborted with the front row again instructed to cross the starting line side-by-side. Second time was a better start and while Lambert secured the lead from the highline, Greer fought back on the bottom. Lambert managed to pull away a little in turn two, while Brent Kratzmann had a brilliant run around the high side and made his way past both Sauer and Greer by the time he entered turn three. Andrew Scheuerle was also on the move, using the low line to his advantage, getting past James McFadden, Mick Sauer and Stephen Greer in turns three and four of the opening lap. Kratzmann slipped underneath Lambert to steal the race lead, with Andrew Scheuerle quick to follow, while James McFadden began working his way closer to the front and Bryan Mann took to the highline to get around Jamie Bricknell, Mick Sauer and Stephen Greer. Andrew Scheuerle and James McFadden both found a way past Lambert and gradually closed the gap to Kratzmann in the race lead. Kratzmann slammed the back straight wall hard in the closing laps of the race, giving both Scheuerle and McFadden the opportunity to slip straight through. Andrew Scheuerle went on to take the win with James McFadden in second and Brent Kratzmann hanging on to take third. Mick Sauer finished an impressive fourth and led Bryan Mann, Jamie Bricknell, Stephen Greer, Anthony Lambert and Blake Skipper across the line.
Dan Murray and Luca Cox shared the front row for the start of heat three, with Darren Jensen and David Murcott right behind and eager to get to the front. Murray got the jump on the start but chaos unfolded in turn one when contact between Cox and Murcott saw Cox complete a 360 degree spin in front of the entire field but managed to keep the car moving. Murray and Cox again shared the front row for the restart with Murray managing to secure the race lead. Cox stuck to the low line while Murcott, Jensen and Jordyn Brazier charged around the outside. Murcott ducked underneath Murray in turns three and four to steal the lead with Jensen, Jordyn Brazier and Peter Lack quick to follow in the next couple of laps. Kevin Titman tried to go underneath too but contact with Murray left Murray in the #44 racer stranded in turn two. Murcott and Jensen led the restart, while further back in the field Peter Lack had the #58 racer on the way forward. Another yellow light stoppage for the spun car of Luca Cox in turn four bunched the field back up once more, with Murcott, Jensen and Brazier to lead them away once more. Peter Lack was on a mission and after watching his opposition for a lap or two quickly found his way through past Jordyn Brazier and then Darren Jensen before starting to close the gap to Murcott. Lack ran out of laps though with David Murcott securing the win, and some much needed points, with Peter Lack across the line in second. Darren Jensen came home in third and led Jordyn Brazier, Danny Reidy and Kevin Titman across the line. Reidy and Titman had a particularly intense battle for the minor places in the closing stages of the race, the pair holding nothing back as the laps wore away. Luca Cox did not finish the event while Dan Murray was relegated to the infield with a flat left front tyre.
Heat four saw Darren Silcock and Melissa Boyes share the front row with Boyes getting the jump when the green flew. David Whell, from position four, managed to secure second but the race was quickly brought under caution when Silcock spun on the low line in turn two. Silcock restarted at the rear of the field with Brad Ayers promoted to pole position alongside Melissa Boyes. Once again Boyes got the jump on the start and settled into the race lead while Ayers tried to fend off the advances of Murcott. Murcott stuck his nose underneath Ayers in turn two, but Ayers, and David Whell, came on strongly on the high line and managed to hold Murcott off for another half lap. When both Ayers and Whell ran too wide through turn four, Murcott wasted no time at all and quickly slipped through, immediately setting his sights on Melissa Boyes and the race lead. Murcott was persistent, and while Boyes drove well in difficult conditions, Murcott was determined to get to the front and stole the lead only a few laps into the race. Bryan Mann, Andrew Scheuerle and Kevin Titman raced three wide through turn four, before Scheuerle managed to pull away from the rest and set out after the leaders. A yellow light stopping five laps in for the spun car of Darren Silcock in turn two bunched the field back up with Bryan Mann and David Whell having a great battle when the race resumed. Kevin Titman battled with a badly damaged front wing, and while the wing sat almost vertical on the bonnet of the #59 racer and no doubt effected both visibility and aerodynamics, Titman still put up a good fight as he tried to steal a position from David Whell. David Murcott went on to take the win, and secure some more valuable points, with Andrew Scheuerle and Bryan Mann completing the top three. David Whell finished in fourth with Kevin Titman, Melissa Boyes, Blake Skipper and Brad Ayers rounding out the finishers. Darren Silcock did not finish the event.
