It was another night of thrills and spills at AusDeck Patios Archerfield Speedway last night with 30 Sprintcars in the pits ready to put on a truly spectacular show for race fans. There was plenty of great racing and some spectacular wrecks but at the end of the day there was simply no stopping James McFadden as he raced to yet another victory at the Brisbane venue. Andrew Scheuerle, back after a nasty wreck just last weekend, crossed the line in second with Brent Aprile rounding out the podium. Bryan Mann is having perhaps the best season so far in his racing career, with some fantastic race results, wins and greater consistency making him one of the top contenders on the local scene. Last night was no different with Mann bringing the Q16 racer home in a very solid fourth, while Brent Kratzmann, who started the night by topping the leader board after qualifying, completed the top five in the A-Main event.

Qualifying got underway with very greasy track conditions and the fastest cars out first. A few quick hot laps to try and bring the track in a bit more and David Murcott, Andrew Scheuerle, Bryan Mann, James McFadden and Kevin Titman got things started. McFadden was the fastest of the first group, stopping the clock at 12.829 seconds, but would drop to 10th in the qualifying order as each group took their turn on the circuit. Brent Kratzmann, who was in the fifth group to qualify, topped the leader board, setting the quick time of 12.043 seconds. Peter Lack was second quickest with a 12.120 second lap, only 0.070 seconds quicker than Steven Rowell who was third fastest in qualifying. Jamie Bricknell and Mitchell Gee rounded out the fastest five. Track conditions made for some interesting qualifying results. James McFadden was back in tenth, with Andrew Scheuerle and Bryan Mann back in fourteenth and fifteenth respectively. Kevin Titman, who usually qualifies at the front of the field, was seventeenth quickest, only just making the top eighteen inversion. Perhaps most surprising of all was David Murcott, who ended up 20th quickest, of 30 cars, and missed the inversion for the start of the heats.

Heat one started with Melissa Boyes and Brent Aprile from the front row and Dan Moes and Jason Bottin close behind. Aprile got a brilliant start on the outside and quickly secured the race lead as they raced towards the first turn. Boyes settled into second, with Bottin and Brent Kratzmann right on her tail. Mick Sauer put the pressure on Kratzmann early in the race, with Kratzmann eventually pulling a couple of car lengths ahead as he closed the gap to Bottin. Dan Moes had another strong run, closing in on the back of Sauer, while Brandon Rawlings joined the fight late in the race. Rawlings really put the pressure on Moes in the final few laps of the race, having a big look up the inside of the Q60 racer but couldn’t quite get the job done. Brent Aprile went on to take the win with Melissa Boyes in second and Jason Bottin managing to hang on to finish third. Brent Kratzmann crossed the line fourth and led Mick Sauer, Dan Moes, Brandon Rawlings, Brandon Haynes, Mark Pholi and Paul Morris across the line.

Kevin Titman and Andrew Scheuerle shared the front row for the start of the second heat. Both got a great start, but it was Scheuerle who secured the race lead with Titman in second and Richard Morgan and Peter Lack next in line. Within a lap the leading quartet had opened a comfortable margin over the rest of the field, leaving Andrew Liebke to try and fend off the advances of Mitchell Gee and David Murcott. It was a thrilling battle, with Murcott eventually finding his way past Gee before spending a couple of laps searching for the right opportunity to get past Liebke. A few laps from the chequered flag Liebke ran high coming out of turn two, giving Murcott all the invitation he needed to quickly slip up the inside and make his way past Liebke before they hit turn three. Liebke tried to fight back through turn four but Murcott was already beginning to pull ahead. Andrew Scheuerle went on to take the win ahead of Kevin Titman, Richard Morgan, Peter Lack, David Murcott, Mitchell Gee, Andrew Liebke, Callum Walker, Steve Greer and Mike Walsh.

Heat three saw Sprintcar Rookie Dave Fanning start from pole position with Bryan Mann alongside. Mann got a brilliant start and quickly secured the race lead while Darren Jensen, who had started from position four, was quick to follow Mann on the high side and had secured second before they hit the first turn. Fanning held down third briefly before both James McFadden and Jamie Bricknell came charging through. James McFadden, who is in a league of his own lately, put all kinds of pressure on Darren Jensen, captivating the crowd, while further back in the field Ben Hilder and Steven Rowell put on a spectacular show for the fans on the hill. Hilder and Rowell raced wheel-to-wheel for several laps before Rowell, working the low line beautifully, managed to slip underneath Hilder as they raced down the back straight. Rowell then set out after Dave Fanning, the two having a close battle until the fall of the chequered flag. Bryan Mann went on to take the win ahead of James McFadden and Darren Jensen with Jamie Bricknell, Dave Fanning, Steve Rowell, Ben Hilder, Anthony Lambert and Kristy Bonsey rounding out the finishers. James Grady pulled out of the event after completing just seven laps.

