Last night was the final night of the 2014-2015 race season for Sprintcars Queensland, with the final round of the East Coast Logistics Crispy Memorial Series held at AusDeck Patios Archerfield Speedway. Bryan Mann and David Murcott entered last night's competition tied on points for the lead but after a truly spectacular night of racing it was Murcott who managed to secure the series win. Mann did however manage to secure the overall Sprintcar Track Championship, while Andrew Scheuerle officially won the Sprintcars Queensland Club Championship. The Right Price Exhausts Heat Race points chase literally went down to the final heat event of the season. Andrew Scheuerle led the points chase at the beginning of the night, but Kevin Titman had two impressive heats events and managed to make his way six points in front of Scheuerle by the conclusion of the heat races. With so many points battles on the line it was always going to be a thrilling night of Sprintcar racing action, and while having not competed locally enough to feature prominently in the various series points chases, Robbie Farr was simply a class above the rest last night, topping the qualifying order, putting in some impressive heats, and leading the entire feature, only rarely challenged for his position, before taking the win. Joining Farr on the final podium for the season was David Murcott in second and Andrew Scheuerle in third. Bryan Mann had a brilliant run to finish in fourth with Mitchell Gee getting past Andrew Liebke in the final few laps to secure fifth. Liebke finished in sixth, his best A-Main result to date.

Qualifying got underway and it immediately became clear that Robbie Farr, David Murcott and Andrew Scheuerle were going to be the standout performers of the night. Farr easily topped the qualifying order, stopping the clock at a quick 11.445 seconds, an impressive 0.164 seconds ahead of second quickest Andrew Scheuerle and his 11.609 second lap. Murcott was third quickest with Dan Murray and Bryan Mann rounding out the fastest five. As is always the case at Archerfield Speedway, all the times were exceptionally close, the top twenty cars separated by less than one second. Mitchell Gee, who ended up 12th quickest, stopped the clock at 12.131 seconds, just 0.001 second ahead of Anthony Lambert, who in turn was just 0.001 seconds ahead of Callum Walker. Kristy Bonsey beat Andrew Liebke by just one thousandth of a second, while Steven Johnson was one hundredth of a second quicker than Stephen Greer. But qualifying also saw four cars exit the competition. Richard Morgan, Brandon Haynes and Shaun Dobson, who was driving the Q95 Motorguard Motorsport racer, all exited the competition with mechanical problems. Brad Ayers, who has missed a number of race meetings and was keen for one last race before the end of the season, made it just a few laps into his qualifying run before the diff in the Q11racer snapped and launched Brad into a spectacular flip into turn four. Ayers walked away from the crash sore and disappointed but otherwise unscathed.

Heat one started with Andrew Liebke from pole and Anthony Lambert alongside. Lambert got a brilliant start on the high side of the track and had secured the lead before they hit turn one. Kevin Titman, who had started from position four, was quick to follow on the high side, making his way past Liebke as they rounded the first two corners. Titman really had the car running beautifully, and with less than a lap completed was challenging Lambert for the lead. Titman was relentless, searching high and low, lap after lap, while Lambert ran a smooth and consistently strong race. Titman eventually managed to manoeuvre his way underneath Lambert in turn four to steal the lead. Meanwhile Andrew Liebke was coming under increasing pressure from former Australian Champion Robbie Farr. Farr, on a mission to get to the front, was persistent but Liebke was really holding his own. Unfortunately for Liebke the right side of his main wing started to peel backwards and severely impacted the speed and handling of the Q47 racer. Farr managed to slip underneath Liebke in turn four, with Brent Aprile, Mitchell Gee and Adam Clarke following in quick succession. Back at the front of the field Farr had found his way past Lambert and set out after Titman in the race lead. With the chequered flag in sight there was little Farr could do and Kevin Titman went on to take the win, securing his position in the Dash event. Robbie Farr finished in second ahead of Anthony Lambert, Brent Aprile, Mitchell Gee, Adam Clarke, Andrew Liebke and Paul Morris.

