Last night twenty-four of Sprintcars, including some of Australia's best, ventured to the freshly renovated Hi-Tech Oils Toowoomba Speedway for the opening round of the Hi-Tech Oils Ultimate Sprintcar Championship. There is no doubt that the new promotional team at the venue have done a truly spectacular job with the work that has gone into the place during the winter off-season, with fans and race teams alike generally liking the improvements. Robbie Farr dominated proceedings, but Toowoomba locals Andrew Scheuerle and Peter Lack were both favourites among the crowd, putting on a mesmerising show despite some trying track conditions. Farr took the win at the end of the 30-lap A-Main event, but Lack challenged hard on every restart, looking to dive underneath Farr as they rounded the first two corners. Lack was forced to settle for second with Steven Lines rounding out the podium in third and Luke Oldfield (currently piloting the Q36 racer for Titan Garages) and Danny Reidy (on board the Mitchell Motorsport Q19 racer) completing the top five. Andrew Scheuerle had been running a very solid third when he became involved in an incident with a lapped car and was forced to the rear of the field with just five laps left to run. He ended up eighth.

Twelve pairs of cars hit the track for qualifying, with James McFadden and Andrew Scheuerle first to race the clock. The pair could not have more perfectly matched with McFadden stopping the clock at 12.186 seconds, only for Scheuerle to record a time of 12.187 seconds just one lap later, setting the tone for things to come. Robbie Farr topped the qualifying order, stopping the clock at a quick 11.644 seconds, with Steven Lines second quickest with a 11.737 second lap. Peter Lack had the Q58 racer dialled in perfectly and his 11.869 second lap was enough to secure third fasted and was the last of the cars to dip into the 11-second bracket. Kevin Titman and Luke Oldfield completed the fastest five, with Danny Reidy sixth quickest ahead of James McFadden, Andrew Scheuerle, Brent Kratzmann and Allan Woods.

Heat one started with Mick Saller and Matt Smith from the front row, with Dave Whell and James McFadden out of the second row. Saller and Smith raced side-by-side into turn one as Whell tried a bold move on the inside, almost managing to get his nose in front as he, Saller and Smith raced three-wide through turn one. Smith on the high side was able to get the most drive and managed to secure the lead by the time he exited turn two, with James McFadden right on his tail. McFadden secured second before they made it to turn three, while Whell was trying to keep the very hard-charging Robbie Farr behind him. Farr soon took to the high line to race around the outside of Whell, before quickly switching the low side to slip effortlessly underneath Saller before setting his sights on James McFadden. Farr spent several laps closing the gap to the NQ25 racer before racing by on the inside as they headed down the main straight. Meanwhile Danny Reidy was really settling into the Q19 racer, having a thrilling battle with Dave Whell, as both tried to find a way past Saller. Reidy spent several laps working the low line before switching to the high side only a few laps from the chequered flag. The outside gave Reidy the advantage he was looking for, hitting all the right marks and helping him find that little bit extra to get in front of Whell. Matt Smith went on to take the win ahead of Robbie Farr, James McFadden and Mick Saller while Danny Reidy and Dave Whell raced side-by-side across the line, Reidy crossing the line just 0.051 seconds ahead of Whell. Sean Dyson and Kristy Bonsey rounded out the finishers.

Wayne Iacono and Brandon Rawlings shared the front row for the start of heat two, with a big field of talent behind them. Rawlings got a great start on the high line and quickly settled into the race lead, with Andrew Scheuerle on a mission from position four, following Rawlings on the top of the track and securing second by the end of the turn two. Scheuerle slipped under Rawlings through turn three to steal the lead with Steven Lines slipping underneath Iacono moments later as they rounded turn four. Unfortunately the race was soon brought under caution for the spun car of Luke Oldfield in the middle of turn four, just before a full lap had been completed. Oldfield restarted at the back of the field as Iacono and Rawlings led the field to the green once more. Rawlings and Scheuerle were again unstoppable on the high line, quickly taking control of the race, while Iacono looped the Q20 racer on the bottom of turn two. Iacono was able to keep the car going, avoiding a stoppage, but lost several positions as a result of the spin. Rawlings continued to lead the race with Scheuerle chasing him down, while Mitchell Gee and Steven Lines had a close battle for the minor places as they argued over third and fourth. It took several laps but Lines was eventually able to slip underneath Gee to secure third, while Gee’s team-mate Rawlings came under increasingly strong pressure from Andrew Scheuerle. In a beautiful and perfectly timed slide-job Scheuerle slipped straight underneath Rawlings to secure the lead with only a few laps remaining. Rawlings did fight back hard, with a big charge on the inside through turn one, but was unable to regain the lead. Andrew Scheuerle went on to take the win ahead of Brandon Rawlings, Steven Lines, Mitchell Gee, Luke Oldfield, Scott Genrich and Steve Rowell. Wayne Iacono pulled out of the event after completing only five laps.

