Round Five of the SuperCheap Auto Sprintcar Track Championship was held at AusDeck Patios and Roofing Archerfield Speedway last night. After savage storms unleashed havoc at the venue on Thursday evening, uplifting grandstand seating and hurling it at the track fence and bringing down trees and fences around the venue, the Archerfield Speedway team worked tirelessly across Friday to clean up and make repairs before last nights event. Difficult track conditions, especially early in the evening during the qualifying rounds, resulted in some very different results at the conclusion of qualifying and the heat events. By the end of what was one of the very best Feature event races seen in South-East Queensland in a long time, most of the usual front-runners had made their way to the front. The battle for the lead of the A-Main event between Kevin Titman and Luke Oldfield was breath-taking, the pair exchanging the lead several times while navigating lapped traffic in a race that ran from green to chequer without incident. Luke Oldfield, having graced the podium several times already this season without being able to secure the top spot finally managed to get a very hard fought win with Kevin Titman a solid second. Brent Kratzmann had a brilliant run, finishing an impressive third after winning the Dash event and leading the early stages of the A-Main. Paul Rooks and American young gun Cap Henry, driving the U23 racer for David Whell, rounded out the top five.

Qualifying got underway on what was still a very wet track with some of the biggest names in the sport struggling to put down some quality laps. The first group to hit the track had several hot laps to try to bring the track in a bit before their five qualifying laps. Robbie Farr was the quickest of the group with a 12. 887 seconds, but as the track got progressively faster as each of the six groups hit the track, Farr ended up 13th in the qualifying order. Jamie Bricknell, in the #36 Titan garages racer, was in the final group to hit the track and managed to secure Quick Time with a fast 12.288 second lap. Peter Lack was second quickest with a 12.424 second recorded lap while Richard Morgan, Brent Kratzmann and Kevin Titman rounded out the fastest five. The tricky track conditions made for some interesting qualifying results, with Matthew Butler, Paul Rooks, Dan Moes, Terry Bracken and Stephen Greer rounding out the top ten and traditional front-runners languishing further back in the qualifying order. Robbie Farr was back in 13th, Luke Oldfield in 15th, Cap Henry in 17th, Andrew Scheuerle in 22nd and perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was Bryan Mann back in 25th and missing the top 24 inversion in a field of 27 cars.

Heat one started with Jason Bottin and Andrew Liebke from the front row with Ben Hilder and Robbie Farr from the second row. Hilder and Liebke both got great starts and raced side-by-side into the first and second corners with Liebke managing to pull ahead as they headed down the back straight. Robbie Farr, keen to get as many points in the bag as possible after a poor, by his own standards, qualifying result, was really on the move and working the highline to get past Bottin in turn three before setting out after Liebke and race lead. It wasn’t long before Farr was on the tail of Liebke and it was only the smallest of mistakes from Liebke that gave the former Australian Champion all the invitation he needed to slip underneath Liebke through turn one and steal the race lead. From there Farr was unstoppable and opened a sizable margin over the rest of the field while further back in the field Ben Hilder was having a brilliant run in the Q95 Motorguard Motorsport racer. Hilder found his way past Bottin before setting his sights on Liebke and working on closing the gap. Hilder had tremendous speed and as the laps wore away he inched closer and closer Liebke. The final corner of the race saw Hilder attempt a big passing move on Liebke as the pair argued over second and raced side-by-side across the line. Meanwhile Dan Murray was putting all kinds of pressure on Jason Bottin while defending his position from a hard charging Jamie Bricknell. It was a thrilling battle mid-field that went right to chequered flag. Robbie Farr took the win with Andrew Liebke just beating Ben Hilder to the line. Hilder finished third ahead of Dan Murray, Jamie Bricknell, Jason Bottin, Matthew Butler, Paul Rooks and Bryan Mann.

