AusDeck Patios Archerfield Speedway opened the 2015-2016 season last night with a spectacular night of racing. Sprintcars Queensland had a field of 23 cars, and after a hectic night of racing action Andrew Scheuerle was able to pull of a win in the 30-lap A-Main event. For Scheuerle and his AuskDeck Patios team, the win is their first at the venue in over a season, with the Q25 racer unable to secure a main event win in Brisbane last season, despite the team’s dominance at the away venues. Last night's victory on the first night of the season should boost the teams confidence in Brisbane and really set them up for a spectacular year. Also set for a big year is Kevin Titman, who topped the qualifying order at the end of time trials, won the Dash event and finished second in the A-Main. Titman will absolutely be one to watch this season with more podium finishes likely as the team strive for greater consistency in their A-Main results. Andrew Liebke finished in third last night, a career best for the Q47 racer and a much-needed boost to the teams' confidence. Liebke won both his heats after poor qualifying results, and started the A-Main event from position ten, before working his way to his first podium finish. Steven Johnson crossed the line in fourth, also a career best result after a thrilling run in the later stages of the main event, slipping past Brandon Rawlings in the final couple laps of the race. Rawlings too had a brilliant run to finish a very respectable fifth.

When qualifying got underway it was Andrew Scheuerle who was first to hit the track. Scheuerle quickly set the benchmark at a quick 11.775 seconds, and while several drivers came close to bettering the time, Kevin Titman was the only one quick enough to dislodge Scheuerle from the top of the qualifying order. Titman stopped the clock at 11.687 seconds, just 0.88 seconds faster than Scheuerle. Scheuerle remained second quickest with Mark Pholi, who usually qualifies well, third fastest with an 11.859 second lap. Young Callum Walker was the third last car to hit the track but managed to secure fourth quickest with a time of 11.929 seconds, while Luke Oldfield, the last car to take to the track for qualifying, recorded an identical time to Walker. Oldfield, his second recorded lap a fraction slower than Walker’s second qualifying lap, was officially fifth at the conclusion of qualifying, rounding out the fastest five. The times right through the field were exceptionally tight, with just 1.103 seconds separating the entire 23-car field. Less than fourth tenths of a second separated the top twelve, just 0.025 seconds between the six cars who qualified in positions four to nine. David Whell was just three thousands of a second quicker than Dan Murray, Mitchell Gee just two thousandths of a second quicker than Brent Kratzmann, and Steven Greer, who was eighteenth quickest, was just four thousandths of a second quicker than Andrew Liebke.

Heat one started with Andrew Liebke and Scott Doyle on the front row, with Steven Johnson and Dan Murray right behind. Liebke got the jump when the lights went green, though Johnson from position three was quick to challenge on the low line but was unable to get the job done. Liebke secured the lead with Doyle in second until he got too sideways in turn two, spinning the Q43 racer and heading towards the infield, with Johnson slipping underneath and both Murray and Kevin Titman taking evasive action to go around Doyle. Doyle managed to get the car towards the infield, with Travis Woods, in his first night of 410ci Sprintcar competition, pulling infield just one lap later. Liebke quickly built up a substantial lead and with less than two laps completed was already a third of a lap ahead of Johnson in second. Johnson was on the defensive as Murray put all kinds of pressure on the Q27 racer, when the race was brought under caution to move the stranded car of Doyle to a safer position. Liebke led the restart with Johnson in second, his front wing broken, upturned and making handling difficult, while Murray sat in third ahead of Kevin Titman. Liebke simply cleared out when the race resumed, immediately beginning to open the margin between himself and second place, leaving Johnson to defend his position from Murray and Titman. Titman searched for a way past Murray but Murray was himself searching high and low for a way past Johnson and while both Titman and Murray each nearly got the job done on several occasions, they could not quite pull off the pass. Andrew Liebke went on to take the win, an impressive 9.290 seconds, or roughly three quarters of a lap, ahead of second placed Steven Johnson. Dan Murray crossed the line in third with Kevin Titman and David Whell rounding out the field. Travis Woods and Scott Doyle both failed to finish the event.

Steve Greer and Lachlan McHugh shared the front row for the start of the second heat, the pair banging wheels before taking the green. Once the lights went green there was further contact between the pair as they raced down the main straight while the Consol racing team-mates of Brandon Rawlings and Mitchell Gee, who had started alongside each other on the second row, both took evasive action to avoid the drama unfolding in front of them. Gee was in the perfect position to take to the high line and in a matter of moments he had raced around the outside of both McHugh and Greer to secure the race lead by the time he exited turn one. Luke Oldfield tried to follow but became momentarily caught behind them, but slipped underneath McHugh as they rounded turn two. Oldfield set his sights on Greer as McHugh faded back through the field, while Brandon Rawlings and Andrew Scheuerle edged closer to the front of the field. Gee had a comfortable lead, which ended up being nearly half a lap by the time the chequered flag flew, but it was the battles over the minor places that were captivating the crowd. Oldfield was relentless in his pursuit of Greer, as they argued over second and third, while behind them Andrew Scheuerle was searching for a way past Rawlings. Mitchell Gee went on to take the win with Steve Greer managing to hang on to finish second ahead of Luke Oldfield, Brandon Rawlings, Andrew Scheuerle, Lachlan McHugh and Jason Bottin. Dale Shilleto did not finish the race, pulling out after completing just eight laps.

