Donny Schatz again dominated proceedings at AusDeck Patios Archerfield Speedway last night, and put on a truly spectacular show for race fans. When Schatz drew pole position for the Dash event, even his fellow Dash contenders were expecting Schatz to win the dash and subsequently accept the Kratzmann Challenge to invert the top fourteen starters in the A-Main event. Schatz did not disappoint and much to the delight of the Archerfield Speedway crowd, the top fourteen starters were inverted, with Schatz now starting the 40-lap A-Main event from position fourteen. Local racer Clem Hoffmans started from pole position and led the first nineteen laps, holding off Mark Pholi as Bryan Mann and Donny Schatz worked their way through the field. It was a truly remarkable run for Hoffmans, but all eyes were on Schatz and Mann as they climbed their way towards the front. Mann secured the race lead on lap twenty and continued to lead for the next fourteen laps. Mann looked solid out in front, even breaking away a little from Schatz at one stage, but when lapped traffic came into play once more, Schatz found a gap straight between Mann on the high side, and a lapped car on the bottom and stole the lead with just seven laps left to run. Bryan Mann had a spectacular run, making sure Schatz worked hard for his win and put on a brilliant show for the fans, officially finishing second with young up-and-coming racer Mitchell Gee crossing the line in a very impressive third. Luke Oldfield and Andrew Scheuerle rounded out the top five, while Clem Hoffmans managed to hang to finish a very solid sixth.

Qualifying got underway with Luke Oldfield in the Titan Garages Q36 racer topping the leader board, stopping the clock at 12.839 seconds. Oldfield was the only car to break into the 12-second bracket, with no one else able to dip below 13-seconds for the rest of the night. Donny Schatz was second quickest in qualifying, stopping the clock at 13.004 seconds, with Bryan Mann, Kevin Titman and Peter Lack rounding out the fastest five. The rather small car count, due in part to damage suffered on Saturday night or work commitments this week, saw a reduction in the number of heats (from 2 rounds of three heats down to two round of two heats), plus the cancellation of the B-Main event, with nineteen cars taking the green for the A-Main event.

Heat one got underway with Andrew Liebke from pole position and Anthony Lambert alongside. Liebke and Lambert raced side-by-side until turn three when Liebke managed to secure the lead, with Steven Johnson soon running up the inside of Lambert to steal second, just as Peter Lack ran around the outside of Mitchell Gee and Brent Kratzmann. By the end of the second lap Johnson was challenging Liebke for the lead, racing underneath the Q47 racer through turns three and four before settling into the race lead. Lack made his way past Lambert and set his sights on Liebke and Johnson, but behind him contact between Kratzmann and Lambert left Lambert stranded facing the wrong direction high on the track coming out of turn two and brought the race under caution. Unfortunately Lambert was unable to restart the event. Johnson led the restart from Liebke, Lack and Kratzmann, with Lack immediately taking to the high line, while Kratzmann challenged from the low side. Lack was committed to the high line, and while it took a couple of laps, managed to run around the outside of Liebke, before setting about chasing down Johnson. Kratzmann was all over the back of Liebke, while further back in the field Kevin Titman, Mitchell Gee and Luke Oldfield had a close battle for the minor positions. Within just a few laps though all eyes were back on Lack as he closed the gap to Johnson and began his challenge for the lead. Once again committed to the high line Lack worked patiently on a beautiful outside passing move, stealing the lead with just a few laps to run. Liebke and Kratzmann, with Titman now within striking distance, battled until the fall of the chequered flag, but there was no stopping Peter Lack out in front. Lack went on to take the win after an impressive run from sixth on the starting grid, with Steven Johnson home in second and Andrew Liebke in third. Brent Kratzmann finished fourth and led Kevin Titman, Mitchell Gee, Luke Oldfield and Dale Shilleto past the chequered flag. Anthony Lambert failed to finish the event.

