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Kicking Up The Dirt - East Coast Logistics Crispy Memorial R4
Joanne White posted Sunday May 17, 2015.

David Murcott was absolutely unstoppable in the A1 Sprintcar at AusDeck Patios Archerfield Speedway last night, putting on a spectacular show for race rans as he seemingly effortlessly raced to victory in the Main event. Unsurprisingly Murcott had been a standout performer all night, topping the qualifying order and winning a heat to see him in the Dash event. After inverting the entire eight car field for the start of the Dash Murcott only managed to move into seventh and started the A-main event from the fourth row of the grid. Ben Hilder in the Motorguard Motorsport Q95 racer had a great run, winning the Dash event before leading the first half of the A-Main race, only to fade to fifth by the final fall of the chequered flag. Murcott made his way past Hilder and into the race lead with half the race still to run, and quickly started to open a margin on his rivals, weaving his way through lapped traffic. Robbie Farr had a less than ideal start to his A-Main race, dropping back several positions on the opening lap, but gradually worked his way back to cross the line in second. Archerfield Speedway regular Bryan Mann has had a truly remarkable season, he and his team really putting in a season full of strong and consistent performances, and last night added another impressive result to their 2014-2015 season achievements. Mann crossed the line in third, filling the final podium position of the night, with Darren Jensen and Ben Hilder completing the top five.

Qualifying got underway and it was little surprise that David Murcott and Robbie Farr topped the qualifying order. Murcott stopped the clock at a quick 11.441 seconds while Farr was just 0.058 seconds slower, his 11.499 second lap enough to secure second quickest. Andrew Scheuerle, Bryan Mann and Kevin Titman rounded out the fastest five and were the only other cars able to break into the 11-second bracket. Mitchell Gee, Brent Kratzmann, Peter Lack, Jamie Bricknell and Darren Jensen completed the fastest ten. Mark Pholi and Callum Walker both experienced mechanical dramas in qualifying, and while Walker and his team were able return to the track later in the evening, Pholi's engine issues put him out for the night. James Grady missed qualifying altogether, having arrived late after suffering mechanical problems in his truck on the way to the speedway.

Heat one started with Brent Aprile from pole position and Dave Fanning alongside. Aprile got a great start and quickly settled into the race lead, while Fanning held down second but immediately came under fire from a very hard charging Brent Kratzmann. Kratzmann had started from position four and after quickly securing the advantage over Kristy Bonsey, who had started from position three, quickly dived to the low line and had a big look on the inside of Fanning through turn two. Fanning managed to hang on to second, and even began opening a small margin on Kratzmann, while Kratzmann soon found David Murcott right on his tail. Murcott was relentless but Kratzmann held his ground, while behind them Kristy Bonsey was doing her best to hold off a determined Mitchell Gee. Bonsey, with a 360ci engine on board the Q42 racer, did a magnificent job to hold off Gee, while in front things were heating up between Fanning, Kratzmann and Murcott. Fanning made a small mistake in turn four, just enough to slightly unsettle the car. It was all the invitation Kratzmann needed and by the time they entered turn one Kratzmann had slipped straight underneath and into second. Fanning tried to fight back entering turn two, and almost managed to slip back in front, but Kratzmann was too quick on the high line. Murcott instantly switched to the high line, before running around the outside of Fanning in turn three with just one lap to go. Brent Aprile took the win with Brent Kratzmann in second and David Murcott officially third. Dave Fanning crossed the line in fourth, leading Kristy Bonsey, Mitchell Gee and Bruce Marshall across the line. Both Clem Hoffmans and Callum Walker missed the start of the race.