Heat three hit the track and while Brad Ayers was supposed to start from pole position, mechanical dramas kept the NQ11 racer in the pits and elevated Ben Hilder to pole, with Andrew Marks, driving the Q96 racer formally campaigned by Steven White, alongside. The first start was aborted, with Hilder being deemed to have jumped the start. Hilder was relegated back to the second row for the restart, with young Callum Walker now from pole position. Walker was quick off the line when the lights went green, but Marks had a brilliant run on the high line and quickly blasted around the outside to secure the race lead by entering turn one. Walker stayed with him, the pair pulling ahead of the rest of the field, Walker really pushing hard and searching for a way past. Unfortunately for Walker he got a fraction too high in turn three, his right rear catching the cushion just a little and he ended up in the fence on the entry to turn four, flipping the Q33 racer and bringing the race to a stop. Walker was not injured in the crash but would be unable to continue the event. Brent Kratzmann had been battling with a deflated left rear tyre before the stoppage, with the crew of the Q4 racer taking the red light stoppage as an opportunity to change the tyre before the restart. Andrew Marks led the restart from Ben Hilder and Clem Hoffmans. Marks again got a great start and began pulling away from the field, Hilder sticking with him just a car length or two behind and ready to strike should Marks make a mistake. Andrew Marks went on to take the win with Ben Hilder in second and Brent Kratzmann, who battled with Kristy Bonsey for a few laps, in third. Clem Hoffmans and Kristy Bonsey rounded out the finishers. Mark Pholi and Callum Walker did not finish the event.

Heat four started with Kristy Bonsey and Callum Walker from the front row, with Andrew Marks and Ben Hilder right behind. Bonsey got the jump on the start and quickly settled into the race lead, with Walker hot on her heels and Ben Hilder and Kevin Titman coming up fast. Titman was on a mission and after getting past Ben Hilder, he set his sights on Walker. Walker is an exceptionally talented young racer and we are sure to see big things from him in the years ahead, and while he put up a breath-taking fight to keep Titman behind him, Titman eventually found his way through and set out after race leader Bonsey. Bonsey, in her 360ci Q42 racer, was doing a magnificent job out in front, but Titman soon caught and passed Bonsey for the lead with just a couple of laps left to run. Kevin Titman took the win ahead of Kristy Bonsey, Callum Walker, Ben Hilder, David Whell, Clem Hoffmans and Andrew Marks.

Scott Doyle and Andrew Liebke shared the front row for the start of heat five, with Doyle getting the initial jump and leading the field into turn one. By the time they exited turn two Liebke had run around the high side and into the race lead as they raced towards turn three. Andrew Scheuerle quickly made his way into second, slipping underneath Doyle as they rounded turns three and four, in less than a lap, and then set his sights on Liebke and the race lead. It only took a couple of laps for Scheuerle to close the gap and the battle that followed captivated the crowd as Scheuerle was relentless in his pursuit, working the low line and occasionally having a bit of a look on the inside of Liebke. Andrew Liebke did however manage to hang on to take the win ahead of Andrew Scheuerle, Scott Doyle, Brent Kratzmann, Dan Murray and Jason Bottin.

The final heat of the night was led to the green by Lachlan McHugh and Steve Greer, and while McHugh had his nose in front as they entered turn one, Greer raced him wheel-to-wheel through the first two corners, and managed to lead the field out of turn two. Steven Johnson had a brilliant run on the low line, starting to follow Greer on the top side before switching to the low line coming out of turn one to slip straight underneath McHugh in turn two. Luke Oldfield was on a charge towards the front, running around the outside of McHugh through turns three and four, while Johnson challenged Greer for the race lead. Johnson had a big run on the inside through turn three, almost getting his nose in front by the exit of turn four, but Greer had the advantage on the high side and Johnson lifted the front wheels from the track as they raced down the main straight. Johnson now had Oldfield right on his tail and as he tried to find a way past Greer, he was also trying to defend his position from Oldfield. The trio really put on a spectacular show for race fans, with Oldfield eventually slipping under Johnson through turn four and setting his sights on Greer. Johnson however didn’t surrender without a fight and slipped back underneath Oldfield in turn one to momentarily regain his position before running too wide in turn two and allowing Oldfield to slip back through. As Greer and Oldfield pulled away a little, Johnson was left to battle Lachlan McHugh as they argued over third and fourth. Oldfield was all over the back of Greer for several laps, working the high line and searching for a way past, before seemingly effortlessly switching to the low line and under Greer to steal the race lead only a couple of laps from home. Luke Oldfield went on to take the win ahead of Steve Greer, Steven Johnson, Lachlan McHugh, Mitchell Gee and Brandon Rawlings.