Anthony Lambert and Steven Johnson shared the front row for the start of heat two with Lambert getting the jump on the start and led the opening couple of laps while Johnson tried to fight back hard on the low line. Johnson committed to the low line and as they rounded turns three and four made his move, edging his way in front to steal the lead. Lambert fought back hard but soon found himself under pressure from Cap Henry, who searched high and low for a way past before sliding underneath Lambert as they headed through turn one. Dave Fanning, Kevin Titman, Paul Morris and Peter Lack were soon all on the tail of Lambert, the mid-field pack putting on a spectacular show while Cap Henry had closed in on the tail of race leader Johnson and was searching for a way into the lead. After a few laps Henry slipped underneath Johnson through turn two and began opening a comfortable lead while Peter Lack ran around the outside of both Kevin Titman and Anthony Lambert in quick succession before finding himself on the tail of Dave Fanning. Lack was relentless and while he favoured the highline most of the time, was not afraid to have a look down low if and when opportunity presented itself. Cap Henry took the win with Steven Johnson a solid second ahead of Dave Fanning, Peter Lack, Kevin Titman, Paul Morris, Dan Moes, Anthony Lambert and Mike Walsh.

Andrew Scheuerle started from pole in heat three with Mark Pholi alongside. There was little surprise that a very determined Scheuerle got the jump on the start and while it was expected that Scheuerle would be quick off the front row, Pholi was equally determined to make up for an ordinary qualifying session and was not about to let Scheuerle have the lead without a fight. Mick Sauer however had an absolutely brilliant run into the opening corner, hugging the bottom and slipping underneath both Luke Oldfield and Mark Pholi to steal second, while Pholi got too sideways in turn two and allowed Oldfield the chance to slip into third. Pholi was left to try to defend his position from a very hard charging Terry Bracken, while Oldfield closed in on Mick Sauer and Andrew Scheuerle. Oldfield slammed the back straight wall as he ran around the outside of Sauer before trying to find a way past Scheuerle. The last few laps were frantic, with Oldfield holding nothing back and giving it everything he had to try and get past Scheuerle while Scheuerle focused on hitting his marks and running a very smooth, very consistent mistake-free race. The final corner of the race saw Oldfield still on the high line coming out of turn four and attempting a big outside passing move as the leaders drag raced side-by-side to the line. Oldfield clipped the wall again coming out of turn four, losing momentum and resulting in a flat right rear tyre. Andrew Scheuerle took the win ahead of Luke Oldfield and Mark Pholi, who had, in the closing laps of the race, managed to get back past Mick Sauer. Sauer finished fourth after a very impressive run, with Brent Kratzmann, Terry Bracken, Richard Morgan, Stephen Greer and James Grady rounding out the finishers.

Anthony Lambert and Andrew Liebke shared the front row for the start of heat four with Lambert getting the jump on the start and quickly settling into the race lead. Liebke settled into second but all eyes were on Luke Oldfield who took to the high line after starting from position four. Oldfield ran around the outside of Mick Sauer and Andrew Liebke through turns one and two and attempted to go around Lambert as well. When Lambert came ever so slightly up track as he exited turn two, Oldfield seemingly effortlessly switched to the low line and slipped underneath Lambert to steal the lead before the third corner of the race. Robbie Farr was having a great run, and a brilliant battle first with Dan Murray and then Jamie Bricknell as he tried to work his way closer to the front, but mechanical issues in the Q7 racer saw Farr pull out of the event after completing just four laps. Dan Murray had a great run where he and Andrew Liebke traded places several times, while Bryan Mann also began working his way forward. Luke Oldfield went on to take the win, half a lap and 5.975 second ahead of second placed Jamie Bricknell. Mick Sauer crossed the line in third ahead of Dan Murray, Bryan Mann, Anthony Lambert, Andrew Liebke and Matthew Butler. Robbie Farr did not finish the event.