Heat two got underway with Kristy Bonsey and Callum Walker from the front row and a tough field behind. Bonsey got a beautiful start in the Q42 racer, quickly settling into the race lead. Walker tried to stay with her, challenging for the lead at the end of the first lap, but was unable to get the job done. Bonsey managed to open a small lead over the rest if the field by half way through the second lap, leaving the rest of the field to argue over the minor places. Brandon Rawlings and Mark Pholi, who had started alongside one another on the second row, fought over third place, with Rawlings soon emerging in front and setting out after Callum Walker. Andrew Scheuerle seemed committed to the high line, trying to run around the outside of Mark Pholi, while Bryan Mann took to the low side as he tried to find a way past both Scheuerle and Pholi. Unfortunately the race was brought to a sudden and abrupt stop with just two laps completed when race leader Kristy Bonsey rode out a wild flip in turn two. In an incident eerily simular to that which ended Brad Ayer’s night in qualifying, the diff in the Q42 racer had snapped and launched Bonsey into the air. It was first time Bonsey has been up-side-down in a Sprintcar and a very disappointing end to what has been an impressive season for her. Kristy walked away from the crash somewhat sore but otherwise unhurt. The race resumed with young Callum Walker inheriting the race lead with fellow Rookie Brandon Rawlings right behind him. Walker got a brilliant start and immediately opened a small, but crucial, margin over his rivals. Both Rawlings and Pholi did what they could to try to close in on Walker but to no avail, while towards the rear of the field Jamie Bricknell gradually closed in Bryan Mann but was unable to get close enough to make a move. Callum Walker went on to take the heat win, his first, and secure his position in the Dash, with Brandon Rawlings in second ahead of Mark Pholi and Andrew Scheuerle. Bryan Mann crossed the line in fifth and led Jamie Bricknell, Gary Finglas and Nelson Reddacliff across the line. Kristy Bonsey did not finish the race and would unfortunately be out for the rest of the night.

Allan Woods and Lachlan McHugh lined up alongside each other for the start of heat three, with Brent Kratzmann and Darren Jensen right behind them. Woods got the jump on the start and quickly settled into the race lead while Jensen and David Murcott made their way past McHugh. McHugh ran too wide in turn three, collecting the wall and fading to the rear of the field, while Steven Johnson tried to run underneath Dan Murray. The race was brought to a stop at the end of the second lap for the upturned car of Brent Kratzmann in turn four. Kratzmann walked away from the crash but unfortunately his night, and season, was over. Woods led the restart from Jensen and Murcott and while Woods got a great start and quickly moved a couple of car lengths ahead, Murcott slipped underneath Jensen as they rounded turn one and set out after the race lead, determined to secure a transfer to the Dash event. As Murcott began closing the gap to Woods, Dan Murray and Steven Johnson resumed their battle, picking things up right where they left off when Kratzmann exited the race. Back at the front Murcott had caught Woods and was putting all kinds of pressure on the Q28 racer, each holding nothing back as they raced for the win. Woods ended up too high in turn four, clipping the fence and became stranded on the track, the front end torn from the car. With four laps left to run David Murcott inherited the race lead, with Darren Jensen and Dan Murray right behind. After just two laps the race was brought under caution once more, this time for Lachlan McHugh who had almost rolled in turn four. Murcott led the restart with two laps left to run and went on to take the win, securing a position in the Dash event. Darren Jensen crossed the line in second ahead of Dan Murray with Steven Johnson an impressive fourth. Stephen Greer finished fifth and led Lachlan McHugh, Clem Hoffmans and James Grady across the line. Allan Woods and Brent Kratzmann both failed to finish the 10-lap journey.

