Twenty-nine Sprintcars turned up at AusDeck Patios Archerfield Speedway last night for the final night of competition in the SuperCheap Auto Sprintcar Track Championship series. Andrew Scheuerle led the points going into the round, with Luke Oldfield just a handful of points behind and both Bryan Mann and Kevin Titman a mathematical chance of stealing the Championship if they had a good night on the track and a little luck on their side. The Twin Feature format was always going to make things interesting, especially with a championship on the line, but no-one expected what unfolded last night. If you weren’t there you missed an exceptional night of racing with plenty of spills, thrills disappointments and spectacular racing action. Darren Jensen had a truly inspiring run, while James McFadden and Danny Reidy each got a win in the A-Main events. Bryan Mann put in two very solids runs to finish third and second respectively, and claiming the overall win for the weekend just one point clear of Danny Reidy. James McFadden took the win in the first A-main with young Mitchell Gee securing his first podium in second ahead of Bryan Mann, Darren Jensen and Danny Reidy. The top eight finishers were inverted for the start of the second A-Main with Danny Reidy the first to greet the chequered flag ahead of Bryan Mann, David Murcott, Ben Hilder and Richard Morgan. Bryan Mann managed to secure the overall win for the weekend with Danny Reidy in second and David Murcott in third. Darren Jensen and James McFadden completed the top five for the weekend while Bryan Mann, with both Andrew Scheuerle and Luke Oldfield unable to contest the second A-Main event after coming together in the first, was able to sweep in and steal the SuperCheap Auto Sprintcar Track Championship crown in the very last race for the series.

Qualifying got underway with each car time trialling individually and while Scheuerle set the pace early with a quick 11.881 seconds, David Murcott, Luke Oldfield and James McFadden, who were all out late in the qualifying order, managed to better the time. Murcott topped the time board at the completion of qualifying with a very quick 11.517 seconds. Luke Oldfield was on a mission right from the beginning, focussing clearly on the championship at stake, and stopped the clock at 11.693 seconds with James McFadden recording a lap of 11.804 seconds. Brandon Rawlings was fifth quickest with an 11.891 second recorded lap, while Bryan Mann was the last car in the 11-second bracket with an 11.998. Darren Jensen actually missed the inversion, setting himself up for a massive night in the office, coming from the back of every race. Both Luke Tinson and David Fanning had mechanical problems and neither took to qualifying, with Fanning out for the night.

Heat One started with Callum Zizek and Mick Sauer from the front row with the leading pair racing wheel-to-wheel into the first two corners. Zizek was strong on the bottom but Sauer was determined on the top side and managed to secure the race lead by the time they exited turn two. Sauer settled into the race lead while behind him David Murcott was making rapid progress towards the front of the field, making his way from eighth to third in just a couple of laps. Right on the tail of Zizek, Murcott held nothing back, eventually blasting around the outside through turns three and four to steal second and set out after Sauer. Meanwhile Bryan Mann was trying to find a way past Mitchell Gee and Steven Greer, and while it took a few laps Mann was patient enough and managed to get the job done. Mark Pholi had a great race with Callum Zizek for several laps but ultimately could not quite find a way past. Mick Sauer went on to take the win with David Murcott in second and Callum Zizek holding on to finish third. Mark Pholi was fourth across the line and led Melissa Boyes, Bryan Mann, Stephen Greer, Mitchell Gee and Callum Walker across the line.

David Whell and Brent Kratzmann shared the front row for the start of heat two, with Richard Morgan and Dan Murray close behind. Both Whell and Kratzmann got a great start but Kratzmann had a beautiful run on the high line and had secured the lead before they hit turn one. Whell settled into second while mid-field Ben Hilder and Kevin Titman tried to find a way past Dan Murray. Titman slipped underneath Hilder in turn two, setting his sights on Murray, while a hard charging Darren Jensen quickly forced Hilder on the defensive. Luke Oldfield spent the first several laps of the race embroiled in a tense battle with Brandon Rawlings at the rear of the field before eventually slipping underneath him as they rounded turn two. Oldfield managed to catch Darren Jensen in the closing stages of the race, pushing hard and really challenging Jensen for the position but ran out of laps before being able to find a way past. Brent Kratzmann went on to take the win, with a huge half lap margin over David Whell in second, Richard Morgan was third across the line, leading Kevin Titman, Ben Hilder, Darren Jensen, Luke Oldfield, Brandon Rawlings and Dan Murray home.