Heat four hit the track with Dave Fanning and Bryan Mann from the front row and a very tough field behind. Mann got a brilliant start on the outside and while he and Fanning raced side-by-side down the main straight, Mann was able to pull slightly ahead and lead the field into turn one. Fanning settled into second with Andrew Scheuerle and Richard Morgan fighting over third. Scheuerle and Morgan exchanged positions several times, while behind them Brent Kratzmann was holding off David Murcott. Morgan managed to secure the advantage over Scheuerle and began searching for a way past Fanning, just as Kratzmann started challenging Scheuerle for position. A small mistake by Kratzmann in turn two allowed Murcott to slip underneath, while Scheuerle tried to run underneath Morgan as he tried to fight his way to the front. The race was brought under caution when Stephen Greer, James Grady and Callum Walker came together in turn four with five laps left to run. Mann led the restart followed by Fanning, Morgan, Scheuerle and Murcott. Fanning ran a fraction too wide coming out of turn two, opening the door for both Morgan and Scheuerle, who both slipped straight through and into second and third respectively. Unfortunately for Morgan and Scheuerle it was not meant to be and the race was quickly brought under caution once more, this time for Mitchell Gee who had gone a little too high into turn three and parked with his right rear wheel on top of the concrete wall. Gee was unscathed but out of the race. Still with five laps left to run Bryan Mann led the restart from Fanning, Morgan, Scheuerle and Murcott. There was no touching Mann out in front, but it was the battle for the minor places that was captivating the large Archerfield Speedway crowd. Fanning held down second, while Morgan and Scheuerle argued over third, while each tried to find a way past Fanning, whilst also trying to hold off a hard charging David Murcott and Brent Kratzmann. A few laps into the restart Fanning made a small mistake in turn four, allowing Morgan to race around the outside. Murcott ran around the outside of Scheuerle, who had been caught behind Fanning. The current Australian Champion then tried to continue his run on the high side and race past Fanning as they headed down the main straight, but contact between the right rear of Fanning and the left front of Murcott spelt disaster for Fanning. Fanning, a strong contender for Rookie of the Year, launched into a huge flip towards the turn one wall, ripping both wings from the car, before landing up-side-down on the fence and falling back down to land on the track on all four wheels. Fanning walked away from the wreck a little sore but otherwise ok. Bryan Mann again led the restart with Richard Morgan, David Murcott and Andrew Scheuerle right behind with just two laps left to run. Mann again got a faultless start and went on to take the win with Richard Morgan in second ahead of David Murcott. Andrew Scheuerle finished fourth and led Brent Kratzmann, Callum Walker, James Grady and Stephen Greer across the line. Dave Fanning and Mitchell Gee did not finish the event.

Melissa Boyes and Andrew Liebke shared the front row for the start of heat five, and while Boyes got the initial jump, Liebke had a brilliant run on the high side and had managed to secure the lead by the time they hit turn one. James McFadden, who had started from position four, was quick to follow Liebke on the high line, and had secured second by the time he exited turn two. McFadden and Liebke began to pull away from the field ever so slightly, while Brent Aprile slipped underneath Boyes as they rounded turns three and four. McFadden put all kinds of pressure on Liebke for the race lead, looking predominately on the low line but following Liebke for a couple of laps before committing to the passing move. Liebke ran a fraction too wide coming out of turn two, opening the door just a little for McFadden. McFadden didn’t hesitate, sliding underneath Liebke coming out of turn two and securing the lead as they race towards turn three. McFadden drifted a little high coming out of turn three, and Liebke seized the opportunity and had the better line to tackle turn four, sliding straight back underneath McFadden to regain the lead. McFadden fought back of course, briefly considering the low line before venturing back to the high side. Liebke managed to hang on to the lead for several laps, with McFadden getting back underneath when Liebke got a little sideways in turn two. Liebke now found Brent Aprile right on his tail and while he was able to hold the North Queensland based racer off for several laps there was no stopping Aprile as he seemingly effortlessly slipped underneath Liebke just a few laps from home. Mid-field Peter Lack was trying to find a way past Melissa Boyes when he spun the Q58 racer in turn one. Jason Bottin had nowhere to go, clipping the front end of Lack and inverting his Q24 racer, while Mick Sauer made heavy contact with the wall on the exit of turn one as he tried to avoid Lack and Bottin. Both Lack and Bottin were unable to continue the race. James McFadden led the start for a quick two-lap dash to the chequered flag. McFadden got a brilliant start and had several car lengths on second placed Brent Aprile by the time they hit the first corner. Aprile chased hard, closing the gap a little while Andrew Liebke came under immense pressure from Melissa Boyes. Boyes was having a great night behind the wheel, and had several big looks up the inside of Liebke but couldn’t quite get in front. James McFadden went on to take the win with Brent Aprile in second and Andrew Liebke in third. Melissa Boyes finished a strong fourth and led Mick Sauer, Paul Morris, Mark Pholi and Mike Walsh across the line. Peter Lack and Jason Bottin did not finish the event.