Kevin Titman, Luke Oldfield, Andrew Scheuerle, Mitchell Gee, Dan Murray and Ben Hilder lined up for the top six Dash event. Titman would start from pole position with Ben Hilder alongside and Scheuerle and Murray from the second row. Titman quickly got the jump on the start and immediately secured the race lead, while Ben Hilder held down second but came under immense pressure from Scheuerle before being relegated to third as Scheuerle made his way in front. Oldfield was next in line and he and Hilder had a great battle for the rest of the race. Kevin Titman took the win, and declined the Kratzmann Challenge, with Andrew Scheuerle in second ahead of Ben Hilder, Luke Oldfield, Dan Murray and Mitchell Gee.

With several cars out with mechanical problems the B-main event was cancelled and nineteen cars lined up for the start of the 30-lap A-Main event. Kevin Titman and Andrew Scheuerle led the field to the green, with Scheuerle getting the best start ahead of Kevin Titman, Luke Oldfield and Mitchell Gee. Brent Kratzmann slammed the wall coming out of turn two, forcing several cars to take evasive action as they raced down the back straight. Unfortunately with barely a lap competed the race was brought to a stop when contact between Ben Hilder and Mitchell Gee saw Gee flip the Q41 racer into and onto the turn two wall. Gee was not hurt in the crash but it was a delicate operation to get his car off the wall. Several teams took the opportunity presented by the open red light situation to change tyres, with Luke Oldfield, Steve Greer and David Whell all joining Brent Kratzmann and Ben Hilder at the rear of the field for the restart.

Andrew Scheuerle led the restart from Kevin Titman, Dan Murray, Andrew Liebke and Steven Johnson. Scheuerle continued to lead when after barely one lap the race was brought to another stop, this time for Clem Hoffmans who had entered turn three a little high and clipped the wall before inverting the Q3 racer. Hoffmans walked away from the incident but his night of competition was over.

Andrew Scheuerle, Kevin Titman, Dan Murray, Andrew Liebke and Brandon Rawlings led the restart, with Luke Oldfield already back to mid-field after changing a tyre at the first stoppage and being sent rear of the field. David Whell and Andrew Marks had a fierce battle going further back in the field, but Marks got too sideways in turn two and lost several positions. Before long the race leaders, Scheuerle and Titman, were navigating lapped traffic, though they had a considerable lead over their rivals, with Andrew Liebke having made his way past Dan Murray and into third. Brandon Rawlings joined the battle between Liebke and Murray and after a few laps Murray was able to get back past Liebke, racing around the outside through turn two, to regain third. Liebke was having perhaps the best drive of his racing career and was quick to slip straight back underneath Murray only half a lap later. In the middle of lapped traffic things were really beginning the heat up for Scheuerle and Titman, with Scheuerle always in front but Titman significantly closing the gap and putting all kinds of pressure on Scheuerle as they weaved their way past lapped cars. Liebke in third found himself under increasing pressure from Brandon Rawlings, while Luke Oldfield was up to eighth. Steven Johnson managed to close the gap to Liebke and Rawlings, and became a real threat to the pair as the laps wore on, with Oldfield right on his tail too. Johnson was spectacular in the Q27 racer and with the white flag in the air he took to the high line as they rounded turn four for the final time, straight around the outside of Rawlings in a perfectly timed move to steal fourth and achieve his highest placed finish in a 410ci Sprintcar at AusDeck Patios Archerfield Speedway. Andrew Scheuerle took the win with Kevin Titman a very strong second while Andrew Liebke crossed the line in third and secured his first podium finish. Steven Johnson finished in fourth with Brandon Rawlings an impressive fifth. Luke Oldfield managed to claw his way to sixth by the fall of the chequered flag and led Lachlan McHugh, Dan Murray, Kristy Bonsey, Jason Bottin, David Whell, Brent Kratzmann, Ben Hilder and Steve Greer across the line. Andrew Marks pulled out of the event after slamming the wall on the exit of turn four, having completed just 24 laps, while Scott Doyle, Clem Hoffmans, Callum Walker and Mitchell Gee also failed to finish the event.

After four big weekends of racing Sprintcars Queensland will take next weekend off before returning to AusDeck Patios Archerfield Speedway the following weekend Saturday 17 October 2015 for Round Two of the SuperCheap Auto Sprintcar Track Championship. As it stands at the moment Kevin Titman leads the points chase on 63 points. He has a very slender one point advantage on second placed Andrew Scheuerle (62 points), with Andrew Liebke currently third (60 points) and Steven Johnson and Luke Oldfield tied for fourth and fifth (both on 52 points). Get yourself trackside on October 17th to see the racing action for yourself – these boys sure know how to put on a show so come on out and cheer on your favourite. And don’t forget to pop down the pits after the racing is finished – the drivers love meeting the fans from the hill, showing off their cars up close and signing autographs! See you trackside!