Heat three started with Andrew Liebke and Anthony Lambert sharing the front row with Liebke getting a brilliant start and quickly securing the race lead. Lambert settled into second while Dan Moes, Danny Reidy and James McFadden argued over third. Moes did a magnificent job holding off his more experienced rivals for a lap or two before McFadden quietly, almost effortlessly, slipped straight underneath both Reidy and Moes as they rounded turn one. Reidy was quick to follow McFadden on the low line, slipping past Moes in turn two and trying to stay with the former Australian Champion. Meanwhile Andrew Scheuerle and Paul Morris were running two abreast as Scheuerle searched the high line for a way past Morris, as they both approached the tail of Moes. Meanwhile James McFadden had caught the tail of Anthony Lambert and spent several laps following the Q90 racer, observing and searching for just the right time to make his move. McFadden soon committed to the highline through turns three and four, making it look easy as he ran around the outside of Lambert and started chasing down race leader Liebke with just a couple of laps left to run. By the time they crossed the line McFadden was right on Liebke’s tail but was forced to settle for second while Liebke took the win. Anthony Lambert finished third ahead of Danny Reidy, Andrew Scheuerle, Dan Moes, Paul Morris, Steve Rowell and James Grady.

Heat four hit the track with Stephen Greer and David Whell from the front row. Greer got a great start and initially had the lead but Whell was simply too fast on the high side and had managed to steal the lead before they entered turn one. David Murcott and Darren Jensen were both trying to work their way forward, Murcott using any part of the track that he could to advance through the field. Dan Moes and Ben Hilder had a close battle for several laps, with Hilder eventually pulling away a little and Moes now on the defensive as Murcott and Jensen came charging through. David Whell went on to take the win, never seriously challenged for his position, with Stephen Greer and Melissa Boyes rounding out the top three. Ben Hilder hung on to finish fourth, despite immense pressure from David Murcott in the closing laps of the race, with Murcott across the line in fifth and leading Dan Moes, Darren Jensen, Paul Morris and Brandon Rawlings past the chequered flag.

Callum Zizek and Dan Murray shared the front row for the start of the fifth heat, with Zizek getting the jump on the start and settling into the race lead. Murray settled into second ahead of Sauer but all eyes were on James McFadden who, in less than a lap, was making impressive progress through the field. McFadden made his way past Bryan Mann, Danny Reidy and Andrew Liebke before the first lap was completed, while Mark Pholi ran underneath both Mick Sauer and Dan Murray through turns three and four of the second lap. Contact between Pholi and Murray in turn four sent Murray towards the wall with both Mick Sauer and James McFadden trying to capitalise on the situation by taking to the low line. As chaos unfolded all except Murray were able to keep going but Murray had become stranded on the inside edge of the track coming out of turn four. Zizek led the restart from James McFadden and Mark Pholi with eight laps still to complete. Zizek really held his own but there was no stopping McFadden and just half a lap into the restart McFadden took to the high line and spent half a lap running around Zizek to steal the race lead. From there McFadden began opening a sizable lead over the rest of the field, but the race was brought under caution just a few laps later for the spun car of Callum Walker. McFadden led the restart from Zizek and Pholi, and while McFadden immediately started rebuilding his lead, it was mid-field that was hard to ignore. Bryan Mann and Danny Reidy were both working their way through the field, while Mark Pholi managed to find his way in front of Callum Zizek, leaving Zizek to defend his position from a very much in-form Mick Sauer. James McFadden went on to take the win ahead of Mark Pholi, Callum Zizek, Mick Sauer, Bryan Mann, Danny Reidy, Dan Murray, Andrew Liebke and Callum Walker.