The sixth and final heat event of the night saw Kevin Titman and Dan Moes share the front row for the start, with a very strong field of cars behind them. Titman seemed to get the jump on the start but Moes was absolutely spectacular on the high side, fighting back and challenging Titman for the lead. With less than one lap completed though the race was brought under caution for Brandon Haynes who had spun to a stop in turn two. Moments later, as the lights went yellow, Brandon Rawlings spun in turn four, and was collected by Anthony Lambert. All except Lambert were able to restart the race. A full race restart followed and while Titman again secured the lead when the race resumed, Dan Moes was very impressive in the Q60 racer, fighting back hard on the low line and really challenging Titman for the race lead. Further back in the field and the battle was on between Darren Jensen, Steve Rowell and Jamie Bricknell, with Jensen eventually pulling away slightly as he closed in on Moes, with Bricknell staying close behind. Titman was comfortable out in front with Moes really holding his own, holding off both Jensen and Bricknell as they all navigated lapped traffic. It was the lapped traffic that helped Bricknell slip underneath Jensen in turn four, with Steve Rowell soon rejoining the fight. Kevin Titman went on to take the win with Dan Moes very impressive in second. Moes, his family and his team are certainly committed racers, travelling over three and a half hours, each way, from Maryborough to contest last nights race meeting. All the more remarkable for the team is Dan’s partner Melanie, who made the long journey with the team, who is actually overdue with the couple’s second child. While Moes finished second in heat six in a spectacular drive, he led Jamie Bricknell, Steve Rowell, Ben Hilder, Darren Jensen, Kristy Bonsey, Brandon Rawlings and Brandon Haynes across the line.

The eight Dash cars rolled onto the track for the six lap dash event. Dash contenders were made up from heat race winners - Brent Aprile, Andrew Scheuerle, Bryan Mann, James McFadden and Kevin Titman - and the top three highest points scorers for the night not already in the Dash event - Brent Kratzmann, Jamie Bricknell and Richard Morgan. Mann and Aprile shared the front row for the start and while they raced side-by-side into the first corner, it was Aprile who managed to secure the lead. Mann settled into second but had James McFadden breathing down his neck, while Brent Kratzmann and Richard Morgan argued over the minor places and Andrew Scheuerle and Jamie Bricknell battled at the rear of the field. Still, it was hard to not watch James McFadden as he relentlessly searched high and low for a way past Mann. It was a truly breath-taking race between the two of them, a spectacular display of just how good Sprintcar racing can be, and it captivated the large Archerfield Speedway crowd. McFadden did eventually manage to slip underneath Mann as they rounded turn two and set his sights on chasing down Aprile in the race lead. Andrew Scheuerle made his way past both Jamie Bricknell and Kevin Titman but there was no stopping Brent Aprile out in front. Aprile took the win, earning pole position for the feature event and declining the Kratzmann Challenge. James McFadden crossed the line in second and led Bryan Mann, Brent Kratzmann, Richard Morgan, Andrew Scheuerle, Kevin Titman and Jamie Bricknell home.

