After mother-nature claimed two consecutive nights of racing Sprintcars Queensland returned to AusDeck Archerfield Speedway last night for the eighth night of the SuperCheap Auto Sprintcar Track Championship. Americans Donny Schatz, Brent Kaeding and Davey Heskin joined local favourites Andrew Scheuerle, Luke Oldfield, Bryan Mann, Kevin Titman, Brent Kratzmann and a host of others in a 28-car strong field. Luke Oldfield dominated early but when Bryan Mann won the dash and accepted the Kratzmann Challenge to invert the top fourteen starters things really got interesting. Despite starting the A-Main from position ten Donny Schatz spent only a couple of laps making his way to the front of the field. Andrew Scheuerle led the early stages of the race but proved powerless to stop Schatz on his way to the front. Schatz stole the lead in lapped traffic and went on to take the win ahead of Andrew Scheuerle and Bryan Mann who had a sensational drive from towards the back of the field. Luke Oldfield, who started from position eleven and went to the rear of the field after an early race spin, crossed the line in fourth with Brent Kaeding in fifth.

Last start winner Donny Schatz drew the double points marble at drivers briefing, adding some pressure to those contesting the Track Championship. Qualifying then got under way and it was Luke Oldfield who managed to top the qualifying order with an 11.723 second lap with Donny Schatz second quick after recording an 11.800 second lap. Mitchell Gee, in his very first night of competition in Sprintcars, stopped the clock at a very impressive 11.802 seconds to take third place with Gee’s team-mate Brent Kaeding and local racer Bryan Mann rounding out the fastest five. With Gee a Sprintcar Rookie he had to start the heats from the rear of the field, which meant that twenty-fifth quickest in qualifying, Kristy Bonsey, who was running a 410ci engine for the first time in the Q42 racer, made the top 24 inversion. Callum Zizek in the T22 racer only narrowly missed the inversion, with Bonsey beating him by just one thousandth of a second. The entire 28-car field was separated by just 1.448 seconds, with the top 23 cars separated by less than one second.

Heat one started with Kristy Bonsey and Dan Murray from the front row with Steven Johnson and Mark Pholi right behind and hard chargers Kevin Titman and Luke Oldfield coming from the rear of the field. Bonsey got the jump on the start and while Johnson and Murray argued over second for the first couple of corners, Murray soon managed to pull in front and Johnson was left to try to fight off Kevin Titman who had had a great run on the low line. Titman had been originally set to start the event from position seven but was elevated to fifth when Ben Hilder pulled out of the competition before the event hit the track. Hilder had suffered mechanical issues in the #95 racer during qualifying that would unfortunately be the end of his night of racing. Titman made the most of the situation though, and quickly realised that getting past on the inside of Johnson was not going to happen. Titman switched to the high side, with Luke Oldfield on his tail, and raced side by side with Johnson for the next couple of corners. Johnson managed to stay ahead and Titman started to look on the low side while Oldfield continued to push on the high side. Dan Murray had been putting all kinds of pressure on race leader Bonsey but when he spun in turn two of the second lap, he left Steven Johnson with nowhere to go and contact between the two brought the race under caution. Johnson was unfortunately unable to restart the event while Murray restarted at the rear of the field. Kristy Bonsey led the restart with Kevin Titman and Luke Oldfield right behind her and nine laps still to run. Bonsey got a great start, with Titman staying with her and Oldfield still in the chase. Oldfield slipped underneath Titman as they exited turn two but moved a little up track through turn four as he was attempting an inside pass on Bonsey for the lead. Titman did not hesitate and had the perfect line to slip almost effortlessly through the tiny gap left on the bottom of the track. Once Titman secured the race lead he didn’t look back, opening a small margin in the half a lap it took Oldfield to get around Bonsey. Mark Pholi also had a great run in the Q14 racer and Dan Moes had a very solid run in the immaculately presented Q60 racer. Bonsey faded in a poorly handling car and Mitchell Gee had a great run in his first Sprintcar race until he spun to a stop in turn one with just three laps left to run. Kevin Titman went on to take the win with Luke Oldfield in second ahead Mark Pholi, Dan Moes, Dan Murray, Kristy Bonsey and Mitchell Gee. Steven Johnson did not finish the race.

