Round Six of the SuperCheap Auto Sprintcar Track Championship got underway at AusDeck Patios Archerfield Speedway last night with 32 cars set to compete for valuable Championship points and some last-minute practice laps and fine tuning before the busy Post-Christmas race period. It was a spectacular night of Sprintcar racing action on a difficult track, but in the end it was Ian Madsen, in his first Australian race since his very successful season at Knoxville, who took the win at the end of gruelling 30-lap Feature event. David Murcott crossed the line in second with Andrew Scheuerle a strong third to round out the podium. Bryan Mann and Brent Aprile completed the top five.

Qualifying got underway with a group of 360 Sprintcars first up, with Kristy Bonsey setting quick time for the group, and a new lap record in the 360s in the process. Luke Oldfield managed to top the leader board at the end of all the qualifying sessions, with a blistering 11.355 second lap. David Murcott was next quickest with a quick 11.580, while Bryan Mann, Paul Morris and Terry Bracken rounded out the fastest five. Once again, all the times were exceptionally close, with Ben Hilder beating Andrew Scheuerle by just 0.003 seconds, with Brock Dean and Andrew Liebke separated by the same tiny margin. Jamie Bricknell was just ahead of Paul Rooks by only 0.004 seconds, while Dan Murray beat Brent Kratzmann by 0.001 seconds, while Tasmanian Callum Zizek and Queenslander David Whell both recorded the exact same time - 11.911 seconds.

Heat one got underway with Dave Fanning and Mark Pholi from the front row and David Whell and Mick Sauer close behind. Pholi got the jump on the start and had a beautiful run through the opening corners, with Fanning right on his tail. Brodie Tulloch managed to slip underneath Wheel in the second corner, with Andrew Scheuerle quick to follow him through. Luke Oldfield was on the highline, searching for his way forward and around the outside of Ben Hilder. Once past Hilder, Oldfield turned his attention to Whell and switched to the bottom while trying to find his way past. Hilder looped the #95 racer in turn four but managed to keep the car going while Oldfield put the pressure on Whell. Unfortunately for Oldfield he drifted high into the marbles in turn four, and looped the NQ17 racer in the middle of the turn. Oldfield tried to keep the car going but was too close to the wall and was forced to stop and bring the race under caution. With seven laps left to run and Oldfield at the rear of the field, it was Pholi who led the field to the green and was untouchable out in front. While Oldfield began to work his way back through the field, eventually slipping underneath Whell in turn two, Andrew Scheuerle was putting all kinds of pressure on Brodie Tulloch, and Mick Sauer and Dave Fanning were having a close battle over second and third. Mark Pholi went on to take the win ahead of Dave Fanning, Mick Sauer, Brodie Tulloch, Andrew Scheuerle, Luke Oldfield, David Whell, Ben Hilder, Darren Jensen and Luke Manttan.

Hard chargers Danny Reidy and Brock Dean shared the front row for the start of heat two with Dean getting a brilliant start on the high line and quickly securing the race lead. Unfortunately the race was quickly brought to a stop when Dan Murray got a little sideways in turn two, leaving Jamie Bricknell nowhere to go. While Bricknell tried to get by underneath and avoid the #44 car, with little room to move, and David Murcott on the bottom, Bricknell was unable to avoid contact with the #44 racer and ended up flipping the #36 Titan Garages racer into turn two. Bricknell was not injured in the crash but was unable to continue the event, while Murray changed his left rear tyre before restarting at the rear of the field. This time it was Reidy who got the jump from the front row and quickly settled into the race lead. David Murcott effortlessly ran around Callum Zizek before ducking underneath Dean in turn two to secure second with the race still less than half a lap old. But the race was again brought to a stop, this time for the spun car of Scott Johnston, having his first competitive run in the open Sprintcar ranks with his 360ci Q73 racer. Another full restart followed with Reidy and Dean to lead them to the green once more. The pair drag raced side-by-side into turn one, but it was Reidy on the low line who managed to secure the lead. Dean stayed with him and started putting the pressure on before being forced on the defensive by a very hard charging David Murcott. It only took a couple of laps before Murcott found his way past, while Brent Aprile and Callum Zizek had a great battle over the minor places. Murcott and Dean managed to close the gap to race leader Reidy as they approached lapped traffic but ultimately ran out of laps to make a move. Danny Reidy went on to take the win ahead of David Murcott, Brock Dean, Brent Aprile, Callum Zizek, Terry Bracken, Stephen Greer, Mike Walsh, Dan Murray and Scott Johnston. Jamie Bricknell did not finish the race.