Stephen Greer and Anthony Lambert shared the front row for the start of heat five, with Lambert getting the jump on the start. All eyes however were on James McFadden and his brilliant run on the highline. McFadden started the event from position six and by the time he exited turn two he had blasted his way around the outside and into second before switching swiftly to the low line to slide underneath Lambert on the entry to turn three and steal the race lead in just three quarters of a lap. Garry Brazier and Robbie Farr desperately searched for a way past Mick Sauer, and then Anthony Lambert, with Lambert, Brazier and Farr going through turn one three wide. Brazier emerged in front, with Lambert holding off Farr for the time being. Farr soon got past Lambert and went on to have a breath-taking battle with Brazier that was hard to tear your eyes from. Further back in the field Danny Reidy, Anthony Lambert and Mick Sauer were involved in their own close battle, the boys putting on a brilliant display of clean, competition racing to thrill race fans. A yellow light stoppage followed when Stephen Greer spun in turn four with McFadden to lead the restart and Brent Kratzmann doing a magnificent job in second. When the race resumed however Kratzmann came under immediate fire from Robbie Farr who ducked underneath Kratzmann in turn three. Garry Brazier tried to follow him though but contact with Kratzmann left both cars stranded in turn three. James McFadden went on to take the win with Robbie Farr in second ahead of Danny Reidy and Mick Sauer, with Garry Brazier, Brent Kratzmann, Anthony Lambert, Stephen Greer and Luca Cox rounding out the finishers.
Heat six started with Darren Jensen and Andrew Marks on the front row, with Jamie Bricknell and Brodie Tulloch close behind. Jensen got the jump on the start while Marks settled into second but the race was soon brought under caution when Marks spun in turn four. Fortunately the field was able to avoid the stranded #27 racer, who restarted at the rear of the field. Darren Jensen and Brodie Tulloch now shared the front row for the next attempted start, with Jensen again securing the lead when the lights went green. Tulloch held down second while Peter Lack found a way past Jamie Bricknell and began fighting for position with Jordyn Brazier. The battle between Lack and Brazier continued, fierce and relentless for the rest of the race, while Luke Oldfield found a way past Jamie Bricknell and Brodie Tulloch. Darren Jensen was first past the chequered flag, with Jordyn Brazier having a brilliant run to secure second and led Peter Lack, Luke Oldfield, Brodie Tulloch, Jamie Bricknell, Andrew Marks and Dan Murray across the line.
James McFadden, Bryan Mann and Garry and Jordyn Brazier rolled onto the track for the Bonze Shootout. After two qualifying hotlaps the four cars were separated by just 0.071 seconds, with the father-son combination of Garry and Jordyn Brazier the slowest of the Shootout. They would return to the infield and start the A-Main from positions seven and eight respectively, while McFadden and Mann would advance to the Silver Shootout.
Peter Lack and Luke Oldfield joined James McFadden and Bryan Mann on the track for the Silver Shootout with Mann and McFadden again out-classing their rivals. This time it was Bryan Mann who was fastest in the qualifying laps, stopping the clock at 11.864 seconds with James McFadden second quickest and also transferring to the Gold Shootout. Peter Lack and Luke Oldfield would start the A-Main event from positions five and six.
Andrew Scheuerle, who had been highest on points going into the Shootout events, and Robbie Farr joined James McFadden and Bryan Mann on track for the Gold Shootout. The two #25 cars dominated the event, with James McFadden in the NQ25 racer the only car to break into the 11-second bracket, stopping the clock at 11.856 seconds and earning pole position, and lane choice, for the start of the A-Main event. Andrew Scheuerle, in the Q25 racer, was second quickest in the Gold Shootout and would join McFadden on the front row of the A-Main. Bryan Mann and Robbie Farr would share the second row of the starting line-up for the feature event.