Brandon Rawlings and Dan Moes shared the front row for the start of heat two, and while the pair raced side-by-side into turn one, it was Moes who managed to secure the lead. Peter Lack got a great start from position four, quickly securing third and trying to slip underneath Rawlings as they battled over second. Lack kept the pressure on Rawlings, with Robbie Farr also joining the battle and searching for a way past Lack. At the rear of the field Lachlan McHugh was quickly finding his feet in a Sprintcar in only his second night of competition, and closing in on Steven Johnson, who was racing the Q47 car of Andrew Liebke while Liebke is out of town. At the front of the field Moes was quickly approaching lapped traffic, with Rawlings, Lack and Farr closing in. Disaster struck when Moes had contact with a lapped car in turn two, inverting the immaculately presented Q60 racer. In a spectacle only very rarely seen in Sprintcar racing, Moes not only landed the Q60 car back on all four wheels, but actually drove away from the crash. Moes did elect to pull the car up on the infield before the restart but would return to the track later in the night. Brandon Rawlings inherited the race lead with five laps left to run and Peter Lack and Robbie Farr right on his tail. Lack was relentless in his efforts to get past Rawlings, holding nothing back as he searched high and low for a way past, while Titman briefly challenged Farr for position. Brandon Rawlings went on to take the win ahead of Peter Lack, Robbie Farr, Kevin Titman, Gary Finglas, Steven Johnson and Lachlan McHugh. James Grady and Dan Moes failed to finish the event.

Ben Hilder and Anthony Lambert shared the front row for the start of heat three, with Darren Jensen and Jamie Bricknell close behind. Hilder got a brilliant start and quickly secured the race lead, while behind him Lambert held down second ahead of Darren Jensen. Bryan Mann was sitting in fourth when the Q16 bicycled in turn two and bounced dangerously close to the turn two wall. Mann was able to avoid disaster but slowed to a stop and brought the race under caution. A full restart followed with Hilder and Lambert drag racing side-by-side into the first corner. Hilder took the lead but Lambert quickly switched to the low line and slipped straight under Hilder through turn two, stealing the lead. Hilder tried to fight back but couldn’t quite get the job done, while further back in the field Bryan Mann was trying to climb his way towards the front of the field and searching for a way past Mick Sauer. Mid-field Darren Jensen, Andrew Scheuerle and Jamie Bricknell were embroiled in their own battle with Jensen soon pulling ahead of the other two for a couple of laps. Jensen, Scheuerle and Bricknell all caught Ben Hilder, who was still relentlessly searching for a way past Anthony Lambert. One mistake in turn four saw Hilder lose positions to Jensen, Scheuerle and, eventually, Bricknell, leaving Jensen now on the tail of Lambert. It was breath-taking to watch as both drivers gave it everything they had. Lambert was magnificent out in front but with barely a quarter of a lap left to run Jensen made his move. It was so perfectly timed, so beautifully positioned as he hit the high line heading through turn three for the final time, to blast around the outside of Lambert and steal the lead as they exited the final corner. Darren Jensen took the win ahead of Anthony Lambert, Andrew Scheuerle and Jamie Bricknell, with Ben Hilder in fifth and leading Bryan Mann, Richard Morgan and Mick Sauer across the line.

Heat four started with Richard Morgan and Dave Fanning from the front row and while the leading pair raced two abreast into the first corner it was Morgan who managed to secure the lead. Fanning settled into second but it wasn’t long before David Murcott came charging around the outside. Murcott had secured second by the end of the first lap, while Bryan Mann was hot on his heels and slipped underneath Fanning as they competed the first lap of the race. Two laps in and Morgan had started pulling away from Murcott when the race was brought under caution. Morgan led the restart with Murcott now right on his tail and Bryan Mann in third. As Murcott ran around the outside of Morgan to steal the lead, Peter Lack was searching everywhere to try and find a way past Fanning. At the rear of the field Kristy Bonsey and Bruce Marshall kept things lively with an intense battle over the minor places, Bonsey putting all kinds of pressure on Marshall as the laps wore on. In the end it was David Murcott who took the win with Richard Morgan in second ahead of Bryan Mann, Peter Lack, Dave Fanning, Bruce Marshall, Kristy Bonsey and Clem Hoffmans. Callum Walker did not finish the event, pulling out after completing just seven of the ten laps.