Clem Hoffmans and Brad Ayers shared the front row for the start of heat two, with Hoffmans getting the jump off the start and quickly settling into the race lead. Darren Jensen, filling in for Ben Hilder in the Q95 Motorguard Motorsport racer, tried a bold inside passing move on Ayers in an attempt to steal second, while Brandon Rawlings ran the highline. Rawlings managed to pull ahead of both Ayers and Jensen, with Mark Pholi quickly slipping underneath Jensen as they rounded turn four. Jensen soon found himself with Andrew Scheuerle right on his tail, and Donny Schatz quickly approaching. When Scheuerle dove under Jensen in turn two Schatz did not hesitate and quickly slipped straight underneath the pair before running around the outside of Pholi less than half a lap later. Brad Ayers was next in line, but Schatz was on a mission to get to the front and within half a lap Schatz had made his way past Ayers and was looking for a way past Brandon Rawlings, who in turn was trying to steal the lead from Hoffmans. As Rawlings ran the high line with Hoffmans on the bottom, Schatz raced straight through between the pair as the trio rounded turn three. It was a breath-taking move that had the fans captivated, but Rawlings fought back on the high line and was able to maintain the lead for a lap before Schatz slipped underneath and into the lead. Mid field Bryan Mann and Darren Jensen held nothing back as they argued over track position, while Brad Ayers did a magnificent job holding off Andrew Scheuerle. Donny Schatz went on to take the win ahead of Brandon Rawlings, Brad Ayers, Andrew Scheuerle, Clem Hoffmans, Bryan Mann, Mark Pholi, Darren Jensen, Darren Silcock and Kristy Bonsey.

Heat three started with Dale Shilleto and Darren Jensen from the front row, with Brad Ayers and Steven Johnson out of row two. Shilleto got a great start and quickly settled into the race lead, while Ayers challenged Jensen for second. Kratzmann raced up the inside of Johnson, Ayers and Jensen to settle into second as they raced through turn two, while Kevin Titman had a great run on the high side until a rapidly slowing Jensen caused him to loose ground and take evasive action. A mechanical issue on board the Q95 racer of Jensen saw him retire to the infield by the end of the first lap. Bryan Mann raced around the outside of Brad Ayers through turn two, with Donny Schatz getting past both Steven Johnson and Brad Ayers just a lap later. As Mann and Schatz began to close in on Kratzmann, Kratzmann himself was beginning to challenge Shilleto for the race lead. Kratzmann slipped underneath Shilleto as they rounded turn four, with Mann and Schatz close behind. Mann raced around the outside of Shilleto, while Schatz started to line up one of his signature straight-through-the-middle passes. Mann won the battle on the highline as Shilleto closed the gap in the middle, leaving the bottom wide open for Schatz. Without a moment of hesitation Schatz was on the low line and within half a lap he too had made his way past Shilleto. With only a few laps left to run Schatz set his sights on Mann, while Mann drove a faultless race, never giving Schatz the chance to get past. Brent Kratzmann though was out in front and while Mann and Schatz began closing the gap, there was no stopping Kratzmann, the Q4 racer taking the win ahead of Bryan Mann and Donny Schatz. Kevin Titman finished an impressive fourth and led Dale Shilleto, Steven Johnson, Anthony Lambert and Brad Ayers across the line. Darren Jensen did not finish the event.

The fourth and final heat event of the night started with Clem Hoffmans and Andrew Liebke from the front row. The first start was aborted with officials deeming Hoffmans to have jumped that start. Mitchell Gee was promoted to the front row for the restart, with Hoffmans relegated to the second row. Gee got the jump on the second start and quickly settled into the race lead, while Liebke held down second he was immediately forced to defend his position as Hoffmans, Andrew Scheuerle and Brandon Rawlings put the pressure on. Scheuerle spent several laps searching for a way past Hoffmans, while at the rear of the field Peter Lack and Luke Oldfield were trying to find their way towards the front. Oldfield ran the bottom, Lack the high side, as they approached the battle between Hoffmans (on the bottom) and Rawlings (on the top). Meanwhile Andrew Scheuerle was all over the back of Andrew Liebke, searching for a way through, eventually making the outside line work to his advantage and stealing second as they raced past the white flag. Mitchell Gee went on to take the win with Andrew Scheuerle in second and Andrew Liebke in third. Brandon Rawlings managed to get past Clem Hoffmans to finish fourth, with both Luke Oldfield and Peter Lack getting by Hoffmans in the closing stages of the race. Oldfield and Lack finished fifth and sixth respectively, with Clem Hoffmans crossing the line in seventh. Darren Silcock and Kristy Bonsey rounded out the finishers while Mark Pholi pulled out of the event with a flat right rear tyre before the end of the first lap.

