Sprintcars Queensland Sprintcars Qld
New Page 1

Kicking Up The Dirt - East Coast Logistics Series - Round 3
Joanne White posted Sunday May 8, 2016.

It was an action packed affair at AusDeck Patios Archerfield Speedway last night for Round Three of the East Coast Logistics Crispy Memorial Sprintcar Series. An incident eighteen laps into the 30-lap A-Main event saw almost half the field involved, including then race leader David Murcott, as well as Luke Oldfield and Andrew Scheuerle, who were running second and third at the time. Mitchell Gee, Mark Pholi, Bryan Mann and Peter Milnes were also involved, with Brandon Rawlings getting hard on the brakes in a desperate effort to avoid contact. Gee inverted the Q41 racer during the chaos, and while he was uninjured he was out of the race. Everyone else involved was able to restart, albeit from the rear, with just twelve laps left to run. Brent Aprile, who had been running a strong fourth at the time of the incident, inherited the race lead and went on to take the win, while Lachlan McHugh stole second from Brandon Rawlings in the final corner. Kevin Titman had a brilliant run to chequered flag, racing past both Brent Kratzmann and Brandon Rawlings on the final lap to steal third moments before crossing the line. Rawlings finished fourth with Kratzmann rounding out the top five after an impressive, and almost race-long, battle with McHugh.

Qualifying got underway with twenty-seven cars hitting the track for some hot laps. Mark Pholi, in the last group to time trial, managed to secure quick time, topping the leader board with a 11.876 second lap. Andrew Scheuerle and Luke Oldfield were second and third quickest respectively, with Kevin Titman in fourth and the only other car to make it into the eleven-second bracket. Bryan Mann competed the fastest five with Victorian Peter Milnes in sixth, while Lachlan McHugh and Brent Aprile recorded identical times on 12.101 seconds. Ben Hilder was just three thousandths of a second quicker than Brent Kratzmann, with the pair rounding out the top ten qualifiers. Mitchell Gee beat Clem Hoffmans by just two thousandths of a second, while Darren Silcock missed the top eighteen inversion by just six thousandths of a second.

Heat one started with Clem Hoffmans and Brandon Rawlings from the front row with Callum Walker and Lachlan McHugh right behind. Rawlings got a great start and quickly secured the race lead, while McHugh and Mark Pholi were quick to follow on the high side, the pair quickly racing around the outside of Hoffmans to move into second and third by the time the race was just half a lap old. McHugh held second while Pholi stayed right on his tail, searching for the right opportunity to make his move, while further back in the field, Tony Michell, making his return to Sprintcar racing, pulled out of the race with mechanical issues. Unfortunately for Brad Ayers, who endured main wing issues in qualifying that severely impacted his time, things quickly went from bad to worse when he inverted the NQ11 racer in turn three and brought the race to a stop. Ayers was not hurt in the crash but would unfortunately be out for the rest of the night. Rawlings led the restart from McHugh and Pholi and while Rawlings again got a great start, McHugh was fast, determined and focused and pushed hard all the way to the line. McHugh, while still a rookie in the Sprintcar division, was brilliant as soon as the lights went green, and spent the last four laps of the race all over the back of Rawlings, searching high and low for a way into the race lead. To his credit though Brandon Rawlings drove a strong and consistent race, and managed to go on to take the win ahead of Lachlan McHugh and Mark Pholi. Clem Hoffmans crossed the line in fourth and led Peter Milnes, Callum Walker and Darren Silcock across the line. Brad Ayers and Tony Michell failed to finish the event.

Mitchell Gee started from pole position with Nelson Reddacliff alongside and David Murcott and Brent Aprile right behind. Gee got a great start from the front row and quickly secured the race lead, while Reddacliff got a little out of shape after contact with the right rear of Gee. Murcott quickly raced up the inside of Reddacliff, following Gee into turn one, while Aprile tried to run between Murcott and Reddacliff as they approached turn one, only to get caught up and lose several positions. Bryan Mann and Simon Jupe, who had just managed to race past Andrew Scheuerle, set their sights on Reddacliff, while Aprile began to try and climb his way back through the field. Mann quickly made his way past Reddacliff while Scheuerle finally found his way back in front of Jupe. Scheuerle set about closing the gap to Reddacliff, while Aprile and Jupe battled for the minor places. Within a few laps Scheuerle was on the tail of Reddacliff, searching the high line for a way past, while Reddacliff tried to maintain his position. A massive wheel stand from Reddacliff as the pair approached turn one was all the invitation Scheuerle needed to race around the outside just a few laps from home. Mitchell Gee went on to take the win with David Murcott in second and Bryan Mann home in third. Andrew Scheuerle was fourth across the line and led Nelson Reddacliff, Simon Jupe, Brent Aprile, Dave Fanning and Anthony Vanderreyden across the line.