With the format for last night’s event heat three was the last heat event of the evening, and it was young Lachlan McHugh and Alex Orr from the front row. The first attempted start was aborted, with McHugh deemed by officials to have jumped the start. McHugh was relegated the second row for the next attempt at a start, which saw Allan Woods elevated to pole position. Orr got a great start and quickly secured the race lead, while Woods held down second ahead of a fast and determined Brent Kratzmann. Unfortunately for Orr with less than a lap completed he ran too high in turn three and four, the right side of his car climbing the wall. Orr was very lucky not to roll but would unfortunately take no further part in the heat. The third attempt at a start saw Allan Woods and Brent Kratzmann from the front row, and while the pair raced side-by-side down the straight towards turn one it was Kratzmann who emerged in front. Unfortunately Woods suffered engine issues that would not only end his race but his night of competition as well. The fourth start saw Kevin Titman, who had originally started from position five, now from pole, with Brent Kratzmann alongside. Titman got the jump in the new look Q59 racer and instantly started opening a comfortable margin over the rest of the field. Peter Lack was breath-taking on the high line, foot flat to the floor as he held nothing back as he searched to a way past both McHugh and Kratzmann. Lack eventually made his way past both Kratzmann and McHugh, but the battle between Brent and Lachlan was just starting to heat up. McHugh, who has only done a handful of race meetings in a Sprintcar, slipped underneath Kratzmann as they rounded turn three and four in a textbook slide job on his more experienced rival. Kratzmann however was not about to surrender the position without a fight and slid back underneath McHugh less than half a lap later. Kevin Titman went on to take the win with Peter Lack in second and a sizable margin back to Brent Kratzmann in third. Lachlan McHugh finished fourth and led Andrew Liebke and Blake Skipper across the line. Allan woods and Alex Orr did not finish the event.

Next up was the three Eliminator Sevens races where seven qualifiers for the A-Main event compete in three two-lap races to determine their starting positions in the A-Main (positions 9 to 15). At the end of each race the last two cars were eliminated and the winner of the third race to start the A-main from position nine. James McFadden and Brent Kratzmann shared the front row for the start of the first of the eliminator Sevens races, with team-mates Mitchell Gee and Brandon Rawlings sharing the second row, Lachlan McHugh and Mick Sellar from the third row and Andrew Liebke out of position seven. McFadden secured the lead when the lights turned green, with Kratzmann and Gee quick to settle into second and third respectively. Unfortunately behind them Rawlings, McHugh and Seller came together in turn two and brought the race under caution. All three restarted at the rear of the field. McFadden again took control when the lights went green, with Kratzmann challenging hard and Gee in third. McHugh managed to find his way past Liebke in the final corners of the race to finish fourth, with Liebke in fifth. Brandon Rawlings and Mick Saller completed the field and as the last two to cross the line were eliminated from the field, set to start the A-Main from position fourteen and fifteen respectively.

Lachlan McHugh came to a stop on the track before the start of the second of the eliminator Sevens races and was eliminated on the spot, leaving just four cars to contest the two-lap race. James McFadden and Brent Kratzmann again led the way, with Mitchell Gee and Andrew Liebke right behind them. Kratmann was brilliant on the high line, quickly securing the lead and going on to take the win ahead of McFadden and Gee. Liebke was fourth across the line and eliminated from the final of the Eliminator Sevens races.