Donny Schatz was leading the points battle going into the Dash event, and in the pre-dash draw Schatz managed to pull pole position for the six lap race. Peter Lack started along side Schatz for the event, and while Lack had a great run on the start, there was no stopping Schatz. Kevin Titman, who started from position three, had a brilliant run in the Dash, soon relieving Lack of second place and setting about chasing down Schatz. Bryan Mann and Andrew Scheuerle battled over the minor places, but there simply no stopping Schatz. Each of the Dash contenders knew there was a significant chance that should Schatz win the Dash he would, more than likely, accept the Kratzmann Challenge and invert the top fourteen starters for the A-Main event. Donny Schatz went on to take the win in the Dash event, leading Kevin Titman, Peter Lack, Bryan Mann, Andrew Scheuerle and Luke Oldfield across the line. Schatz, with the backing of the vocal Archerfield Speedway crowd, accepted the Kratzmann Challenge, inverting the top fourteen starters in the night’s A-main event, and increasing the race distance from 35 to 40 laps. Of particular importance to several local racers is that last night double points were on the line. The local points series in Brisbane sees a random marble drawn at drivers briefing for each of the SuperCheap Auto Sprintcar Track Championship rounds that determines if it will be a regular points night or a double points round. There will be two double points events across the season, with the random marble drawn by the winner of the previous round. Andrew Scheuerle has a clear lead in the series already, thanks largely to his extremely consistent run to remain undefeated in the first five rounds. For others, especially the likes of Peter Lack, Kevin Titman, Luke Oldfield and Brent Kratzmann, points are at a premium at the moment and any chance to potentially make up some ground on Scheuerle is an opportunity not to be missed.

Due to the fourteen-car inversion, Clem Hoffmans started the 40-lap A-Main event from pole position, with Mark Pholi alongside. Hoffmans got a brilliant start and quickly settled into the race lead, while Brad Ayers raced underneath Mark Pholi to secure second with Pholi in third and Andrew Liebke in fourth. Unfortunately chaos was unfolding behind them and while Mitchell Gee raced underneath Steven Johnson and Brandon Rawlings as they rounded turn two, the race was quickly brought to a very sudden stop. Luke Oldfield and Brent Kratzmann had come together exiting turn two, sending Kratzmann into the wall and starting a chain reaction of chaos that left several drivers nowhere to go. Peter Lack tried to spin the Q58 racer enough to avoid the Q4 car of Kratzmann, but was unable to avoid contact and subsequently tipped the Q58 racer gently on its side. Kevin Titman got caught in the unfolding drama, his right rear clipping the front of the Q58 racer of Lack as Lack tried to avoid Kratzmann. Titman was nothing but a passenger as the Q59 racer rolled halfway down the back straight. Anthony Lambert was also involved. There was a lengthy delay as officials, crash crew and the crews of the cars involved worked feverishly to repair the damages and affix new wings. All drivers walked away from the wreck and in fact all except Kratzmann were able to restart the event. Luke Oldfield was relegated to the rear of the field for the restart.

A full restart followed, with Clem Hoffmans still from pole position and Mark Pholi alongside. Hoffmans again got a remarkable start and led the field into the first corner, already beginning to open a small, but valuable lead, as the rest of the field argued over the minor places. Andrew Scheuerle, Bryan Mann, Mitchell Gee and Donny Schatz all began working their way forward from deep in the field, while from the rear of the field Luke Oldfield, Peter Lack and Kevin Titman were trying to make up lost ground. The race was soon brought under caution though as Kevin Titman pulled out of the event having completed just five laps.

Clem Hoffmans led the restart with 35 laps still to run and Mark Pholi and Andrew Liebke right on his tail. Bryan Mann was up to sixth, after initially starting from position eleven, while Donny Schatz had already made his way from fourteenth to ninth. Mann took to the highline the moment the lights went green, quickly making his way past Steven Johnson and Brad Ayers, while Mitchell Gee raced underneath Andrew Scheuerle, with Donny Schatz right on his tail. Schatz tried to run around the outside of Scheuerle, but Scheuerle held off, racing up the inside of Gee as he searched for a way past Steven Johnson and Brad Ayers, who were embroiled in their own battle mid-field. Schatz slipped straight between Scheuerle and Gee as they raced through turn one, before having a look underneath Ayers and Johnson. Within a lap he had moved in front of Johnson, while Ayers managed to hold him for a couple more laps. Mark Pholi was challenging Clem Hoffmans for the lead, as Bryan Mann began putting all kinds of pressure on Andrew Liebke as they raced for third. Mann ran wide in turn four, allowing Schatz to slip through before stealing the position back half a lap later when he slipped underneath both Schatz and Liebke. Schatz made it around Liebke a lap later, just as Mann stole second from Pholi and set his sights on Hoffmans in the race lead. Lapped traffic was well and truly in play and Hoffmans drove exceptionally well, while Mann searched patiently for the right opportunity, all the while knowing Schatz was not far behind. Mann soon raced around the outside of Hoffmans, relieving him of the lead he had held for nineteen solid laps, with Schatz following just half a lap later. The battle for the lead between Mann and Schatz was really starting to heat up, with Schatz working the low line and Mann fighting back hard on the high side, the pair running either side of the lapped car of Kristy Bonsey through turn one. Schatz emerged in front but the race was swiftly brought under caution for the spun car of Andrew Liebke in turn one.