Richard Morgan and Andrew Marks shared the front row for the start of heat three, with Morgan getting the better start and quickly securing the race lead. Marks got a little out of shape heading down the main straight, with Ben Hilder and Luke Oldfield caught up behind. Brent Kratzmann needed no further invitation and quickly raced up the inside of Marks and secured second behind Morgan before they hit turn one, though seemed to slow a little in turn two, allowing Marks, Hilder and Kevin Titman to get close enough to challenge for position. Hilder, from the high-side above Titman surged ahead of Titman, and under Marks before having a brief look underneath Kratzmann on the exit of turn two. Kratzmann had second secured but Marks was fighting back on the high side as he and Hilder fought over third. The pair raced side-by-side for almost a lap before Hilder secured the advantage when Marks ran a fraction too wide in turn two, which also allowed Luke Oldfield to slip underneath. Unfortunately just a couple of laps later Marks ran too wide in turn three, clipped the wall and inverted the Q96 racer out of the race. Marks was not hurt in the crash but there was a lot of work to be done to repair the car before the second round of heats. Richard Morgan led the restart from Brent Kratzmann and Ben Hilder, but when the lights went green it was hard to ignore Luke Oldfield as he immediately took to the high line and raced around Hilder before putting the challenge to Kratzmann. Kratzmann was smooth and consistent, running a faultless race and keeping a relentless Oldfield behind him, while further back in the field Kevin Titman was all over the back of Ben Hilder as he tried to make his way closer to the front. Richard Morgan went on to take the win ahead of Brent Kratzmann and Luke Oldfield, with Ben Hilder in fourth after successfully holding of Kevin Titman in the closing laps of the race. Titman crossed the line in fifth and led Kristy Bonsey, James Grady and Brandon Burrows home. Andrew Marks did not finish the event.

Simon Jupe started heat four from pole position with Richard Morgan alongside and Brent Aprile and Peter Milnes right behind. Jupe and Morgan raced wheel-to-wheel into turn one but it was Morgan who was able to secure the lead. Kevin Titman, from position five on the starting grid, tried a bold run up the inside of Aprile and Milnes as they entered turn one for the first time, but Aprile emerged in front with Milnes close behind and Titman then finding himself under attack from both Darren Silcock and Mark Pholi. Titman made his way past Milnes at the end of the first lap, while Aprile moved past Jupe to secure second. Titman began challenging Jupe for third but unfortunately spun the Q59 exiting turn three and brought the race under caution. Titman restarted from the rear while Richard Morgan and Brent Aprile led the restart with seven laps left to run. Morgan and Aprile quickly pulled away from the rest of the field, opening a sizable margin over their rivals and putting on a spectacular show for race fans. Morgan led strongly but Aprile was all over the back of the Q54 racer, putting all kinds of pressure on the leader and searching for a way past. It was breath-taking to watch, as Aprile skilfully planned his move before executing a beautiful outside passing move for the lead as they rounded turn two. Simon Jupe and Peter Milnes had a brilliant battle for the minor places but there was no stopping Aprile in the race lead. Brent Aprile went on to take the win with Richard Morgan crossing the line in second ahead of Simon Jupe. Peter Milnes was fourth past the chequered flag, leading Mark Pholi, Kevin Titman, Dave Fanning, Brandon Burrows and Darren Silcock home.