The first start of the final Eliminator Sevens race was aborted, with Kratzmann being deemed to have jumped the start and relegated to the rear of the field. Mitchell Gee and James McFadden now shared the front row and while Gee put in a valiant effort, there was simply no stopping McFadden. The pair raced wheel-to-wheel for the first half lap before McFadden emerged in front and from there he was unstoppable. James McFadden went on to take the win ahead of Mitchell Gee and Brent Kratzmann, the trio to fill positions nine, ten and eleven for the start of the A-Main event.

The three heat race winners and the next five fastest time trials hit the track for the Pole Shuffle, which consisted of seven two-car two-lap races. First up was Andrew Scheuerle and Matt Smith with Scheuerle easily dominating the race and taking the win by almost two seconds. Smith returned to the infield, set to start the A-Main from position eight, while Danny Reidy joined Scheuerle on the track. Scheuerle was again too strong and while Reidy fought back hard in the first two corners of their race, there was little he could do to stop Scheuerle. Reidy would start the A-Main from position seven and make way for Luke Oldfield to join Scheuerle on the track for the third pole shuffle event. Oldfield was the first of Scheuerle's shuffle opponents to choose the outside line for the start, but Scheuerle was not phased in the slightest and again instantly secured the race lead. Oldfield tried to fight back but again there was no stopping Scheuerle. Oldfield joined Smith and Reidy on the infield as Kevin Titman lined up for his shot at stopping Scheuerle's climb towards the front of the A-Main field. Titman elected to start on the inside and even had his nose just a fraction in front of Scheuerle as they entered turn two. Unfortunately for Titman Scheuerle was able to edge his way back in front by the time they exited the second corner and while Titman had a big look up the inside of Scheuerle through turns three and four, much to the delight of the crowd, but he couldn’t quite get the job done and Scheuerle went on win another Pole Shuffle race. Titman returned to the infield making way for Toowoomba local, and one of the crowd favourites, Peter Lack. Lack chose the high line for the start but it was Scheuerle who got the jump when the lights went green. Lack was impressive on the low line, challenging hard as they rounded turns one and two, the crowd loving every moment, but he too could not stop the machine that was Andrew Scheuerle. Steven Lines was next in line to try and get the better of Scheuerle and elected to start on the outside for the two-lap race. Scheuerle was again too good and immediately secured the lead, while Lines switched to the bottom and tried to slip underneath Scheuerle through turns one and two. Scheuerle was having none of it and even managed to pull a little ahead of Lines by the end of the lap. Lines retreated to the infield while Robbie Farr, the highest points scorer of the evening and the final challenger in the Pole Shuffle, made his way onto the track. As Farr was chasing down Scheuerle to line up for the start of the final Pole Shuffle race, the unthinkable happened – Farr got too high in turn three, clipped the wall and ever so gently tipped the immaculately presented USC NQ7 racer on its side. Farr was unscathed and, once the car was returned to four wheels, was even able to restart. Unfortunately for Farr though, by causing a stoppage in a Pole Shuffle event, he handed the win to Andrew Scheuerle.

Six cars took to the track for the B-Main event, with the first five finishers to transfer to the back of the A-Main. David Whell started from pole position and dominated early with Alex Orr in second. At the tail of the field Kristy Bonsey, Blake Skipper and Scott Genrich had a feisty battle going with Bonsey successfully defending her position for several laps before Genrich was able to make his way in front. Dave Whell went on to take the win with Alex Orr in second ahead of Sean Dyson and Scott Genrich. Kristy Bonsey finished fifth, securing the final transfer to the A-Main, while Blake Skipper crossed the line in sixth.

Twenty cars rolled onto the track for the 30-lap A-Main event. Robbie Farr and Andrew Scheuerle shared the front row but it was Farr who quickly secured the race lead when the green flag flew. Scheuerle held down a comfortable second, but both Peter Lack and Steven Lines were right on his tail and searching for a way past. Lack soon found his way past Scheuerle while further back in the field Luke Oldfield, Kevin Titman and Danny Reidy were embroiled in a tense battle for position. The race was barely a lap old when the first of several cautions brought the race to a stop. Kevin Titman had come to a stop near the turn two wall and while he was able to restart at the rear of the field, Mick Saller, who had a flat left rear tyre before even taking the green, was out of the race.