The sixth and final Sprintcar heat of the night got underway with Steve Rowell and Anthony Lambert from the front row and Richard Morgan and Brent Kratzmann close behind. Of real interest though was the combination of Andrew Scheuerle and Luke Oldfield on the third row of the grid, a championship crown on the line and only a small handful of points between them. When the lights went green both Rowell and Lambert got great starts, with Lambert on the high side in the lead and Kratzmann trying to follow Lambert on the outside as Rowell fought back hard on the low line. Heading down the back straight on the opening lap Lambert drifted slightly up track, as Rowell lifted the front wheels off the ground, effectively opening the door for Kratzmann. The door was wide open and Kratzmann did not hesitate and effortlessly slipped straight between Lambert and Rowell to steal the lead. Kratzmann began opening a margin over his rivals and while Lambert tried to stay with him there was little he could do. Rowell found himself in a battle with Mitchell Gee, who had managed to slip underneath Rowell in turn three, and Luke Oldfield, who was putting all kinds of pressure on Rowell as he tried to get as far ahead of Scheuerle as he could. Oldfield found his way past, leaving Rowell to defend his position from Andrew Scheuerle and Kevin Titman. With Scheuerle on the high side and Titman looking for a way underneath Scheuerle they were both right on the tail of Rowell when Rowell got a fraction sideways in turn four. Both Scheuerle and Titman did what they could to avoid Rowell but Titman had nowhere to go and contact between his right rear and the front end of the Rowell car ended with Rowell up-side-down in turn four. Scheuerle was able to get around the incident on the high line while Richard Morgan spun to avoid the inverted Q6 racer. Kratzmann led the restart from Lambert and Gee, with Oldfield and Scheuerle running either side of Gee on the second corner of the restart. Contact between Gee and Titman in turn four left Titman stranded on the track and had the race under caution once more. Kratzmann continued to lead on the restart while Gee had a better run this time around, and while Oldfield was still able to find a way past, Gee was able to hold off Scheuerle this time around. Oldfield challenged Lambert for several laps before finally slipping underneath the Q90 racer coming out turn two. Lambert soon found himself under pressure from Gee and Scheuerle but it was Brent Kratzmann who went on to take the win ahead of Luke Oldfield, Mitchell Gee, Andrew Scheuerle, Anthony Lambert, Kevin Titman, Richard Morgan and James Grady. Steve Rowell did not finish the event.

The format for the night did not include a Dash event so it was straight into the 15-lap B-Main event, with only the top four finishers to transfer to the back of the first A-Main. The remainder of the finishers would be on stand-by and would have a chance to start the second A-Main if any of the qualifiers for the first feature were unable to contest the second. David Whell and Paul Morris shared the front row for the start of the B-Main event with Morris getting the jump on the start and leading the field into the first corner. Unfortunately the race was brought under caution when Andrew Liebke climbed over the left rear of Callum Zizek entering turn one. Liebke was very lucky not to roll and while he tried to restart at the rear of the field there was too much damage on the Q47 racer and he parked on the infield before taking the green. A full race restart followed and this time the leading pair drag-raced into the opening corners but it was still Morris who emerged in front. Darren Jensen began making his way though the field, using both the high and low lines to weave his way not just into a transfer position but all the way into second by the fall of chequered flag. Paul Morris went on to take the win ahead of Darren Jensen, David Whell and Dan Moes, all four securing transfers to the Twin Feature events. Richard Morgan finished fifth and led Stephen Greer, Callum Zizek, Dan Murray, Anthony Lambert, Callum Walker and James Grady across the line. Luke Tinson, while finally getting the car running, still had mechanical issues and pulled out of the race after just four laps, while Andrew Liebke also failed to finish the event.