As a full lap had not been competed, Bryan Mann led the restart from Donny Schatz, Clem Hoffmans, Mark Pholi and Mitchell Gee. Mann got a great start and managed to get a small lead on Schatz, and while Schatz ran the high line trying to reel him in, behind them Andrew Scheuerle capitalised on slight contact between Pholi and Gee and ran around the outside of several cars. Gee was able to maintain his position but Scheuerle was now up to fifth. A yellow light stoppage barely a lap later for the spun car of Brad Ayers in turn four brought the race under caution once more.

Bryan Mann again led the restart and with seventeen laps left to run, and Donny Schatz right on his tail, it was going to be tough, and an exciting run to the chequered flag. Mann got another great start and seemed to have a tight hold on the lead, but it was further back in the field where the action was unfolding. Andrew Scheuerle, Mark Pholi, Luke Oldfield and Steven Johnson had a great battle over the minor places, with both Oldfield and Scheuerle moving forward and Peter Lack coming through to battle with Steven Johnson. Unfortunately contact between Johnson and Lack brought the race to a stop as Lack flipped the Q58 racer in turn two. Lack was not hurt in the crash but was disappointingly out of the race. Johnson was relegated to the rear of the field for his involvement in the accident.

Bryan Mann continued to lead with fourteen laps left to run and Donny Schatz still on his tail. Mann and his crew certainly had the car set up beautifully and Mann drove faultlessly, getting another great start when the lights went green. Schatz was all over the back of Mann, searching high and low and waiting for Mann to make the smallest mistake. Only Mann didn’t make a mistake. His downfall came in lapped traffic, when he was attempting an outside passing move on a lapped car. Schatz saw the tiniest of openings and somehow managed to slip straight between Mann and the lapped car, to steal the lead with just seven laps left to run. Schatz went on to take the win ahead of Bryan Mann and Mitchell Gee, who had a spectacular run in the Consol Racing #41 racer. Luke Oldfield had a great run from the rear of the field to finish fourth while the ever-consistent Andrew Scheuerle rounded out the top five. Clem Hoffmans faded to sixth by the fall of the chequered flag, but he led more laps of the A-Main than anyone else and put in one of his best performances this season. Mark Pholi crossed the line in a very respectable seventh and led Brandon Rawlings, Darren Silcock, Andrew Liebke, Darren Jensen, Brad Ayers, Anthony Lambert, Dale Shilleto and Steven Johnson across the line. Peter Lack, Kristy Bonsey, Kevin Titman and Brent Kratzmann, who have all had a reasonably luckless season so far, all failed to finish the event.

It sure was an exciting end to 2015. Sprintcars Queensland will return to AusDeck Patios Archerfield Speedway in the New Year, Friday 01 January 2016 for Round 8 of the SuperCheap Auto Sprintcar Track Championship. It will be a massive weekend for drivers, teams and race fans, with Sprintcars then returning to AusDeck Patios Archerfield Speedway again on Saturday 02 January 2016 for Round 9 of the SuperCheap Auto Sprintcar Track Championship. Donny Schatz will be back and looking to continue his dominance, while your regular Sprintcars Queensland stars will be seeking to break his winning streak. You will seriously not want to miss this one so get yourself out to AusDeck Patios Archerfield Speedway next weekend and see all the racing action for your self! And don't forget to pop down to the pits after the race meeting is finished - grab an autograph, a photo or two, see the cars up close and meet the drivers who put on the show. From all of us at Sprintcars Queensland we hope you have had a great 2015 and we hope to see you trackside in the New Year!