The double row restart saw Robbie Farr and Andrew Scheuerle again lead the field away, with Peter Lack and Steven Lines right behind them. Lack was quick to move on the inside, putting on a spectacular display for the fans as he slide spectacularly underneath Scheuerle through turn one. Danny Reidy, Luke Oldfield and Brent Kratzmann were having a tight race mid-field and James McFadden was trying to make his way close to the front of the field. But the real action was at the front of the field as Lack kept closing in on the tail of Farr, challenging him at every opportunity and really putting on a show for the fans. In less than ten laps the leaders were also navigating lapped traffic, with Lack staying with Farr and Scheuerle a solid third ahead of Lines. They race was soon brought under caution for the Q37 racer of Scott Genrich who had spun in turn four. Genrich however had managed to keep the car moving so the stoppage was short one but allowed the dust to lift a little.

Robbie Farr and Peter Lack led the restart with Andrew Scheuerle and Steven Lines close behind. Farr got the jump on the start and Lack attempted a big slide job up the inside as they rounded the first two corners. The fans loved it but Farr was able to hang onto the race lead, while Lack settled for second and Scheuerle and Lines argued over the minor places with Luke Oldfield right on their tail. After only a couple laps though the race was brought to a stop when Mitchell Gee and Brent Kratzmann came together in turn four. Kratzmann ended up in the wall with Lachlan McHugh, Blake Skipper and Brandon Rawlings all also involved. No one was injured in the crash.

Robbie Farr and Peter Lack again led the restart, with Farr again securing the lead and Lack again pushing hard on the low line with just eleven laps left to run. Scheuerle and Lines had a thrilling battle as they argued over third, but again it wasn’t long before lapped traffic came into play. And unfortunately, it wasn’t long before the race was brought to another stop this time for the lapped car of Blake Skipper. Skipper had climbed the fence coming out of turn three, and on his way back down the track, had been collected by Scheuerle, who had been left nowhere to go. Luke Oldfield, who had been running the highline in typical and spectacular Oldfield style, only just managed to avoid the now stranded car of Scheuerle by what must have been only the tiniest of margins. Skipper was not injured in the crash but was out of the race, while Scheuerle was forced to the rear of the field and left with only five laps to make up as much ground as he could.

A single file restart followed with Robbie Farr still in control and Peter Lack still refusing to give up without an entertaining fight. Lack stayed with Farr as they began pulling away from the field once more, leaving Lines to defend his position from Luke Oldfield and Danny Reidy. In the end there was simply no stopping Farr and he went on to take the win, and $10,000 prize money cheque, in the opening round of the Ultimate Sprintcar Challenge. Peter Lack was particularly impressive in the Q58 racer to finish second and is already looking like he will be an exceptionally strong contender in any race he contests this season. Steven Lines finished a very credible third, with Luke Oldfield, and Danny Reidy, both new drivers for their respective teams, putting in a solid run to finish fourth and fifth respectively in trying track conditions. Mitchell Gee finished sixth and led Matt Smith, Andrew Scheuerle, Dave Whell, Sean Dyson and Kristy Bosey across the line. Scott Genrich, Blake Skipper Brent Kratzmann, Lachlan McHugh, Kevin Titman, Brandon Rawlings, James McFadden, Mick Saller and Andrew Liebke all failed to finish the event.

It was a brilliant night of Sprintcar racing action, and it is clear we are in for a very big season. We have a host of seasoned competitors who have a wealth of talent and are eager to put on show, and list of new-comers and rising stars that are sure to give their more experienced rivals a run for their money. It is shaping up to be a spectacular season of Sprintcar racing with big changes happening at several venues. There is of course the addition of Bundaberg Speedway to our racing calendar, who successfully opened the season earlier this month. Then there are the changes underway at Brisbane's AusDesk Patios Archerfield Speedway that are sure to spice things up a little and of course the newly renovated Hi-Tech Oils Toowoomba Speedway, host to last night’s racing excitement. There is no doubt that there have been significant and impressive changes made to the Toowoomba venue that are sure to lift the profile of both Sprintcar racing and Speedway in general. It is a real credit to the promotional team and everyone involved in the transformation. Sprintcars Queensland will return to Hi-Tech Oils Toowoomba Speedway next Saturday night for Round Two of the USC before the opening round at AusDeck Patios Archerfield Speedway the following weekend. See you trackside.