Heat two started with Anthony Lambert and Paul Morris from the front row. Morris got a brilliant start with Brock Dean from position four quickly going with him while pole-sitter Lambert settled briefly into third. Davey Heskin got caught on the low line behind Lambert, giving Melissa Boyes and Donny Schatz the chance to run around the outside, with Schatz also making short work of getting around Lambert and into third, after starting from position eight, in just three quarters of a lap. Andrew Scheuerle began to climb his way towards the front of the field, slipping past Heskin and Melissa Boyes in quick succession before setting his sights on Lambert. Scheuerle spent a couple of laps working the highline before eventually getting past in turn four while Schatz had made his way past Brock Dean and into second and was now focussed on chasing down Paul Morris and the race lead. Davey Heskin and Anthony Lambert had a brilliant race mid-field, the pair exchanging positions several times and really putting on a show. Schatz had closed in on Morris and spent the final few laps of the race challenging for the lead but Paul Morris managed to hang to take the win with Donny Schatz in second ahead of Brock Dean. Andrew Scheuerle, Davey Heskin, Anthony Lambert, Brent Kratzmann, Melissa Boyes and Callum Zizek rounded out the field.

Mick Sauer and Stephen Greer shared the front row for the start of heat three, with hard-charger Dave Fanning and Brad Ayers right on their tail. Sauer, who had an absolutely spectacular run on Boxing Night, got a great start when the lights went green, quickly securing the race lead while Dave Fanning was quick to follow. Andrew Liebke from position five tried to go with them but Greer managed to secure third. Liebke found himself under attack, with David Whell on the highline, and both Bryan Mann and Brad Ayers coming on strong. Whell and Liebke clashed wheels heading down the back straight, with Whell coming out infront. Liebke fought back hard on the low line and managed to regain his position a lap later, with Bryan Mann following him under Whell. The race was soon brought under caution for the spun car of Nelson Reddacliff in turn two and it was Mick Sauer who led the restart from Dave Fanning, Stephen Greer, David Whell, Andrew Liebke and Bryan Mann. On the restart Mann immediately took to the high line again, trying to find his way past Liebke. It was a brilliant run and while Liebke was not giving up without a fight Mann looked to have the job just about done when Stephen Greer spun in turn four, right in front of them. Fortunately all cars were able to avoid the Q84 racer and he was able to restart at the rear of the field. Sauer again led the restart but again it was further back in the field that captivated the crowd attention. Brent Kaeding was this time on the high line, trying to get past Brad Ayers and Bryan Mann, while Nelson Reddacliff and James Grady battled at the rear of the field. Andrew Liebke and Bryan Mann put on a spectacular show for race fans, with Mann committed, mostly, to the highline, and the pair running two-wide for several laps, with each taking it in turns to get their nose in front of the other. The race was then brought under caution once more for Nelson Reddacliff who had spun in turn one. Reddacliff would spend the last half of the race on the infield while Mick Sauer and Dave Fanning continued to lead. Bryan Mann and Andrew Liebke resumed their battle, with Brent Kaeding joining the battle and quietly slipping by the inside of both Mann and Liebke as the trio headed down the back straight. Liebke fought back and managed to slip by the inside of Kaeding half a lap later to regain his position, with Mann following a lap later. Kaeding fought back on the low line and Mann and Kaeding raced side-by-side into turn three as they both tried to find a way around Liebke. The battle ended with Mann backed into the turn four wall and the race under caution once more. Sauer continued to lead while Kaeding and Libeke resumed their battle and Mann was on a mission from the rear of the field. Mick Sauer went on to take the win ahead of Dave Fanning, David Whell, Andrew Liebke, Brent Kaeding, Bryan Mann, Brad Ayers and James Grady. Nelson Reddacliff and Stephen Greer did not finish the event.