Heat three started with Kevin Titman and Andrew Liebke from the front row with Titman getting a brilliant start and quickly securing the race lead. Brent Kratzmann had a brilliant run from position four, and in a move very simular to the one pulled off by Murcott in the previous race, Kratzmann ran around the outside of Richard Morgan before slipping underneath Liebke to steal second by the end of the second corner. Bryan Mann was putting all kinds of pressure on Paul Morris while Ian Madsen was trying to find a way past Richard Morgan, only to drift a little too high in turn four and loop the #10 racer, bringing the race under caution. Titman led the restart from Kratzmann and Liebke, with Kratzmann challenging Titman for the lead and, further back in the field, Bryan Mann taking to the highline to get past Paul Morris as they exited turn two. Unfortunately, though James Grady spun the Q40 racer in turn four, a spot that was proving quite troublesome for many drivers, and the race was under caution once more. With six laps left to run it was Titman and Kratzmann who again the led field away, with Madsen quickly beginning to climb his way forward. Madsen and Paul Rooks had a great battle for the minor positions with Rooks managing to hang on until the chequered flag. Kevin Titman took the win ahead of Brent Kratzmann and Andrew Liebke, with Bryan Mann, Paul Morris, Paul Rooks, Ian Madsen, James Grady and Kristy Bonsey rounding out the finishers. Richard Morgan pulled out of the race with mechanical issues after only four laps.

Richard Morgan and Brock Dean shared the front row for the start of heat four and while they raced side-by-side into the first corner it was Morgan who had the advantage on the low line. Morgan secured the lead with Dean in second and team-mates Ian Madsen and Callum Zizek battling over the minor places. Madsen had the advantage and was soon challenging Dean for second while further back in the field Andrew Scheuerle and David Murcott were both trying to make their way closer to the front. The race was however soon brought under caution when Luke Manttan spun his #86 360 racer in turn four. Fellow 360 competitor Scott Johnston had nowhere to go but did a truly remarkable job to spin his own #73 car and back it in towards the fence in a successful effort to avoid contact with the Manttan car. Manttan was able to keep his car moving but the yellows were on for the now stranded car of Johnston. Morgan led the restart from Dean and Madsen and while Morgan was comfortable in the race lead it was the action unfolding behind him that captivated the crowd. Dean and Madsen resumed their battle while Andrew Scheuerle slipped past Callum Zizek and further back in the field David Murcott was committed to making the high line work. Murcott had closed in on the back of Ben Hilder, the pair having a great battle, while Brock Dean had caught the tail of Richard Morgan and was now challenging for the race lead, with Madsen right on his tail. Dean had a brilliant drive underneath Morgan in turn two but it all came undone when he looped the #99 in turn four less than half a lap later. Morgan and Madsen both slipped through with Andrew Scheuerle exceptionally lucky not to make contact as Dean got the car going in the right direction again, losing a position to Scheuerle as well. With the white flag in the air Madsen slipped underneath Morgan to steal the lead with just over half a lap to run. Ian Madsen went on to take the win ahead of Richard Morgan, Andrew Scheuerle, Brock Dean, Callum Zizek, Brent Kratzmann, David Murcott, Ben Hilder, Stephen Greer, Luke Manttan and Scott Johnston.

David Whell and Andrew Liebke started alongside each other on the front row for the start of heat five, with Whell getting the jump on the start and Danny Reidy, from position three, having a big look on the inside line through turn one. Reidy couldn’t quite get the job done but certainly kept the pressure on while Andrew Liebke and Mark Pholi argued over third and fourth. Further back in the field there was a big battle heating up between Mick Sauer, Paul Rooks, Terry Bracken, Luke Oldfield and Darren Jensen. All eyes however were on Danny Reidy as he relentlessly searched high and low for a way past Whell and into the race lead. Just as Reidy looked to have finally pulled a fraction in front, the race was brought under caution for the spun cars of Liebke and Rooks in turn four. Unfortunately for Terry Bracken he had been left with nowhere to go and too little time to react and contact with one of the spun cars left him with enough front end damage to prematurely end his race. David Whell led the restart from Danny Reidy and Mark Pholi with Oldfield coming on strong from further back in the field. Reidy again was masterful as he searched the track for any way around Whell, and while it again took several laps, he was eventually able to secure the lead. Mark Pholi looped the #14 racer in turn four, loosing a handful of places before rejoining the race. Danny Reidy went on to take the win ahead of David Whell and Luke Oldfield, with Darren Jensen in his very striking and immaculately presented new-look Q75 racer, next across the line and leading Mick Sauer, Paul Rooks, Mark Pholi, Andrew Liebke, Mike Walsh and Brandon Burrows home. Terry Bracken was the only driver who failed to finish the event.