The first of the twin 20-lap A-main events rolled onto the track with James McFadden and David Murcott sharing the front row of the starting grid, with Championship contenders Luke Oldfield and Andrew Scheuerle sharing the second row with Scheuerle still holding on to the Championship lead by a tiny four points. Murcott got the best start off the front row with McFadden settling into second and Scheuerle in third. Scheuerle wasted no time however and quickly slipped underneath McFadden to steal second as they entered turn three. Oldfield was right with them but the race was quickly brought to a stop for Brent Kratzmann who had rolled end-to-end down the back straight. Kratzmann had been running the highline with Kevin Titman on the bottom as the pair ran either side of Danny Reidy. Contact between Titman and Kratzmann launched Kratzmann into the air and while be was able to walk away from the wreck, he would take no further part in the first feature event. A full restart followed with Murcott again securing the lead and McFadden settling into second. Oldfield had third momentarily but Scheuerle was not about to give up without a fight and quickly stole third as they came out of turn two. Mitchell Gee, Ben Hilder and Bryan Mann were embroiled in their own battle for the minor places close behind the leading quartet, while Danny Reidy and Darren Jensen were both on a mission to get to the front. Oldfield managed to find a way back past Scheuerle, and slowly began putting a little bit of clear air between them, while McFadden worked on finding a way past Murcott. In lapped traffic McFadden made his way into the race lead, with Oldfield now on the tail of Murcott as they navigated lapped traffic. Coming out of turn four Oldfield had a beautiful run on the low line and managed to slip underneath Murcott as they rounded turn one. Oldfield led the pair into turn two, with Murcott fighting back on the low line when contact between the two sent Oldfield into the fence on the exit of the corner. Oldfield ended up stranded on the track, facing the oncoming car of Andrew Scheuerle. Scheuerle had absolutely no where to go and collected the front end of Oldfield, tipping both over. Neither driver was injured in the crash, though a little sore, but the cars had become locked together. There was a lengthy delay while Sprintcars Queensland officials, together with track staff and various pit crews and drivers attempted to separate the two championship leading cars. Both cars suffered sufficient damage to end their night of competition and their championship points battle. Murcott was relegated to the rear of the field for his part in the incident.

With 12-laps left to run in the first A-Main event James McFadden led the restart from Bryan Mann and Mitchell Gee but the race had barely got underway when Mark Pholi spun in turn four and Dan Moes and Brandon Rawlings came together in turn two, with Moes ending up standing the Q60 racer upright on its tail tank and rest the front end on the top wing of Rawlings.

McFadden again led the restart from Mann and Gee, and while Darren Jensen and Kevin Titman each put in impressive drives, and Murcott began climbing his way closer to the front, but Mitchell Gee was having an absolutely brilliant run as he found his way past Bryan Mann and into second in the closing laps of the race. James McFadden went on to take the win ahead of Mitchell Gee with Bryan Mann in third and Darren Jensen and Danny Reidy rounding out the top five. Kevin Titman was next across the line ahead of David Murcott, Richard Morgan, Melissa Boyes, Mark Pholi, David Whell, Mick Sauer and Dan Moes. Brandon Rawlings, Luke Oldfield, Andrew Scheuerle and Brent Kratzmann all failed to finish the event.

As the twin feature format treats each feature event as two halves of what is essentially one event, crowning an overall winner at the completion of the second feature race, drivers were not permitted to change right rear tyres between races. Unfortunately for both Oldfield and Scheuerle, they were denied the chance to change cars in order to stay in the Championship fight. Both would be forced to watch the final event, keeping a very close eye on their Championship rivals Bryan Mann and Kevin Titman, with Mann only needing to finish in the top seven to steal the Championship.

At the conclusion of the first A-Main the winner, James McFadden, drew a random marble to invert either the top eight, ten or twelve starters for the second A-Main race. McFadden drew eight, which left Richard Morgan and David Murcott from the front row for the start of the second 20-lap A-Main of the night. Murcott got the jump on the start and quickly settled into the race lead, with Morgan in second ahead of a hard charging Danny Reidy. Reidy, who hasn’t raced as much in Brisbane this season as he has done in recent years, was in magnificent form as he chased after the leaders, but it was behind him where the battle between Darren Jensen, Kevin Titman, Bryan Mann and James McFadden had started to heat up, all with less than a lap on the books. Only a few laps in and the race was brought under caution when David Whell and Dan Moes came together in turn four. Both cars were able to restart at the rear of the field.