Fourteen cars rolled onto the track for what would be a very action-packed B-Main event. Mitchell Gee and Melissa Boyes shared the front row, with hard chargers David Murcott and Mick Sauer close behind. Gee and Boyes raced side-by-side towards the first corner with Boyes managing to secure the lead with Sauer up into second and Murcott into third as Gee lost a lot of ground in turn two. The race was quickly brought under caution though as several cars came together at the rear of the field. Mike Walsh became stranded in turn two while Callum Walker suffered a flat left rear tyre that saw him retire to the infield. The second start was much better for Gee but it was still Boyes who managed to secure the lead as they rounded turn one. Gee held down second but immediately under immense pressure from both David Murcott and Mick Sauer. Unfortunately Sauer rode a wheel and crashed his immaculately presented Q69 racer hard into the turn three fence. Sauer walked away from the crash but was out of the race. During the stoppage Callum Walker and his team were able to change the flat tyre and rejoin the field for the restart given that there had not been a lap completed. Gee and Boyes once again led the start, with Murcott and Paul Morris right behind them. For the third time in a row Boyes secured the race lead by the time the entered turn one, having a beautiful run in the Q8 racer, while Gee again settled into second. Still with less than a lap on the board and the race was brought to another stop, this time for Ben Hilder who had inverted the car in turn three. Hilder was not injured in the crash but was out of the event. With time starting to get away the race was reduced to 12 laps (it was originally 15), and drivers were warned that there was only five minutes left to get the race run. Gee and Boyes again led the start, with Gee fighting hard but still forced to settle for second. Boyes quickly secured the race lead and set about opening a small margin over her rivals. Gee held down second but had Murcott putting all kinds of pressure on, and while Gee fought hard there was little he could do to stop the Australian Champion from charging through. Murcott caught and eventually passed Boyes for the lead, with Gee stepping up in the last half of the race to steal second as well. Boyes spent several laps in a close battle with Paul Morris but the race was brought under caution after just ten laps when Callum Walker and James Grady came to a stop in turn two. The race was promptly declared with David Murcott the winner and Mitchell Gee, Melissa Boyes and Paul Morris all securing transfers to the A-Main. Mark Pholi, Kristy Bonsey, Brandon Haynes, Steve Greer, Mike Walsh, James Grady and Callum Walker rounded out the official finishers with Anthony Lambert, Mick Sauer and Ben Hilder all failing to finish the event. Unfortunately the situation with the stranded car of James Grady escalated very quickly. A fuel line had broken on the Q40 racer and a fire erupted. Grady quickly evacuated the cockpit of the car and the Sprintcars Queensland fire crew were right on the scene to help extinguish the flames. Grady suffered some burns to his feet and ankles in the incident. Special thanks must go to our Sprintcars Queensland volunteers Glen, Chris and Dave for all their tireless and invaluable work in helping keep our drivers safe.

The A-Main rolled out with eighteen cars set to get dirty for thirty with Brent Aprile and James McFadden from the front row. The leaders quickly began opening a small margin over the rest of the field, though they raced side-by-side into the opening turn, both keen to secure the lead. McFadden emerged in front with Aprile settling for second. However, the start was aborted when Steven Rowell, Peter Lack and Brandon Rawlings came together in turn one. Both Rowell and Lack were able to drive away from the incident, but Rawlings was left stopped on the track. A full race restart followed with Brent Aprile this time getting the jump. McFadden soon took control of the race but after barely two laps the race was brought to another stop when David Murcott inverted the A1 racer in turn three. Murcott was not injured in the crash but was out of the race, with our fire crew once again doing an impeccable job to extinguish the flames around the tail tank of the A1 car.

With twenty-eight laps left to run James McFadden led the restart with Brent Aprile and Andrew Scheuerle right on his tail. Richard Morgan, Kevin Titman and Darren Jensen were embroiled in a tight battle mid-field, with Jamie Bricknell close behind, while further back in the field Peter Lack was spectacular on the high line as he battled with Mitchell Gee and Dan Moes. Bryan Mann and Brent Kratzmann were putting on a show for the fans, while Andrew Liebke, Paul Morris and Melissa Boyes argued over position further back in the field. Before long the leaders were navigating lapped traffic, with each of the top five drivers weaving through the traffic with ease. Nineteen laps in and the red lights came on for Richard Morgan who had inverted the Q54 racer in turn two. Morgan was not hurt in the crash but was unable to restart the race.

James McFadden led the restart with 11 laps to go with Andrew Scheuerle and Brent Aprile right on his tail. McFadden immediately opened a small but comfortable lead over Scheuerle, while Scheuerle was able to get a couple of car lengths ahead of Aprile. Bryan Mann, Brent Kratzmann and Kevin Titman had a close battle for the minor places, with Titman looking magnificent on the high side. James McFadden, who has had a run of bad luck in recent weeks that cost him some wins, went on to take a popular win at the end of the 30-lap journey, with Andrew Scheuerle an ever-consistent second. Brent Aprile impressed with a strong run to finish third and round out the podium with Bryan Mann, Brent Kratzmann, Kevin Titman, Jamie Bricknell, Mitchell Gee, Darren Jensen, Paul Morris, Peter Lack, Andrew Liebke and Melissa Boyes rounding out the finishers. Brandon Rawlings, Steve Rowell, Richard Morgan, Dan Moes and David Murcott all failed to finish the A-Main event.

Sprintcars Queensland will take next weekend off before returning to AusDeck Patios Archerfield Speedway on Saturday 02 May 2015 for the next round of the East Coast Logistics Crispy Memorial Series. You will not want to miss a moment of the action so get on out to Archerfield Speedway see all the racing action for yourselves. And don’t forget to pop on down to the pits after the race meeting has concluded - The drivers would love to meet you, sign some autographs or pose for photos. See you trackside!