Heat four was certainly a marathon of sorts, with four complete restarts before a lap was completed. The first attempted start was aborted and pole sitter Stephen Greer relegated to the second row for having jumped the start. Second time around it was Anthony Lambert and Mitchell Gee from the front row. Lambert got the jump on the start but Gee was quick around the outside and secured the lead as he raced through turn one. Lambert settled into second with Bryan Mann in third. Heading through turn four both Gee and Lambert made mistakes, leaving Mann nowhere to go. Mann spun the Q16 racer in turn four, as Robbie Farr, Stephen Greer, Brandon Rawlings and Jamie Bricknell raced around the outside and James Grady snuck past on the low line. The yellows were on but Mann somehow managed to keep the car moving, doing a slow, neat u-turn and only narrowly missing the wall. Mann rejoined the field for the restart in his original starting position. The third start saw Lambert get the jump when the lights went green, with Gee, Mann and Farr all challenging for the lead. As the first four cars completed the first lap the race was brought under caution once more, this time for the spun car of Brandon Rawlings in turn four. With the whole field yet to complete a lap, it was another full restart, with Lambert and Gee still from the front row. The leading pair raced side-by-side into the opening corners and while Lambert managed to get his nose in front momentarily, Gee had a faster run further up track and managed to secure the race lead. Mann challenged Lambert for second, while defending his position from Farr, but the race was again brought under caution. Stephen Greer had spun to a stop in turn four, and with half the field already past the line officials counted it as a completed lap. With nine laps left to run it was Mitchell Gee who led the restart from Anthony Lambert and Bryan Mann. Mann, Farr and Bricknell all quickly made their way past Lambert and set out after Gee. Gee had built a very comfortable margin and even in lapped traffic Mann and Farr were only able close in slightly on the young #41 racer. All eyes were however on Mann and Farr as they argued over second and put on a thrilling show for race fans. Mitchell Gee went on to take the win ahead of Bryan Mann and Robbie Farr, with Jamie Bricknell in fourth. Anthony Lambert finished fifth and led James Grady, Brandon Rawlings, Clem Hoffmans and Stephen Greer across the line.

Heat five saw Andrew Liebke and Lachlan McHugh share the front row. Liebke got the jump on the start and while McHugh tried to go with him there was little he could do. Brent Aprile on the other hand was magnificent on the low line, having started from position four, and tried to run underneath Liebke through turn one. Aprile almost had his nose in front, but Liebke had the better line heading into turn two and was able to secure the race lead. Aprile tried to stay with him, and occasionally challenged for the race lead, while Liebke focused on running a smooth and faultless race. David Murcott and Kevin Titman were trying to make their way closer to the front of the field, with Titman having a truly spectacular run on the low line. Titman, in a perfectly timed and perfectly positioned passing move slipped seemingly effortlessly underneath the reigning Australian Champion as they rounded turn four, before pulling slightly ahead of Murcott and closing the gap to Aprile. Titman has had a remarkable season, and while he has always been good he has certainly improved this season and will certainly be a strong contender next season. There was however no stopping Andrew Liebke in last nights fifth heat, with Liebke going on to take the win ahead of Brent Aprile, Kevin Titman, David Murcott, Lachlan McHugh, Callum Walker, Gary Finglas and Nelson Reddacliff.

The final heat of the season rolled onto the track with Adam Clarke and Steven Johnson from the front row and Andrew Scheuerle deep in the field, needing a significant points haul if he was to beat Kevin Titman in the Right Price Exhausts Heat Race Series Points score. When the lights went green Johnson and Clarke raced side-by-side into the first corner, with Johnson managing to take control of the race. Clarke settled into second, leaving Darren Jensen and Andrew Scheuerle to argue over the minor places. As Scheuerle tried to slip underneath Jensen in turn two, things didn’t quite go to plan and Scheuerle ended up losing a position to Mark Pholi as they raced down the back straight. Jensen and Clarke battled for a couple of laps until Jensen ran too wide in turn four and lost a lot of ground, while Clarke closed in on race leader Johnson. Clarke challenged Johnson for the lead several times, but Johnson was not prepared to surrender the lead without an entertaining fight. Darren Jensen soon joined the fight for the win but it was Steven Johnson who took the win ahead of Adam Clarke, Darren Jensen and Mark Pholi. Andrew Scheuerle crossed the line in fifth, securing only enough points to finish second behind Kevin Titman in the Right Price Exhausts Heat Race points chase. Allan Woods, Dan Murray and Paul Morris rounded out the finishers of heat six.