Mick Sauer and Brodie Tulloch shared the front row for the start of the B-Main event, with Brent Kratzmann and Brad Ayers close behind. Tulloch got the jump on the start with Sauer settling into second and Brent Kratzmann in third while Brad Ayers and Anthony Lambert argued over fourth, the final transfer spot, while Andrew Marks slipped by underneath Melissa Boyes as they headed through turn three. The race was soon brought under caution when Brad Ayers looped the NQ11 racer in turn four and while the field took evasive action and Ayers was able to keep the car going, Boyes spun the #8 racer in the chaos. A full restart followed with Boyes at the rear of the field and Tulloch and Sauer to lead them away. This time Sauer got a brilliant start on the low line and quickly settled into the race lead, while Brent Kratzmann and Brodie Tulloch negotiated over second. Kratmann won that battle while further back in the field Andrew Marks was having a great race with Dan Murray. Tulloch almost spun in turn four, allowing both Ayers and Lambert to slip through while at the front of the field Mick Sauer and Brent Kratzmann had begun navigating through lapped traffic. The race was brought under caution when Luca Cox stopped against the turn three wall with eight gruelling laps left to run. Sauer and Kratzmann led the restart while further back in the field Melissa Boyes and Dan Murray had a thrilling battle side-by-side for the minor places. Mick Sauer took the win, with Brent Kratzmann, Brodie Tulloch and Anthony Lambert all securing transfers to the A-Main. Brad Ayers finished in fifth ahead of Melissa Boyes, Blake Skipper, Dan Murray, Andrew Marks and Darren Silcock. Luca Cox and Stephen Greer both failed to finish the event.
The 35-lap A-Main affair stared with a Missing-Man formation for the four-wide salute, a tribute to the late Greg ‘Crispy’ McLennan, with the winner of the weekend to walk away with the perpetual Crispy Memorial trophy. James McFadden and Andrew Scheuerle then shared the front row for the start of what would proved to be a gruelling and brutal 35-lap journey. McFadden got the jump on the start and quickly settled into the race lead while Andrew Scheuerle and Robbie Farr argued over second and the battle further back in the field between Danny Reidy, Kevin Titman and David Murcott began to heat up. Mick Sauer and Darren Jensen were both having good runs when the race was brought under caution after just four laps for the spun car of Jordyn Brazier in turn four.
James McFadden and Robbie Farr led the restart and within a lap had opened a margin of a quarter of a lap on the rest of the field. Bryan Mann challenged Andrew Scheuerle for his position while Luke Oldfield and Peter Lack, and Garry Brazier and Kevin Titman were all embroiled in their own battled mid-field. Mick Sauer was having a beautiful run in the immaculately presented Q79 racer, advancing quickly into the top ten after transferring from the B-Main. Garry Brazier made his way past Lack, Oldfield and Titman and set about chasing down Bryan Mann and Andrew Scheuerle, while at the front of the field McFadden and Farr had encountered lapped traffic within only a few short laps. A rare mistake from McFadden as he tried to slip underneath a lapped car saw him bounce awkwardly through turn one, and while he was lucky not to roll, he handed the lead of the race to Farr. Fortunately for McFadden, he and Farr had built up enough of a margin over third that he only lost the one position and was quick to settle the car and set out after Farr. Farr had opened a sizable lead, and navigated the traffic with ease, while McFadden tried to close the gap, all the while with Andrew Scheuerle right on his tail. Bryan Mann was battling with Garry Brazier, the duel culminating in turn two with Mann left stranded in turn two and the race under caution.
Robbie Farr led the restart with James McFadden back on his tail, the pair again running away from the field and leaving Andrew Scheuerle in third to try to fend off the advances of a very hard charging and in-form Garry Brazier. Luke Oldfield, Kevin Titman and Peter Lack battled over the minor places, the trio all putting in brilliant performances and beautifully showcasing the talent of the local drivers but the race was soon brought to an abrupt stop when Darren Jensen and Jordyn Brazier came together in turn four. Brazier barrel-rolled three and a half times through turn four and while he walked away uninjured he would take no further part in proceedings.
Robbie Farr and James McFadden again led the restart and pulled away from the field when the lights went green. In a class of their own there was nothing anyone could do to stay within reach, with Andrew Scheuerle left to battle over third with Garry Brazier, while Luke Oldfield and Kevin Titman were hot on their heels and ready to strike. Oldfield worked the high like perfectly, with Titman masterful on the bottom, the pair racing side-by-side, wheel-to-wheel for lap after lap as both tried to find a way past Andrew Scheuerle. Unfortunately Oldfield got a fraction too sideways coming out of turn four, leaving Titman with no time to react and contact between the pair launched Titman airborne. Titman flipped out of turn four and out of the race, and while Kevin was unscathed it was a very disappointing end to a weekend that had started so well.
