Round one of the East Coast Logistics Sprintcar Series, which also doubled as night two of the Clay Per View Easter Triple Challenge, was held at AusDeck Patios Archerfield Speedway last night with an impressive thirty-four car star-studded field of Sprintcars. In the end it was Mother Nature who took the win, unleashing a load of heavy and persistent rain over the venue just after 8pm at the conclusion of the heat race events. Luke Oldfield was the quickest in qualifying, while heat race wins went to Dave Whell (x2), Darren Jensen (x2), Robbie Farr and David Murcott.

Qualifying got under way with nine groups hitting the track for five laps each, with Luke Oldfield topping the leader board at the end of the qualifying session with a quick 11.818 recorded lap. Peter Lack was second quickest with an 11.879 second lap, just 0.061 seconds slower than Oldfield. Kevin Titman started his night as third quickest around the tight Archerfield Speedway circuit, stopping the clock at 11.924 second while Robbie Farr, who stopped the clock at 11.932 seconds, was the only other car to dip into the 11-second bracket. Bryan Mann completed the fastest five, recorded a lap time of 12.003, while David Murcott was just five thousandths of a second slower, stopping the clock at 12.008 seconds. Just outside the top ten Anthony Lambert beat Dan Murray but just one thousandth of a second, while the top twenty-three cars were separated by less than one second. In fact, less than two second separated the entire 34-car field, proving just how closely matched the competition would be. We were certainly set for a thrilling night of Sprintcar racing action, albeit with one eye on the dark clouds and lightening rolling in.

Heat one started with Dave Whell and Steve Greer from the front row, with Dan Murray and Ben Hilder right behind them. Whell got a brilliant start on the pole line, quickly settling into the race lead while Murray swiftly followed Whell to secure second before they hit turn one. David Murcott raced up the inside of Greer in turn one, with both Ben Hilder and Luke Oldfield slipping through when Greer ran too wide in turn two. Greer fought back hard on the inside of Oldfield as they raced through turn three, the immaculately presented Q84 racer forcing Oldfield to work hard on the high side to maintain his advantage. Oldfield managed to secure the position as they raced down the main straight, before having a big look up the inside of Hilder through turns one and two. Hilder drove a great race but a few laps later bounced through rut in turn two and opened the door just enough for Oldfield to slip through on the bottom. Oldfield set about closing the gap to Murcott while further back in the field Kristy Bonsey was having a great race with Rob Hamilton and Dylan Menz until a mechanical problem forced her to the infield. Murcott put all kinds of pressure on Dan Murray, while Luke Oldfield closed in behind them, making it an intense three-way battle for the final few laps of the race. Dave Whell was unchallenged for the lead and went on to take the win, while Dan Murray drove a smooth and consistent race to finish second ahead of David Murcott and Luke Oldfield. Ben Hilder crossed the line in fifth and led Steve Greer, Clem Hoffmans, Rob Hamilton, Luca Cox and Dylan Menz across the line. Kristy Bonsey did not finish the event.

Darren Jensen and Toby Bell-Bowen led the start of the second heat, with Anthony Lambert and Andrew Scheuerle from the second row. While Jensen and Bell-Bowen raced side-by-side across the line it was Jensen who managed to secure the lead before the entered turn one. Scheuerle tried to run underneath Bell-Bowen as they navigated turns one and two, while Peter Lack and Lachlan McHugh took to the high line, with Lack running around the outside of Bryan Mann, Anthony Lambert and Andrew Scheuerle in less than half a lap before turning his attention to Bell-Bowen. Bryan Mann was beginning to try to make his way forward, searching for a way under Anthony Lambert, with Simon Jupe right on his tail, but with Lachlan McHugh now working the low line. McHugh raced under Jupe as they raced down the back straight before slipping under Mann was they rounded turn two and setting his sights on Lambert. Unfortunately the race was soon brought under caution when Michael Saller got too side-ways in turn three and inverted the N56 racer before landing back on its wheels. Saller was not hurt in the incident but was unable to continue the race. Darren Jensen led the restart from Toby Bell-Bowen and Peter Lack with eight laps still to run. Mid-field McHugh was looking for a way under Lambert, when Mann took to the highline to try and find a way around them both, only for McHugh to switch to the high side as they headed down the back straight, finally managing to race around the outside of Lambert half a lap later. Mann soon saw his opening and slid beautifully underneath Lambert in turn four, while closer to the front of the field Andrew Scheuerle was putting all kinds of pressure on the back of Peter Lack. Scheuerle was relentless but Lack was too consistent and refused to give Scheuerle even the smallest of opportunities. Darren Jensen went on to take the win, with a comfortable margin over second placed Toby Bell-Bowen. Peter Lack finished third, having pulled a fraction ahead of Scheuerle in the final couple of laps of the race, while Scheuerle crossed the line in fourth and led Lachlan McHugh, Bryan Mann, Anthony Lambert, Jake Tranter and Anthony Vanderreyden across the line. Simon Jupe and Michael Saller both failed to finish the event.