Robbie Farr and Andrew Scheuerle joined heat race winners Kevin Titman, Callum Walker, David Murcott, Mitchell Gee, Andrew Liebke and Steven Johnson for the eight-car, six-lap dash. Farr started from pole position with Murcott alongside, and Titman and Scheuerle out of row two. While it was a drag-race to the line when the green flag flew, it was Murcott who emerged in front and secured the race lead. Farr settled into second with Andrew Scheuerle next ahead of Kevin Titman. Andrew Liebke and Steven Johnson had a great battle going towards the rear of the field, as they raced alongside Callum Walker. David Murcott went on to take the win ahead of Robbie Farr with Andrew Scheuerle in third and Kevin Titman in fourth. Mitchell Gee finished an impressive fifth and led Andrew Liebke, Callum Walker and Steven Johnson across the line.

Eleven cars lined up for the start of the twelve-lap B-Main event, with just the top four finishers to transfer to the back of the A-Main field. Anthony Lambert and Lachlan McHugh shared the front row for the start, with hard-chargers Adam Clarke and Jamie Bricknell from the second row. Lambert got the jump on the start with Clarke very quick to move on the low line and slip straight into second as the navigated turn one. With McHugh fighting back and both McHugh and Clarke challenging Lambert for the lead entering turn two, McHugh ended up spinning the Q64 racer and was left facing the oncoming field. Whilst everyone tried to take evasive action, Nelson Reddacliff had nowhere to go and clipped the front end of the stranded #64 racer, inverting his own Q85 car into turn two. James Grady also got caught up in the incident and ended his night up-side-down as well. Both Nelson and James were unscathed in the incident but were out for the night. A full race restart followed, with Lambert, still from pole position, joined on the front row by Jamie Bricknell. Bricknell wasted no time in securing the race lead when the lights went green, with Allan Woods quick to follow on the high line. Adam Clarke battled with Paul Morris for several laps, the pair often running two abreast, before Clarke was able to pull a little ahead. Clarke soon closed in on Anthony Lambert, with Morris right on his tail. Morris slipped underneath Clarke through turns three and four, momentarily stealing the position from him, but Clarke was quick to fight back on the high side to regain his position and challenge Lambert for one better. Once Clarke had committed to the high line there was no stopping him as he raced around the outside of Lambert and began closing the gap to Woods. In only a couple of laps Clarke had not only closed the gap to Woods but almost effortlessly blasted around the outside of the Q28 racer to steal second. Jamie Bricknell went on to take the win ahead of Adam Clarke and Allan Woods, with Anthony Lambert securing the final transfer to the A-Main. Paul Morris finished in fifth and led Lachlan McHugh, Stephen Greer and Clem Hoffmans across the line. James Grady, Nelson Reddacliff and Gary Finglas all failed to finish the event.

Eighteen cars lined up for the start of the last A-Main event of our 2014-2015 race season. David Murcott and Robbie Farr shared the front row with a strong field of Brisbane hard chargers behind them. Farr got the jump on the start and once he had secured the lead he did not look back. Murcott settled into second but had a very determined Kevin Titman right on his tail while Andrew Scheuerle held a comfortable fourth. Towards the rear of the field chaos unfolded, leaving Dan Murray stranded on the track in the middle of turn two and bringing the race under caution. Farr led the restart from Murcott, Titman and Scheuerle but mid-field things were starting to heat up as the battle between Andrew Liebke and Steven Johnson intensified, even more so when Brent Aprile and Bryan Mann joined the fight. Mann slipped underneath Aprile in turn four, then underneath Johnson in turn one just as the race was brought under caution for the spun car of Anthony Lambert.