Heat five started with Jason Bottin and Steven Johnson from the front row with hard chargers Andrew Scheuerle and Cap Henry out of row two. Bottin and Johnson raced wheel-to-wheel into turn one, with Scheuerle on the low line looking to slip underneath them both and into the lead. Bottin emerged in front but both Johnson and Scheuerle were relentless and did not give up without a fight. Johnson was committed to the high line and had a beautiful run to run around the high line of Bottin in turn four, with Scheuerle again joining the fight on the low line taking them three wide for the second time in just the opening lap of the race. This time it was Johnson who emerged in front, albeit only briefly as Scheuerle slid underneath him running on the gutter. Johnson held down second with Bottin in third while further back in the field Terry Bracken and Peter Lack were running the high line as Dave Fanning and Kevin Titman ran the bottom, the quartet putting on a spectacular show for race fans. Bracken and Lack won out, but both Titman and Fanning were on the move as the group caught the tail of Jason Bottin, who had lost a position to Cap Henry. With Bottin on the high line, and Lack down low, Titman switched from the high side to the low, straight between Bottin and Lack in turn three. Fanning slipped underneath Lack in turn two, with Lack regaining his position as they raced into turn three, only for Fanning to again slide underneath Lack in turn four. It was brilliant racing from both drivers, until slight contact between them as they raced down the main straight saw Fanning into the wall and inverting the immaculately presented Q89 racer. Fanning walked away unscathed but was out of the race. Andrew Scheuerle led the restart with five laps to run and Cap Henry on his tail. Kevin Titman and Peter Lack continued to put on a show but no one had any answer for the speed and consistency of Scheuerle out in front. Andrew Scheuerle took the win ahead of Cap Henry, Kevin Titman, Peter Lack, Terry Bracken, Steven Johnson and Mike Walsh. Jason Bottin and Dave Fanning did not finish the race.

Mark Pholi and Ben Hilder lined-up along each other on the front row for the start of heat six, with Pholi getting the better start and securing the race lead. Paul Morris and Ben Hilder ran wheel-to-wheel for most of the opening lap, with Hilder managing to maintain his position for several laps as the pair continued to race side-by-side. Behind them though the battle was raging for the minor places with a great battle between Dan Moes, Brent Kratzmann and Paul Rooks unfolding. Paul Morris at the front of the field eventually managed to get past Hilder and set out after Pholi, before quickly stealing the lead in a beautifully executed inside passing move through turn one. A yellow light stoppage for Stephen Greer and James Grady who had both spun in turn one brought the race under caution. Morris led the restart with Pholi and Hilder close behind and Kratzmann on the charge. Another yellow light stoppage only a lap later and then a quick three laps to the chequered flag and there was no stopping Morris who went on to take the win ahead of Brent Kratzmann, with Paul Rooks and Mark Pholi crossing the line side by side. Rooks beat Pholi by just one thousandth of a second while Dan Moes, Ben Hilder, Richard Morgan, Stephen Greer and James Grady rounded out the finishers.

With the Pre-Dash draw putting highest point-scorer Jamie Bricknell out of position six, it was Richard Morgan and Brent Kratzmann from the front row for the six-lap Dash event. Kratzmann got the jump on the start and didn’t look back while Titman made his way into second and Luke Oldfield, coming from position five, made his way into third by the end of the second corner. Peter Lack spent a lap battling with Richard Morgan before securing the better track position and setting out after Oldfield and Titman. Oldfield and Titman were holding nothing back but Lack saw the white flag in the air and made his move, slipping underneath Oldfield in turn one and then under Titman in turn three to steal second on the final lap. Brent Kratzmann took the win, declining the offer of the Kratzmann Caravan challenge, with Peter Lack in second ahead of Kevin Titman, Luke Oldfield, Jamie Bricknell and Richard Morgan.

It was an interesting 12-car line up for the B-Main event, with Mick Sauer and Robbie Farr from the front row. Bryan Mann, back in position nine, was always going to be one to watch and with a very big task ahead Mann needed to pull out something special. Farr got the jump on the start and quickly set about opening a comfortable margin while the battle for the other three transfer positions began to heat up. Mann had a transfer position firmly in his sights, but just a few cars to get past before claiming one as his own. Mann spent the first couple of laps on the low line, getting past Anthony Lambert and Steven Johnson and when he got stuck behind Stephen Greer on the low side Mann switched to the high side and started running around the outside of Greer first and then Andrew Liebke a few laps later. A yellow light stoppage at half race distance when Greer and Lambert came together in turn two, bunched the field back up with Farr, Fanning, Pholi and Sauer to lead the field away and Mann in the fifth with a transfer position in his sights. Mann ran around the outside of both Sauer and Pholi in one big bold passing move in turn four, before eventually getting past Dave Fanning as well. Robbie Farr took the win with Bryan Mann in second and Mark Pholi and Dave Fanning all securing transfers to the A-Main. Andrew Liebke finished an impressive fifth ahead of Mick Sauer, Steven Johnson, Anthony Lambert, Mike Walsh and James Grady. Stephen Greer and Jason Bottin both failed to finish the event.