Robbie Farr and James McFadden led the restart, immediately pulling away from the field once the green flag flew. Coming out of turn two Farr experienced sudden and unexpected engine dramas, the car quickly slowing to a stop as McFadden and the rest of the field were forced to take evasive action.
With nineteen laps left to run it was James McFadden who the field away in the absence of Robbie Farr, with Garry Brazier and Andrew Scheuerle on his tail. McFadden immediately opened a sizable lead while Brazier sat comfortably in second while Andrew Scheuerle had to contend with Luke Oldfield and Danny Reidy putting the pressure on, with each keen for a podium finish. Peter Lack soon joined the fight while further back in the field Bryan Mann was trying to make his way forward after his earlier stoppage and was embroiled in an intense battle with David Whell, Brent Kratzmann and Jamie Bricknell. The leaders navigated lapped traffic, but the race was brought under caution with seven laps to run when Bryan Mann and Brent Kratzmann came together in turn one, with Mann left stranded on the track. Mann watched the remainder of the race from the infield, but all eyes were on Andrew Scheuerle, Mr Consistency himself, who had pulled up on the infield and out of the race with steering issues in the Q25 racer. Brodie Tulloch and Anthony Lambert also exited the race.
James McFadden led the restart with seven laps to run and again opened a comfortable lead. The real battle was that between Peter Lack and Danny Reidy, both of whom had endured their run of bad luck this weekend, but both putting in exceptional drives in last night’s main event. David Whell, Jamie Bricknell and Mick Sauer was the other battle to watch but there was no stopping James McFadden as he took the win, with Garry Brazier home in second and Luke Oldfield officially third. Danny Reidy crossed the line in fourth, with Peter Lack, David Murcott, David Whell, Jamie Bricknell, Mick Sauer and Brent Kratzmann following in quick succession. Andrew Scheuerle, Bryan Mann, Anthony Lambert, Brodie Tulloch, Darren Jensen, Robbie Farr, Kevin Titman and Jordyn Brazier all failed to finish the action-packed affair.
James McFadden was crowned the winner of the weekend with Garry Brazier officially second and Luke Oldfield an impressive third, just one point behind Brazier. Despite a knack for being caught up in other peoples mistakes, Danny Reidy managed to put together a weekend of solid runs to finish fourth overall for the weekend, with Andrew Scheuerle securing enough qualifying points to finish fifth overall despite two DNFs in the feature events. Peter Lack, Kevin Titman, Robbie Farr, Jamie Bricknell and David Murcott rounded out the top ten of the weekend, with Bryan Mann and Jordyn Brazier tied for eleventh and twelfth. Brent Kratzmann beat Mick Sauer by just one point while Darren Jensen and Brodie Tulloch were tied for fifteenth and sixteenth. David Whell finished the weekend in seventeenth after come solid performances, with Brad Ayers, Melissa Boyes, Paul Morris, Anthony Lambert, Andrew Marks, Blake Skipper, Stephen Greer, Brent Aprile, Luca Cox, Dan Murray, Dan Moes, Darren Silcock, Kristy Bonsey and James Grady rounding out the final overall placings.
Sprintcars Queensland would like to thank everyone involved in putting this weekend together, especially our Sponsors – Dave Horrell and East Coast Logistics, KRE Race Engines, Lucas Oils and Thermal Edge Coatings – and our drivers, teams, families and fans for what has been a huge weekend of thrilling action-packed racing. Congratulations to James McFadden and Kevin Titman on their feature wins.
Sprintcars Queensland will return to SuperCheap Auto Archerfield Speedway next weekend for another massive two-night show where we will crown our 2013-2014 Queensland Champion. The action starts on Friday night with qualifying time trails and heat events, plus a preliminary feature, with Saturday night set to see more heat racing action and the Dash event, followed by the B-Main and a star-studded A-main event. With the Queensland Title on the line you can be sure that the competition will be tough, that no one will be holding anything back as they lay it all on the line in an effort to call themselves the Queensland Champion. Come along and see all the racing for yourself and then pop down to the pits when the racing has finished to meet the drivers, grab an autograph or buy some merchandise and have a chat. We hope to see you all there on Friday night to cheer our boys and girls on!
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