Heat five started with Clem Hoffmans and Mitchell Gee from the front row and a tough field behind including Brandon Rawlings, Brent Kratzmann, Lachlan McHugh, and Andrew Scheuerle. Hoffmans and Gee drag raced side-by-side into turn one, with Gee on the high side getting a great run on the top and securing the lead by the time they entered turn two. Kratzmann was brilliant on the top as they came out of turn one, carrying impressive momentum around the outside of Hoffmans in turn two to steal second with barely half a lap completed. Kratzmann set his sights on Gee while further back in the field Scheuerle was attempting to run around the outside of Rawlings and looking for a way past Hoffmans. Rawlings tried to fight back but was quickly forced on the defensive from a very hard charging McHugh, and once McHugh had raced under Rawlings he set his sights firmly on Scheuerle and Hoffmans. Scheuerle eventually made his way under Hoffmans, with McHugh and Rawlings following just half a lap later. Scheuerle set about closing the gap to Kratzmann in second and while it took a number of laps, the gap eventually got increasingly narrower. Coming out of the final corner of the last lap of the race Kratzmann drifted a fraction too high, loosing just enough speed to give Scheuerle the only invitation he needed to steal second only moments before the line. Mitchell Gee took the win with Andrew Scheuerle officially second ahead of Brent Kratzmann in third. Lachlan McHugh crossed the line in fourth and led Brandon Rawlings, Clem Hoffmans, Kristy Bonsey and Anthony Vanderreyden across the line. Tony Michell did not finish the race, mechanical problems still plaguing the NQ12 racer.

The sixth and final heat of the night saw Nelson Reddacliff from pole position with Callum Walker alongside and Ben Hilder and David Murcott from the second row. Walker got a great start from the outside of the front row, with both David Murcott and Luke Oldfield quick to follow. Bryan Mann ran the high line looking for a way around Reddacliff, eventually getting the job done in turn two of the second lap, just moments before Callum Walker, who had already surrendered the lead to Murcott, spun to a stop in turn four and brought the race under caution. Murcott lead the restart from Oldfield, Mann and Reddacliff with nine laps left to run. Mann put a serious challenge to Oldfield on the start, while Ben Hidler took to the high line as he searched for a way around Reddacliff. Hilder spent a lap on the outside of Reddacliff before securing the advantage and setting out after Mann and Oldfield, but the race was again brought under caution when Reddacliff spun to a stop in turn three. Murcott led the restart from Oldfield and Mann, this time with seven laps left to run. Oldfield and Mann initially challenged Murcott for position but it was not long before Murcott managed to pull away and create a small but comfortable margin over his rivals. David Murcott went on to take the win with Luke Oldfield officially second ahead of Bryan Mann, Ben Hilder, Callum Walker, James Grady and Nelson Reddacliff. Andrew Marks and his crew had worked feverishly in the pit area to repair his car after the earlier crash and while Marks made it trackside for heat six he pulled out of the event before taking the green with an engine problem on board the Q96 racer.

Eight cars contested the Dash event with Andrew Scheuerle and Luke Oldfield to share the front row for the start of the six-lap affair. Scheuerle got the initial jump on the start but Oldfield was quick to fight back on the high side and managed to secure the race lead by the time they exited turn two. Scheuerle settled into second but immediately came under fire from David Murcott, while at the rear of the field it was a close four-way battle between Mitchell Gee, Brent Aprile, Richard Morgan and Brandon Rawlings. Gee soon broke free and found a way past Mark Pholi, with Pholi then coming under pressure from Brent Aprile. Richard Morgan had a brilliant drive on the bottom, challenging Aprile for position, whilst also looking for a way underneath Pholi, the trio holding nothing back as they put on a show for race fans. Meanwhile the battle between Scheuerle and Murcott was really heating up, the pair racing two-abreast as they argued over second. Luke Oldfield went on to take the win ahead of David Murcott, Andrew Scheuerle, Mitchell Gee, Mark Pholi, Brent Aprile, Richard Morgan and Brandon Rawlings.