With seventeen laps left to run Murcott led the restart from Danny Reidy, who had managed to get past Richard Morgan, with Morgan in third ahead of Bryan Mann, Darren Jensen and James McFadden. McFadden was quick to make his way in front of Jensen, leaving Jensen to battle with Kevin Titman and Mark Pholi. In just a lap McFadden had closed in on and was embroiled in a tense battle with both Richard Morgan and Bryan Mann, with McFadden slipping up the inside of both Morgan and Mann as the trio rounded turn three. McFadden had started pulling away and started closing in on Danny Reidy in second when the race was brought to a stop for the up-turned car of Brandon Rawlings in turn three. Mark Pholi had looped his Q14 racer in turn four, with Rawlings drifting high in turn three and clipping the wall before inverting the NQ44 racer out of the race. Rawlings was not hurt in the crash but was out of the race.

Murcott led the restart from Reidy and McFadden but barely a lap had been completed before we were under caution once more for the spun car of David Whell. Whell was relegated to the infield for the restart while Murcott, Reidy and McFadden again led the field away. Reidy had a breath-taking run on the inside of Murcott on the second corner after the restart, slipping straight through and into the race lead. Murcott tried to fight back but had McFadden on his tail, only for McFadden to run smoothly around the outside of Murcott in four. McFadden quickly switched back to the low line and underneath Reidy in turn two to steal the lead from the NQ5 racer, relieving him of the lead he had held for just one lap. Dan Moes began slowing on the high side of the track, with too much traffic coming for him to be able to make his way off the track. Contact between Kevin Titman and Dan Murray as they raced underneath Moes in turn four saw Murray complete a couple of 360 degree spins before becoming stranded on the track and bringing the race under caution. In a devastating blow for race leader McFadden, he pulled out of the race during the stoppage with mechanical issue on the NQ25 racer.

Danny Reidy inherited the race lead for the restart, with just nine laps left to run, and Murcott and Mann right on his tail. Reidy was magnificent out in front, he and the crew had the car set up beautifully and there was simply no touching him as he quickly built up a comfortable margin over the rest of the field. David Murcott and Bryan Mann had a very intense battle over second, with Mann already sitting in a position that would see him win the championship. However, if Mann were to find a way past Murcott before the fall of the chequered flag, he would also officially be declared the winner of Round Twelve of the SuperCheap Auto Sprintcar track Championship. While the battle between Murcott and Mann was hard to take your eyes from, Ben Hilder and Darren Jensen were putting on an equally as spectacular show as they argued over the minor places. A final caution five laps from home, for the spun car of Stephen Greer in turn four, left us with a five lap sprint to the chequered flag. Reidy led the restart and was untouchable but again it was Murcott and Mann who were stealing the show, with Richard Morgan right behind and ready to step up if the opportunity was right. Mann committed to the low line, Murcott up high, the pair running two-wide for several laps, with Mann completely relentless and Murcott not willing to surrender without a fight. Mann finally managed to get the job done with the white flag already in air, securing not only the round win but the season Championship as well. Danny Reidy was brilliant in taking the win in the second A-Main with Mann in second and Murcott in third. Ben Hilder was very impressive and managed to cross the line in fourth ahead of Richard Morgan, Darren Jensen, Kevin Titman, Mick Sauer, Mark Pholi, Melissa Boyes and Stephen Greer. Dan Murray, James McFadden, Dan Moes, Brandon Rawlings, Dave Whell, Mitchell Gee and Brent Kratzmann all failed to finish the event.

Overall for the weekend it was Bryan Mann who was credited with the win, just one point ahead of Danny Reidy, with David Murcott in third. Darren Jensen was officially fourth for the weekend with James McFadden completing the top five. Bryan Mann also took top honours in the SuperCheap Auto Sprintcar Track Championship, with Andrew Scheuerle, who had led the series from the beginning, forced to settle for second and Luke Oldfield, who had entered the night a huge chance at winning, finishing in third.

Sprintcars Queensland will return to AusDeck Patios Archerfield speedway next Saturday night to contest the East Coast Logistics Crispy Memorial Series. We have seen in the past two weekends, some of the most incredible Sprintcar racing action on the local scene that we have seen in a very long time. There are so many drivers and teams in absolute top form right now and you can be sure that you will not want to miss a moment of the action. So seriously, get yourself out to AusDeck Patios Archerfield Speedway next Saturday night and it all for yourself!