Eighteen cars rolled onto the track for the 30-lap A-Main event, with Brent Kratzmann from pole and Peter Lack alongside, as well as the formidable duo of Kevin Titman and Luke Oldfield close behind. With Andrew Scheuerle back in 13th and both Robbie Farr and Bryan Mann at the tail of the field after transferring from the B-Main, it was pretty much a given that this race was going to be full of plenty of exciting racing action. Kratzmann got a brilliant start when the lights went green, quickly settling into the race lead while Lack got a less than ideal start to the race. Titman quickly seized the opportunity to slip underneath Lack as they rounded turn one, with Jamie Bricknell quick to follow on the low line. Titman was right on the tail of the Q4 car of Kratzmann and as the leading pair exited turn four side-by-side Titman managed to pull in front and secure the lead before the end of the first lap. Peter Lack was working the high line trying to find a way past Jamie Bricknell when Luke Oldfield joined the battle for a brief time before quickly finding his way past both Lack and Bricknell, and then Kratzmann just a short time later. Oldfield set his sights on race leader Titman and began closing the small margin Titman had built up. Meanwhile further back in the field Andrew Scheuerle and Bryan Mann were each trying to work their way forward, both eager to make up lost ground. Scheuerle had a breath-taking battle with Jamie Bricknell early in the race, the pair running side-by-side for several laps. Scheuerle was relentless and on a mission to get to the front and drove an aggressive but smart race, while Mann continued his fine form from the B-Main and skilfully worked his way closer to the front of the field. Robbie Farr seemed to struggle but by this stage Titman and Oldfield had entered lapped traffic and things were really starting to heat up between them. Titman caught Farr and was attempting to put him a lap down when a nano-second hesitation opened the door enough for Oldfield to quickly slip through on the low line past both Titman and Farr. Titman quickly found his way past Farr as well, and while there were plenty of other battles unfolding around the track, the one between Andrew Scheuerle, Jamie Bricknell, Dan Moes and Dan Murray for example, it really was hard to tear your eyes from the race leaders. As they weaved their way through the traffic Titman and Oldfield exchanged the lead several times, until Titman looped the Q59 racer in turn four. Titman was able to keep the car running, with just Brent Kratzmann slipping through to steal his position, leaving Oldfield a little bit of breathing room. Oldfield of course had no idea and didn’t ease up at all, holding nothing back as he raced closer to his first feature race win of the season. Peter Lack looped his Q58 racer in turn four, in the same place as Titman had only a few laps prior, and, like Titman, Lack was able to keep the car moving without causing a stoppage. Unfortunately for Lack mechanical issues in the #58 racer saw him slow and circulate slowly on the edge of the track for the final few laps of the race. Titman had managed to regain lost ground, catching Kratzmann in lapped traffic and the pair agued over second with Titman managing to slip underneath Kratzmann as they rounded turn four a few laps from home. With the white flag in the air Oldfield was in the thick of lapped traffic, with Lack on the bottom gutter trying to finish the race and Bryan Mann also on the low line. Mann raced underneath Lack coming out of turn four with Oldfield right on his tail tank, the leader just the distance of the main straight from the chequered flag. Oldfield rode the right rear of Lack and both cars headed towards the fence, became entangled and spun to a stop in turn one. Oldfield had taken the chequered flag and taken the win with Kevin Titman and Brent Kratzmann joining him on the podium and Paul Rooks and Cap Henry rounding out the top five. Official results for the remainder of the field are currently unavailable as Sprintcars Queensland officials try to sort out a few technical issues with the lap scoring.

Sprintcars Queensland will head to Toowoomba Speedbowl next Saturday night, 6th December 2014, for another frantic night of racing on the high banks of the Toowoomba circuit. It is always an incredible show when we venture to Toowoomba and you can be sure next weekend will not be any different. So grab some warm clothes for when the sun goes down, and get yourself out to Toowoomba Speedbowl next weekend and cheer on your favourite driver. See you Trackside!