Robbie Farr led the restart with 26 laps still to run and David Murcott and Andrew Scheuerle on his tail, but it was again the action unfolding mid-field that was hard to ignore. Mitchell Gee was trying to stay with Kevin Titman, while behind him Andrew Liebke and Steven Johnson were racing wheel-to-wheel, as Bryan Mann and Brent Aprile argued between themselves as they each tried to find a way past Johnson and Liebke. Mann slipped up the inside of Johnson through turn three, but Johnson fired straight back, slipping underneath Mann through turn four to maintain his position, while Mark Pholi and Brent Aprile exchanged positions back and forth. Mann soon slipped back underneath Johnson, and moments later contact between Jamie Bricknell and Darren Jensen in turn four ended with Bricknell up-side-down in the Titan Garages and Carports Q36 racer. Neither Bricknell nor Jensen were hurt in the crash but both were unable to restart the event.

Farr again led the restart but after only two laps the race was brought to another stop, this time for Kevin Titman who had come together with Mitchell Gee in turn four and tipped the Q59 car on its side. Once officials had gently rolled the Titman car back onto four wheels, Titman was able to restart at the rear of the field. Farr continued to lead with 19 laps now left on the board, with Murcott and Scheuerle very comfortable in second and third respectively. It was the battle for fourth between Andrew Liebke, Mitchell Gee and Bryan Mann that was really starting to heat up, with Liebke leading the trio and Mann running the high line around the outside of Gee to steal fifth. Mann spent several laps searching for a way past Liebke, soon committing to the high line and making it work for him as he ran around the outside of Liebke in turn four. Further back in the field Brent Aprile was trying to weave his way through the field, and it was hard to ignore Adam Clarke as he really stepped up the pace and began climbing ever closer to the front of the field. Brent Aprile and Steven Johnson were having a thrilling battle mid-field, with Kevin Titman closing in fast. Titman and Johnson were racing side-by-side through turn four when contact between the pair ended with Johnson up-side-down coming out of turn four.

With just five laps to go Robbie Farr again led the restart from David Murcott and Andrew Scheuerle. One more yellow light caution for the spun car of Callum Walker, who had been doing an absolutely remarkable job in this A-Main event, in turn four, left a three-lap dash to the chequered flag. Of course there was no stopping Robbie Farr who went on to take the win ahead of David Murcott and Andrew Scheuerle. Bryan Mann finished fourth with Mitchell Gee in fifth. Andrew Liebke crossed the line in a career-best sixth and led Adam Clarke, Mark Pholi, Brent Aprile, Callum Walker, Anthony Lambert and Kevin Titman across the line. Steven Johnson, Darren Jensen, Jamie Bricknell, Brandon Rawlings, Allan Woods and Dan Murray all failed to finish the event.

And so that means that the end of the 2014-2015 race season is now upon us. Andrew Scheuerle secured the Sprintcars Queensland Club Championship, Bryan Mann walked away with the AusDeck Patios Archerfield Speedway Track Championship and the SuperCheap Auto Sprintcar Series crown. David Murcott took championship honours in the East Coast Logistics Crispy Memorial Series and Kevin Titman took out the Right Price Exhausts Heat Race points. It has been a huge season for Sprintcars Queensland, with next year looking to be every bit as exciting, with big things happening in the sport of Speedway in Queensland. We want to thank all the volunteers for their invaluable time, expertise and passion this season. We need to thanks the drivers, their families and friends for getting the cars to the track and putting on a breath-taking show every time we hit the track. Thank you also to all the car owners and sponsors, big and small, for your absolutely invaluable contribution to a remarkable season. Thanks to the promotional teams at every track we as a club have competed at, and last but by no means least thank you to you, the fans, who come and support the drivers and teams of Sprintcars Queensland. Whether you are at the track every Saturday night (we do love seeing you all there!), or cheering on from someplace else, we thank you for your support and we look forward seeing you all trackside next season. Without the invaluable support of everyone listed above, this season could not have been the success it was. Keep your eyes peeled for the 2015-2016 season calendar, with the new season set to get underway around September-October 2015.