Ben Hilder and Anthony Lambert shared the front row for the start of heat five with Gary Finglas and Darren Jensen right behind. Hilder got a great start but Lambert stuck with him, the pair side-by-side as they entered turn one. Lambert pulled ahead momentarily until a mistake in turn two cost him several positions. Darren Jensen and Robbie Farr were both quick to capitalise on Lambert’s mistake, the pair running around the outside of the Q90 racer to slip into second and third respectively. Farr then made his move, slipping underneath Jensen in turn two and making his way into second before setting his sights on Hilder and race lead. Kevin Titman and Anthony Lambert battled for a few laps, while towards the rear of the field young Lachlan McHugh battled with seasoned racer Gary Finglas. The race was however brought under caution with six laps still to run when Kevin Titman became stranded in turn one. Ben Hilder led the restart from Robbie Farr and Darren Jensen, with Both Hilder and Farr getting a great start. Hilder instantly opened a crucial margin over Farr and ran a faultless race out in front, while further back in the field Lachlan McHugh was all over the back of Dan Moes. Ben Hilder managed to hang on to take the race win ahead of Robbie Farr, Darren Jensen, Anthony Lambert, Dan Moes, Lachlan McHugh and Gary Finglas. Kevin Titman and James Grady both failed to finish the event.

Brent Aprile and Brandon Rawlings shared the front row for the start of heat six, both already with heat race victories to their name, meaning both had already secured transfers to the Dash event. Aprile got the best start and quickly secured the race lead, while Rawlings settled for second and Jamie Bricknell and Mitchell Gee argued with Andrew Scheuerle and Brent Kratzmann over the minor places. Scheuerle slipped underneath Gee as they rounded turn three, and set out after Rawlings, who had surrendered a position to Bricknell. Team-mates Gee and Rawlings battled for several laps, with Brent Kratzmann coming through as well and slotting in between them. Brent Aprile went on to take the win with Jamie Bricknell in second and Andrew Scheuerle in third. Mitchell Gee crossed the line in fourth and led Brent Kratzmann, Brandon Rawlings and Mick Sauer home. Steven Johnson did not finish the event.

The dash event was made up each of the heat race winners - Brent Aprile (who won 2 heats), Brandon Rawlings, Darren Jensen, David Murcott and Ben Hilder, with the top three highest points scorers for the night, who were not already in the Dash event, joining them for an eight-car six-lap dash. Before the Dash started David Murcott drew a random marble (either 1, 4, 6 or 8) to decide the inversion for the race. Much to his own disappointment he drew number eight, inverting the entire field for the start of the Dash. Brandon Rawlings and Ben Hilder shared the front row for the start of the six-lap affair, and while Rawlings got a great jump off the line, Hilder proved too quick on the high side and quickly secured the race lead. Brent Aprile and Darren Jensen argued over third and fourth while at the tail of the field Andrew Scheuerle, Bryan Mann, David Murcott and Robbie Farr were all trying to get to the front. Ben Hilder went on to take the win, over two and a half seconds ahead of second placed Brandon Rawlings, the two young guns set to lead the start of the A-Main event. Darren Jensen finished in third and led Brent Aprile, Andrew Scheuerle, Robbie Farr, David Murcott and Bryan Mann across the line.

Twelve cars hit the track for the 12-lap B-Main event, with only the top four finishers to transfer to the A-Main. Anthony Lambert started from pole position with Gary Finglas alongside and Kristy Bonsey and Bruce Marshall right behind. Richard Morgan suffered mechanical issues in the Q54 racer and pulled out of the race before taking the green. Lambert got a perfect start from the front row and quickly settled into the race lead while Bonsey relentlessly worked the low line trying to make her way past both Finglas and Marshall. Bonsey almost had the job done when mechanical issues in the Q42 racer saw her abruptly exit the race, pulling up on the infield. Deep in the field Steven Johnson and Lachlan McHugh battled for the minor places, with McHugh holding the advantage and starting to chase down Dan Moes. Moes was himself searching for a way past Marshall, eventually getting the job done as they raced down the main straight. At the rear of the field Steven Johnson, Callum Walker and Bruce Marshall had a thrilling battle that kept everyone on their toes. Anthony Lambert took the win ahead of Mick Sauer and Gary Finglas with Dan Moes in fourth and securing the final transfer to the A-Main. Bruce Marshall finished an impressive fifth ahead of Steven Johnson, Callum Walker, Lachlan McHugh, James Grady and Clem Hoffmans. Kristy Bonsey and Richard Morgan did not finish the event.