Dale Shilleto and Brent Kratzmann shared the front row for the start of heat three, with hard chargers Richard Morgan and Mitchell Gee right behind them. Shilleto and Kratzmann raced side-by-side towards turn one but it was Kratzmann on the high side who managed to secure the race lead. From position six on the starting grid Kevin Titman took to the high side and while Robbie Farr was trying to get underneath Richard Morgan in turn one, Titman seemingly effortlessly ran around the outside of both Farr and Morgan before setting his sights on Gee while behind him Morgan managed to hold off Farr for half a lap before Farr slipped through underneath as they rounded turn three, just as Brandon Rawlings nearly came to grief against the turn three wall. Rawlings recovered well and set about making up lost ground as he searched for a way past Brendan Scorgie and Scott Doyle, while closer to the front of the field Shilleto was close on the tail of Kratzmann, with both Mitchell Gee and Kevin Titman all over the back of the Q91 racer of Shilleto. Gee attempted an inside passing move on Shilleto as they came out of turn four, but contact between the pair ended with Gee inverting the Q41 racer coming out of the turn. Gee walked away from the wreck unscathed but rather disappointed and while he was unable to continue the race he would make it back trackside for the second round of heats. Brent Kratzmann led the restart with Kevin Titman now up to second and Robbie Farr in third with eight laps left to run. Brandon Rawlings tried to find a way past Gary Jacobson, while Mark Pholi and Richard Morgan agued over positions mid-field, but it was the action at the front of the field that captivated the crowd. Farr was right on the tail of Titman, searching for the right opportunity, and while Kratzmann had a very small margin over his rivals Titman and Farr edged ever closer. Titman was looking for a way past the inside of Kratzmann, who has been having absolutely no luck at all this season, but contact between the pair as they entered turn four, where the right front of the Q59 car of Titman came together with the left rear of the Q4 of Kratzmann, saw both cars flip into turn four. Farr only narrowly managed to avoid the carnage and while both Brent and Kevin were able to walk away from the wreck, neither was able to restart the event, with Kratzmann out of the competition for the rest of the night. Robbie Farr inherited the race lead and led the rest of the field to the green, with Richard Morgan, Mark Pholi and Brandon Rawlings set to argue over the minor places with four laps left to run. Rawlings had a brilliant run and while initially Morgan and Pholi seemed to have the better of him, in the final two laps Rawlings stepped up his game and raced under Pholi as they headed down the main straight with one lap left to run, before sliding beautifully underneath Morgan as they exited turn four for the final time. Robbie Farr took the win with Brandon Rawlings an impressive second ahead of Richard Morgan, Mark Pholi, Garry Jacobson, Scott Doyle, Brendan Scorgie and Dale Shilleto. Brent Kratzmann, Kevin Titman and Mitchell Gee all failed to finish a very eventful heat three.

Garry Jacobson and Darren Jensen shared the front row for the start of heat four, and while Jacobson got a great start and led the way into turn one, Jensen was quick to race around the high side to secure the lead by the time they exited turn two. The race was soon brought under caution when Luca Cox spun to a stop high on the track entering turn four, with Cox restarting at the rear of he field and Jensen leading them around to take the green once more. Jensen got a brilliant start while the rest of the field got caught behind Jacobson who was a little slower off the mark, with Andrew Scheuerle making short work of racing under the Q76 racer the moment they were past the cone. Robbie Farr followed half a lap later, with Jacobson then getting a fraction too sideways coming out of turn four. Anthony Lambert and Rob Hamilton both had nowhere to go, with Lambert collecting the back of Jacobson and Hamilton getting into the left rear of Lambert. Jacobson was able to keep going, while Lambert and Hamilton became stranded on the track and brought the race under caution. They both restarted at the rear of the field while Darren Jensen led Jacobson, Scheuerle and Farr to the green once more. Jensen again got a brilliant start and quickly opened a comfortable margin over his rivals while Scheuerle and Farr again quickly found their way under Jacobson, with Ben Hilder following a couple of laps later. The race was once again brought under caution when Luca Cox spun on the exit of turn three, while Rob Hamilton had a spin in turn two. Cox was relegated to the infield as it was his second spin of the race, while Hamilton restarted at the rear with six laps to run and Jensen still leading from Scheuerle and Farr. Scott Doyle and Anthony Lambert had a great race while on the tail of Jacobson, but it was Darren Jensen who went on the take the win, his second of the night, with Andrew Scheuerle and Robbie Farr filling the minor places. Ben Hilder crossed the line in fourth and led Scott Doyle, Garry Jacobson, Rob Hamilton and Anthony Vanderreyden across the line. Anthony Lambert was disqualified from the event while Luca Cox did not finish the 10-lap journey.