Heat four started with James Grady and Dan Murray from the front row. Grady got swallowed on the start with both Davey Heskin, from position three, and Dave Fanning, from position four, getting brilliant starts. Heskin had the lead with Dan Murray in second but when Murray started spinning in turn two chaos unfolded. Fanning had nowhere to go and made contact with the front end of the Murray car and the rest of the field took evasive action. Unfortunately for Dan Murray a broken front end would spell the end of his race and of his night of competition. A full restart followed with James Grady and Dave Fanning from the front row with Fanning getting the best start and quickly settling into the race lead and opening a small margin over the rest of the field. Unfortunately though trouble was unfolding behind him as James Grady, Davey Heskin and Dan Moes argued over second. Contact in turn two brought the race under caution again and left all three cars unable to restart the event. Brock Dean and Dave Fanning shared the front row for the third attempted start with Dean getting the jump and securing the lead. Bryan Mann and Luke Oldfield quickly came charging through leaving Fanning and Mitchell Gee to battle at the rear of the field. Mann gradually closed in on Dean in the race lead and the pair held nothing back as they fought over the lead for the last few laps of the race. Brock Dean was able to hang on to take the win ahead of Bryan Mann, Luke Oldfield, Dave Fanning and Mitchell Gee. Davey Heskin, Dan Murray, James Grady and Dan Moes all failed to finish the event.

Heat five started with Callum Zizek and Anthony Lambert from the front row and Brad Ayers and Brent Kratzmann close behind. Zizek got the jump on the start and settled into the race lead but the race was quickly brought under caution when Mark Pholi spun in turn two. Second time around it was Zizek who again managed to secure the lead when the lights went green, but all eyes were on Andrew Scheuerle who had a breath-taking run up the inside heading into turn one. Scheuerle ran straight underneath Brent Kratzmann and Brad Ayers only for the race to be brought under caution again, this time for Stephen Greer who had spun in turn one. Callum Zizek got the jump for the third time in as many starts, securing the lead while the rest of the field tried to sort themselves out. Scheuerle repeated the inside passing move from the last restart as they headed into turn one, straight up the inside of both Kratzmann and Ayers, with Kratzmann fighting back hard mid-track and Lambert just in front. Contact between Lambert and Scheuerle left Ayers nowhere to go and he climbed over the front ends of the now entangled cars. Lambert was able to restart the event from the rear of the field, minus his front wing, with Scheuerle also from the back. Fourth time lucky and it was Callum Zizek and Brent Kratzmann now from the front row. Zizek again got the jump on the start with Kratzmann settling into second. Donny Schatz was spectacular on the highline, but after spending a lap up high trying to get past David Whell he swiftly switched to the low line to slip past as they rounded turn four before returning to the high line and setting his sights on Mark Pholi. Scheuerle was clawing his way back into contention from the rear of the field while Pholi found a way past Brad Ayers. Ayers soon found both Schatz and Scheuerle right on his tail, but when he spun on the low line of turn four neither Schatz nor Scheuerle had enough time or space to avoid the NQ11 racer. Scheuerle was able to drive away from the contact while both Ayers and Schatz became stranded on the track and brought the race under caution. Callum Zizek led the restart with Schatz, Ayers and Scheuerle, with a flat left rear, at the tail of the field. Donny Schatz resumed his charge towards the front with Stephen Greer having a great drive to hold Schatz off for several laps. Callum Zizek went on to take the win with Brent Kratzmann in second and Mark Pholi in third. Dave Whell finished fourth and led Donny Schatz, Stephen Greer, Anthony Lambert and Brad Ayers across the line. Andrew Scheuerle did not finish the event after shredding his left rear tyre just half a lap from home and failing to cross the line.

Heat six was, thankfully, far less eventful than the previous two events, but still full of brilliant racing action. Steven Johnson and Kristy Bonsey shared the front row for the start of the event with Johnson getting the better start and quickly securing the race lead. Mick Sauer from position three was quick to follow Johnson on the low line to secure second, while Paul Morris and Andrew Liebke both tried to find drive on the high side. Brent Kaeding and Kevin Titman were having brilliant runs on the bottom of the track, while the two lady racers in the field, Melissa Boyes and Kristy Bonsey battled mid-field, as Kaeding, Titman and Liebke tried to find a way past. At the back of the field Paul Morris and Nelson Reddacliff had a thrilling battle, and while Morris had the advantage, Reddacliff really kept the pressure on. Steven Johnson went on to take the win ahead of Mick Sauer, Brent Kaeding, Melissa Boyes, Kevin Titman, Kristy Bonsey, Andrew Liebke, Paul Morris and Nelson Reddacliff.