Heat six started with Dan Murray and Dave Fanning from the front row with Fanning getting the initial jump on the start and leading three-quarters of the first lap. Fanning ran too wide in turn four and allowed both Dan Murray and Kevin Titman, who had been right on his tail, through with Murray leading briefly before Titman slipped underneath the #44 racer in turn one to steal the lead. Brent Aprile ran around the outside of Paul Morris but Morris fought back hard and the pair had a great battle while Jamie Bricknell was all over the back of Dan Murray holding nothing back in his effort to find a way past. Slight contact between them as Bricknell attempted an inside passing move through turn two saw Bricknell forfeit a position to Dave Fanning. Brodie Tulloch looped his #74 racer in turn four on the very last lap, surrendering two positions but there was no stopping Kevin Titman out in front. Titman took the win with Dan Murray, Dave Fanning, Jamie Bricknell, Brent Aprile, Bryan Mann, Brodie Tulloch, Paul Morris, James Grady and Kristy Bonsey rounding out the finishers. Trent Gaudry did not finish the event.

The top eight qualifiers contested the Shootout events with positions three to eight the first on the track for a series of timed hot laps. Bryan Mann, Andrew Scheuerle, Paul Morris, Ian Madsen, Brent Aprile and Kevin Titman hit the track for the Bronze shootout with only the fastest four who would transfer to the silver shootout. Ian Madsen was the quickest with a 13.426 second lap, with Andrew Scheuerle, Kevin Titman and Bryan Mann all transferring to the Silver Shootout. Brent Aprile and Paul Morris would retire to the infield for the rest of the shootout events and start the A-Main from positions seven and eight respectively.

Luke Oldfield and David Murcott joined Madsen, Scheuerle, Titman and Mann on the track for the Silver Shootout. This time it was Murcott who secured quick time, a 13.033 second lap, with Andrew Scheuerle, Ian Madsen and Bryan Mann all transferring to the Gold Shootout. Luke Oldfield and Kevin Titman would start the A-Main from positions five and six respectively.

Bryan Mann and Ian Madsen shared the front row for the start of the Gold Shootout and while Mann got a great start it was Madsen on the high line who secured the lead. Mann held down second for nearly a lap but Murcott was on a mission to get to the front and made his move on the inside of turn four to steal second. Mann fought back hard and very nearly managed to get the job done, but was forced to settle for third. Ian Madsen went on to take the win, with David Murcott across the line in second ahead of Bryan Mann and Andrew Scheuerle. Madsen declined the Kratzmann Challenge and left the top fourteen starters for the A-main as they were.

A staggering eighteen cars lined up for the start of the B-Main event, with Terry Bracken and Jamie Bricknell from the front row and a very tough field behind. With only the top four to transfer to the A-Main there was never any doubt that it would be an action-packed affair, and it sure didn’t disappoint. Terry Bracken got the jump and quickly settled into the race lead while both Mark Pholi and Brock Dean had impressive runs on the high line. Pholi made his way into second by the end of turn two, while Dean, Bricknell and Dan Murray argued over third. Andrew Liebke was making progress through the field after starting from position ten, and had an intense battle with Callum Zizek for several laps, the two often running two-abreast. Richard Morgan and David Whell had a great battle further back in the field but the race was soon brought to a stop for Brock Dean who had inverted the #99 racer in turn two. Dean had spun the car and stepped on the gas in an effort to get out of the way of oncoming traffic when his right rear found just enough traction to launch him. Dave Fanning, having nowhere to go, was also involved, suffering some main-wing damage as he tried to avoid Dean. Both cars restarted the event at the rear of the field. Terry Bracken led the restart from Jamie Bricknell and Mark Pholi with Dave Fanning in the last transfer position and Dan Murray eager to secure a top four finish for himself. Murray put all kinds of intense pressure on Fanning, who was doing an absolutely brilliant job on a very tough rubber-down track and his badly damaged main wing. Andrew Liebke was also on the move and was now well and truly within reach of an elusive transfer position, having made his way past Zizek. Liebke and Zizek hunted down and passed Fanning, before setting their sights on Murray. The race was brought to a stop moments later for Brock Dean who had spun in turn two. Dean was relegated to the infield for the rest of the race, his night of competition over, while Terry Bracken again led the restart from Jamie Bricknell and Mark Pholi. Dan Murray was in the final transfer position with a determined Andrew Liebke close behind. After a couple of laps Liebke made his move, sliding underneath Murray in turn two, only for Murray to slide right back in turn three. Liebke wasn’t done yet and slipped underneath Murray in turn four and while Murray tried to do the same again in turn one, he couldn't quite pull it off. Liebke set about chasing down third placed Pholi while further back in the field Darren Jensen, having his first run of the season to try to iron out any bugs in the Q75 racer before hitting the road for World Series Sprintcars after Christmas, was trying to weave his way through heavy traffic and make his way closer to the front. At the front Jamie Bricknell managed to get past Terry Bracken to steal the lead, while Liebke had caught and passed Pholi. Further back in the field Zizek and Jensen came together, with Jensen left stranded in turn four and bringing the race under caution. Bricknell led the restart from Bracken, Pholi and Liebke with just three laps remaining. The race was brought under caution once more, this time for the spun car of Dan Murray in turn three, and then it was a quick green-white-chequered dash to the finish. Jamie Bricknell took the win with Andrew Liebke finishing second ahead of Terry Bracken and Mark Pholi. Callum Zizek finished an impressive fifth to conclude his first night of competition at the Brisbane track, with Dave Fanning, David Whell, James Grady, Richard Morgan, Mike Walsh, Kristy Bonsey, Brandon Burrows, Stephen Greer, Darren Jensen, Scott Johnston, Luke Manttan and Dan Murray rounding out the finishers. Brock Dean was the only driver who did not finish the event.