A spectacular field of eighteen cars lined up for the start of the 30-lap A-Main with Ben Hilder and Brandon Rawlings from the front row. Hilder secured the lead with Rawlings in hot pursuit. Darren Jensen and Andrew Scheuerle were close behind, both looking exceptionally fast and already searching for a way to the front. David Murcott wasted no time at all, quickly moving a couple of positions closer to the front, while Robbie Farr set himself up for a busy race after dropping a few positions on the start. Jensen and Scheuerle both made their way past Rawlings, while mid-field Farr was battling with Brent Aprile, Brent Kratzmann and Kevin Titman, who were all on the tail of Bryan Mann. Behind them Peter Lack and Jamie Bricknell were embroiled in their own intense battle, Lack working the high line spectacularly, eventually getting the better of Bricknell and setting out after Titman and Aprile in front. Meanwhile Robbie Farr was thrilling the crowd as he skilfully navigated his way through a thick field of rivals, methodically working his way towards the front. Rawlings fought back after Farr slipped by, and while it was breath-taking to watch, there was little Rawlings could do. Closer to the front of the field the battle between Darren Jensen and Andrew Scheuerle had really started to heat up, the pair exchanging positions several times, culminating on contact between them as they exited turn four. With just seven laps completed Scheuerle was into the wall coming out of four, making heavy contact and spinning the Q1 racer in the air several time before coming to a stop, very lucky not to roll. Unfortunately for Scheuerle his race was over.

Ben Hilder led the restart from Darren Jensen and David Murcott, the young #95 racer doing a magnificent job out in front of a very tough field. Murcott soon made his way in front of Jensen and set out after Hilder, while Jensen found himself embroiled in a close battle with Bryan Mann. Brent Aprile and Kevin Titman were holding nothing back, exchanging positions several times as they put on a breath-taking show for the fans. Jamie Bricknell and Mitchell Gee had their own battle unfolding right behind Aprile and Titman, and, together with Brandon Rawlings, they joined the mid-field battle to make it an intense five-car battle with positions changing several times. Ben Hilder still held the race lead as he entered lapped traffic, with David Murcott right on his tail and Bryan Mann and Robbie Farr just a couple of car lengths behind. Murcott made his move in turn two, blasting around the outside of Hilder to steal the lead at the half-way mark of the race. Hilder put up a great fight for several laps as Bryan Mann and Robbie Farr came charging through, with Mann slipping underneath the Q95 racer as they raced down the main straight. Farr took to the high line just half a lap later, tagging the wall at the end of the back straight as he entered turn three. While this may have unsettled most, Farr seemed to use the wall as a launching pad and found a little extra momentum to blast around the outside of both Hilder and Mann as they rounded turn four. Farr had secured second and began working his way past several lapped cars as he tried to close the gap to Murcott. With nine laps to go the race was brought under caution once more, this time for the spun car of Jamie Bricknell in turn three.

David Murcott led the restart with Robbie Farr in second and Bryan Mann in third and just nine laps left to run. Kevin Titman had a big look up the inside of Peter Lack on the first lap of the restart but couldn’t quite get the job done, fading back a fraction and battling with Brent Aprile for mid-field positions. Team-mates Mitchell Gee and Brandon Rawlings spent most of the closing stages of the race battling each other, the pair swapping positions several times and putting on a great show for the fans. David Murcott went on to take the win ahead of Robbie Farr with Bryan Mann a very impressive third. Darren Jensen managed to find a way past Ben Hilder in the final laps of the race to steal fourth, with young Hilder officially fifth. Peter Lack finished in sixth position and led Kevin Titman, Brent Aprile, Brandon Rawlings, Mitchell Gee, Anthony Lambert, Jamie Bricknell, Dave Fanning, Mick Sauer, Dan Moes and Gary Finglas across the line. Brent Kratzmann and Andrew Scheuerle failed to finish the event.

Sprintcars Queensland will take next weekend off before returning to AusDeck Patios Archerfield Speedway on Saturday 30 May 2015 for the final night of our 2014-2015 race season. It will be your last chance this season to come out to the Speedway and see the racing action for yourself. Your last chance this season to come and meet the drivers, grab an autograph or some merchandise – many have hoodies for sale that are sure to get a lot of wear heading into the winter months. Saturday 30 May will see the final round of the east Coast Logistics Crispy Memorial Series, where a series winner will be decided so come on out to AusDeck patios Archerfield Speedway and cheer on your favourite driver. See you trackside!

 

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