The top eight qualifiers were to contest the Shootout events, with qualifiers third through to eighth to hit the track first for the Bronze Shootout. Bryan Mann was quickest on the track with a quick 12.406 seconds. Mitchell Gee, a magnificent effort of qualify for the Dash on his first night in a Sprintcar, was second quick with a 12.609 second lap with Kevin Titman and Brent Kaeding also transferring to the Silver Shootout. Brock Dean and David Whell would be set to start the A-Main from position seven and eight respectively.

Luke Oldfield and Donny Schatz joined Mann, Gee, Titman and Kaeding on track for the Silver Shootout with Luke Oldfield this time topping the order with a 12.329 second lap. Brent Kaeding was only eight thousandths of a second slower with a 12.337 second lap and he, along with Bryan Mann and Mitchell Gee would advance to the Gold Shootout with Oldfield. Kevin Titman and Donny Schatz would be set to start the A-Main from positions five and six.

The Gold Shootout was a four-car race over four laps, with Mitchell Gee and Bryan Mann from the front row. Mann got the jump on the start and easily pulled several car lengths ahead while Kaeding and Oldfield tried to find a way past Gee. Bryan Mann went on to take the win ahead of Brent Kaeding, Mitchell Gee and Luke Oldfield but it was Mann who was yet to surprise everyone. In the post-race interview Mann casually accepted the Kratzmann Challenge and inverted the top fourteen starters in the A-Main event, as well as adding an extra five laps to make it a 40-lap journey. It is the first time this season the Kratzmann Challenge has been accepted and with double points on the line, a tight championship points chase in full swing, the Championship points leader Andrew Scheuerle set to start the A-Main event from position thirteen and Mann yet to get a feature win under his belt, his acceptance of the challenge proved to be a huge surprise to many and set up a very intense battle in the A-Main event.

But before the A-Main could get underway there was an all-important B-Main event to run to determine the final four starters in the main event. Dave Fanning started from pole and while Dan Moes was supposed to start alongside mechanical issues meant that Moes almost missed the start of the event and he took the green from the rear of the field. Moes absence from the front left Brad Ayers from position two but it was Dave Fanning who got the jump on the start and quickly settled into the race lead. Paul Morris and Steven Johnson had a great battle mid-field but it soon became obvious that Davey Heskin was going to be the one to watch. Heskin was breath-taking as he seemingly effortlessly switched between the high line and the low to weave his way in and out of the traffic in front after starting from position nine. In just a few short laps Heskin had made his way past Kristy Bonsey, Callum Zizek and Steven Johnson and spent the new few laps searching for a way past Paul Morris. Kristy Bonsey, James Grady and Nelson Reddacliff had a close battle at the tail end of the field, as Heskin continued to slip past his opposition. Out in front there was little that could stop Dave Fanning who had opened a sizable lead over the rest of the field. As the race drew to a close Heskin had made his way into second and had significantly closed the gap to Fanning out in front but ultimately ran out of laps. Dave Fanning went on to take the win ahead of Davey Heskin and Brad Ayers, with Anthony Lambert also securing a transfer to the A-Main. Steven Johnson finished fifth ahead of Dan Moes, Callum Zizek, Kristy Bonsey, Nelson Reddacliff and Stephen Greer. James Grady and Paul Morris both failed to finish the event.