The 30-lap A-Main hit the track with Ian Madsen and David Murcott from the front row, with Bryan Mann and Andrew Scheuerle right on their tail and an entire field of obscenely talented drivers behind them. Madsen got the jump on the start and quickly settled into the race lead. Murcott settled into second and occasionally challenged Madsen for the lead but ultimately there was little he could do to make his way in front. Track conditions made it quite difficult for most though Madsen out in front didn't seem too bothered. While both Madsen and Murcott put in great drives and kept the crowd entertained, it was the action further back in the field, amongst the Brisbane locals and Championship contenders that captivated everyone’s attention. Luke Oldfield entered last nights competition just two points behind Andrew Scheuerle in the Championship battle, and both were determined to bag as many points as possible. Luke Oldfield and Kevin Titman had a brilliant battle while mid-field the fight between Paul Rooks, Brent Kratzmann and Andrew Liebke was just heating up. The trio began to work their way forward while Terry Bracken, coming from the back after transferring from the B-Main started trying to work the high line. Few were on the high side so if Bracken could find the traction it could have paid dividends for him. Bracken was moving forward, slowly making his way past one rival after another, running the top and just trying to make it work. Meanwhile Paul Morris and Andrew Liebke were embroiled in an intense and breath-taking battle, while the race leaders were beginning to encounter lapped traffic. Kevin Titman looped it in turn four but again, as we had seen from so many last night, was able to keep it going, while just a few laps later Mark Pholi did the same thing in turn two. This time the officials were quick on the button and a yellow light caution period followed.

Madsen led the restart from Murcott and Scheuerle but again it was the mid-field action that captivated everyone's attention. Luke Oldfield, Kevin Titman and Terry Bracken, each in a different part of the field, were on the highline trying to make their way forward. A few laps into the restart and things came to a very sudden stop when Terry Bracken and Andrew Liebke came together on the back straight. Bracken launched into a series of vicious flips into turn three, ending his night of competition. Bracken walked away from the wreck and while he was examined by the ambulance paramedics he is reportedly doing fine, albeit a bit sore.

Madsen led the restart with seven laps to run and there was little anyone could do to stop him. Ian Madsen went on to take the win, making the sixth winner in as many rounds, with David Murcott in second and Andrew Scheuerle in third. Bryan Mann was next across the line and led Brent Aprile, Luke Oldfield, Jamie Bricknell, Mick Sauer, Ben Hilder, Kevin Titman, Danny Reidy, Brent Kratzmann, Mark Pholi, Andrew Liebke, Paul Morris, Brodie Tulloch and Paul Rooks across the line. Terry Bracken was the only driver who failed to finish the event.

Sprintcars Queensland will return to AusDeck Archerfield Speedway on Boxing Night, Friday 26 December 2014 where America’s Donny Schatz will join us for another frantic night of Sprintcar Racing action. We will then back up to do it all again the following night before heading on to the Toowoomba Speedbowl after that on Sunday 28 December 2014. There is plenty of Spectacular Sprintcar racing action to come so get yourself trackside after Christmas and cheer on your favourite driver.

Until then, from everyone at Sprintcars Queensland, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and safe festive season!