Mark Pholi started heat five from pole position with Dave Whell alongside and Toby Bell-Bowen and Richard Morgan in the second row. Whell got a great start on the high side and quickly secured the lead, while Bell-Bowen tried the race under Pholi entering turn one. Pholi held on to second while Bell-Bowen soon found both Richard Morgan and Luke Oldfield all over his rear pusher. Bryan Mann was having a big look up the inside of Oldfield in turn four when uncharacteristically got a little too sideways coming out of the turn and spun the Q16 to a stop bringing the race under caution. Whell led the restart from Pholi and Bell-Bowen, with Pholi having a big look under Whell on the first green lap. Whell managed to hang on to the lead, with Pholi in second and Bell-Bowen under increasing pressure from Morgan. Morgan slipped under Bell-Bowen as they raced through turn four, with Oldfield also ready to strike. Mann began working his way closer to the front of the field, while Brendan Scorgie and Brandon Rawlings had a great race that saw positions change several times. Bell-Bowen and Oldfield put on a great show, with Oldfield eventually racing spectacularly around the outside of the N7 racer, while Brandon Rawlings again made a last minute dash towards the chequered flag, racing under Brandon Scorgie in the final corner and drag-racing Michael Saller down the main straight and across the line. Dave Whell took the win, his second heat race victory of the night, with Richard Morgan and Mark Pholi crossing the line side-by-side to claim second and third. Morgan managed to secure second by just 0.228 seconds. Luke Oldfield crossed the line in fourth ahead of Toby Bell-Bowen and Bryan Mann, while Michael Saller beat Brandon Rawlings by just seven hundredths of a second. Brendan Scorgie and Clem Hoffmans rounded out the finishers.

The sixth heat of the night started with Mitchell Gee from pole position, Steve Greer alongside, and Kevin Titman and Dan Murray from the second row. Gee got a great start and quickly secured the lead, with Titman quick to follow to settle into second. Dave Murcott had a look underneath Greer as he tried to make his way into third, while behind him Peter Lack was trying to slip under Dan Murray, just as Lachlan McHugh ran around the outside. Unfortunately the race was brought under caution when Murray ended up spun in the middle of turn two. A full race restart followed with Gee again securing the lead and Titman easily slipping into second, this time Murcott was able to get under Greer and had third secured before entering turn two, while Peter Lack took to the high line and had a bold and exciting run around the top to make his way in front of both Greer and Murcott. Lack found himself of the tail of Titman while Lachlan McHugh tried to follow on the high side. Murcott moved up track, opening the door for a opportunistic Greer who swiftly raced up the inside of Murcott as they raced down the main straight, Murcott was quick to fight back, moving back to the bottom and sliding beautifully under Greer as they navigated turn four almost a lap later. Dale Shilleto and Dylan Menz became tangled in turn three, bringing the race under caution, with Dan Murray spinning the Q44 racer to avoid becoming involved. Mitchell Gee led the restart with eight laps left to run and Kevin Titman and Peter Lack right on his tail. Mid field Lachlan McHugh was working the high line in spectacular fashion trying to get around Steve Greer, but all eyes were on the leading quartet of Gee, Titman, Lack and Murcott as the battle really started to heat up, and light rain began to fall. Lack had a big look on the inside of Titman through turn four, with Titman hanging on to second and setting out after Gee, while Murcott raced under Lack entering turn one, only for Lack to fight back on the high side through turn two to regain third. Titman was running around the outside of Gee as they exited turn two and raced down the back straight, stealing the lead, while Lack, with Murcott still looking for way through on the inside, was running the high side trying to get around Gee. It took a couple of laps but Lack finally managed to get in front of the Q41 racer, both drivers showing each other a lot of respect, and set about closing the gap to Titman. Lachlan McHugh had now caught the back of David Murcott and was putting a serious challenge to the former Australian Champion, just as Lack stepped up the pressure on Titman. Lack was absolutely relentless, searching high and low for several laps before diving under Titman as they raced into turn one. Unfortunately for Titman he ended up slamming the turn two wall hard and inverting the Q59 racer for the second time in as many heat events. Titman walked away from the wreck unscathed but more than a little disappointed. With the rain beginning to fall heavier the track was becoming quite slippery, but with just two laps left to run officials wanted to try and finish the event. Lack was penalised two positions for being too far on the infield when he attempted to pass Titman, leaving Gee and Murcott to lead the field away. With all drivers struggling to maintain control on a very wet track, Murcott was able to slip under Gee and steal the lead before going on to take the win. Mitchell Gee crossed the line in second ahead of Peter Lack, Lachlan McHugh, Steve Greer, Dale Shilleto and Dan Murray. Kevin Titman, Dylan Menz and Kristy Bonsey all failed to finish the event.

Unfortunately the rain falling across the venue only got heavier and there was no choice but to abandon the remainder of the meeting. Sprintcars Queensland will return to Hi-Tech Oils Toowoomba Speedway tonight for the final round of the Clay Per View Easter Triple Challenge with Robbie Farr currently leading the points chase from Luke Oldfield, David Murcott, Andrew Scheuerle, Bryan Mann, Darren Jensen, Lachlan McHugh, Mitchell Gee and Mark Pholi. Get yourself trackside at Hi-Tech Oils Toowoomba Speedway to see all the racing for yourself (keep an eye on their Facebook page for weather updates) or tune in to Clay Per View if you cannot make it trackside tonight. From everyone here at Sprintcars Queensland we wish you all a very happy and safe Easter full of fun, family, chocolate and Sprintcars of course!