With the top fourteen cars now inverted for the start of the A-Main event, Andrew Scheuerle started from pole position with Mick Sauer alongside and Andrew Liebke and Melissa Boyes right behind. Scheuerle is always hard to beat from the front and with double-points on the line, a somewhat disappointing night in the qualifying heats, Scheuerle was not about to let the opportunity of a front row start go. Scheuerle got a magnificent start and quickly settled into the race lead, dominating from the first fall of the green flag. But it wasn’t the race lead that had the attention of everyone at the venue, it was the mid-field where the action was unfolding. Melissa Boyes, Brent Kratzmann and Mark Pholi all got great starts but all eyes were on Donny Schatz as he began observing the cars in front and making his way through the field. After just one lap Kratzmann ended up in turn two wall after hitting a rut. Scheuerle led the restart from Sauer and Pholi with Schatz up to fourth after starting from position ten and moving up six places in just one lap. Bryan Mann had also had a great run in that opening lap, moving from thirteenth to ninth and along with Schatz, Mann and Luke Oldfield were certainly the ones to watch. Oldfield quickly moved into fifth on the restart as Schatz made his way past Pholi to steal third and Bryan Mann had an impressive run on the low line before switching to the high side to get past Andrew Liebke. With just four laps completed Schatz had moved into second when Luke Oldfield spun in turn two and brought the race under caution.

Oldfield restarted at the rear of the field while Scheuerle led the restart with Schatz right on his tail and Mick Sauer doing a great job in third ahead of Mark Pholi and Bryan Mann. Schatz put all kinds of pressure on Scheuerle while Bryan Mann was truly spectacular on the highline, taking only a couple of laps to run around the outside of Mark Pholi and then Mick Sauer and into the top three with less than a quarter of the race complete. Luke Oldfield was on a charge from the back of the field, while Mick Sauer and Brent Kaeding had a thrilling battle mid-field. As Scheuerle approached lapped traffic Schatz didn’t hesitate and quickly slipped underneath the Q1 racer as they entered turn three, stealing the lead and while Scheuerle was able to stay with him at first as they weaved through lapped traffic, Schatz soon pulled away and gradually increased his lead. Disaster very nearly struck as Schatz was approaching the lapped traffic of Davey Heskin, Dave Fanning and Mitchell Gee. Gee made a small mistake coming out of turn two that resulted in contact with Fanning, right in front of Heskin and Schatz, as they headed down the back straight. All drivers managed to escape a serious incident and Schatz seemed to hold back for a lap before swiftly making his way past Heskin, Fanning and Gee in less than a lap. Scheuerle seemed to loose ground in lapped traffic as Bryan Mann and Brent Kaeding closed in, while Melissa Boyes, Kevin Titman and Luke Oldfield had a very close battle. Oldfield quickly advanced and soon found himself in a tight battle with Bryan Mann, with Oldfield managing to get in front of Mann just before the race was brought under caution for the spun car of Melissa Boyes in turn two with seven laps left to run.

Donny Schatz led the restart from Andrew Scheuerle, Brent Kaeding, Luke Oldfield and Bryan Mann, with Mann securing third when Kaeding and Oldfield came together in turn four. The contact between Kaeding and Oldfield could have ended badly for both but fortunately both drivers were able to rejoin the race with only Mann getting through. Kaeding moved back past Mann half a lap later and while Oldfield tried the same he couldn’t quite get through. Kevin Titman tried his luck on the low line and nearly got past both Oldfield and Mann but Mann was not going down without a fight. Oldfield fought back on the high line through turn four and challenged Mann for position as Mann, on the low line, attacked Kaeding. Mann managed to slip through in turn one, with Oldfield quick to follow as David Whell, Mark Pholi and Davey Heskin battled mid-field. Donny Schatz took the win with Andrew Scheuerle in second and Bryan Mann managing to secure third after a very impressive drive. Luke Oldfield came from the rear of the field in a spectacular run to finish fourth with Brent Kaeding finishing in fifth. Kevin Titman was next across the line and led David Whell, Mark Pholi, Davey Heskin, Brock Dean, Dave Fanning, Mitchell Gee, Brent Kratzmann and Anthony Lambert across the line. Melissa Boyes, Mick Sauer, Brad Ayers and Andrew Liebke did not finish the event.

Sprintcars Queensland will return to AusDeck Patios Archerfield tomorrow night, Saturday 03 January 2015, to run the event that was originally scheduled for 27 December but was abandoned due to wet weather. After that we will return to the venue on Sunday night (04 January 2015) with the World Series Sprintcars competitors to see how the best of the Queensland drivers, and of course Donny Schatz, Brent Kaeding and Davey Heskin, stack up. It is going to be a HUGE weekend of racing at AusDeck Patios Archerfield Speedway so get yourself trackside and see it all for yourself!