Eleven cars lined up for the start of the B-Main event, with Callum Walker and Nelson Reddacliff from the front row and Clem Hoffmans and Simon Jupe out of the row two. With only the top four finishers to transfer to the back of the A-Main event, it was sure to be an exciting event with Walker and Reddacliff racing side-by-side into the first corner. Reddacliff had more momentum on the high side and quickly secured the race lead, opening a small margin over the rest of the field while Jupe challenged Walker for second. James Grady held down fourth but Clem Hoffmans and Dave Fanning were on the move and searching for a way into the top four. The race was soon brought under caution though when race leader Reddacliff spun the Q85 racer in turn four, handing control of the race to Walker with twelve laps left to run. Walker led the restart from Jupe and Grady with Dave Fanning now in the final transfer position. Fanning was all over the back of Grady, with Grady having a great run in the Q40 car, holding Fanning off for a number of laps before Fanning was able to find his way past on the inside of Grady as they raced down the back straight a few laps from home. One more yellow light stoppage just two laps from the chequered flag, this time for the spun car of Clem Hoffmans in turn four, and we were left with a two lap dash to the finish. Callum Walker went on to take the win ahead of Simon Jupe and Dave Fanning, while James Grady hung on to secure fourth and the final transfer to the A-Main. Kristy Bonsey came on strong in the later half of the B-main, falling just short of a transfer and finishing the event in fifth, leading Darren Silcock, Nelson Reddacliff, Clem Hoffmans and Brandon Burrows across the line. Anthony Vanderreyden and Tony Michell both failed to finish the event.

The thirty-lap A-Main event was always going to be a thrilling and action packed affair, but little did anyone know just how it was going to unfold. It started with Luke Oldfield and David Murcott from the front row, with a big field rich in talent behind. Oldfield got the best start off the line but Murcott had the momentum on the top side to secure the race lead before they hit turn one, with Oldfield forced to settle for second ahead of Mitchell Gee in third. Brent Aprile tried to run around the outside of Andrew Scheuerle in turn two, only for Scheuerle to fight back on the low side and make his way underneath Gee as they exited turn two, leaving Aprile to try and find his own way in front of Gee in the Q41 racer. Mark Pholi soon joined the battle between Aprile and Gee, while mid-field Bryan Mann started challenging Brandon Rawlings and Richard Morgan for position, and Brent Kratzmann and Lachlan McHugh argued over minor places with Kevin Titman on their tail. Mann ran a fraction too wide in turn four, opening the door on the bottom for Kratzmann to have a big look. Unfortunately for Kratzmann his momentum was slowed by Rawlings and Morgan in front, while Mann charged back hard on the high side to make his way in front of both Kratzmann and Morgan. Kratzmann slipped under Morgan to advance one position closer to the front, leaving Morgan to try and defend his position from a hard-charging McHugh. It took McHugh a few laps but he eventually found his way in front of Morgan, before spending a couple of laps closing the gap to Kratzmann and once again challenging him for position. Meanwhile Bryan Mann and Brandon Rawlings were holding nothing back, the pair exchanging positions several times as they argued over the minor positions. Rawlings soon secured the advantage while Mann found himself with both Kratzmann and McHugh right on his tail. In fact, Kratzmann and McHugh had a brilliant battle unfolding, the pair holding nothing back in a thrilling battle that saw them exchange position several times in the space of only a few laps, sliding under each other and really putting on a breath-taking show for the fans on the hill. Meanwhile, the leaders were entering lapped traffic, and with that traffic now in play, both Oldfield and Scheuerle were closing in on Murcott and the race lead. The leading trio weaved their way seemingly effortlessly through lapped traffic, with Scheuerle getting close enough to Oldfield to attempt a bold inside passing move through turn four, only for Oldfield to fight back on the high side. But Scheuerle was relentless and kept the pressure up, having another look a few laps later only for Oldfield to again charge ahead on the high side before ducking to the bottom and trying to slip underneath a couple of lapped cars. Murcott was on the high side and running around lapped cars with Oldfield, Scheuerle and Aprile in hot pursuit. Oldfield got a great run of momentum coming out of turn two and attempted inside passing move on Murcott for the race lead as they navigated turn three. Contact between pair saw both spin to a stop high on the track while the chaos that unfolded behind involved five other cars, including Scheuerle, Gee, Mann, Mark Pholi and Peter Milnes. Brandon Rawlings hit the brakes hard in an effort to avoid contact with any of the stricken cars in front of him that were blocking the track, while his team-mate Mitchell Gee ended up inverting the Q41 car after contact with another competitor, bringing the race to a complete stop. Gee walked away from the crash but he was unable to take part in the restart, while all other cars involved restarted from the rear of the field.

Brent Aprile, who had been running a very solid fourth before the stoppage inherited the race lead, with Brandon Rawlings second and Brent Kratzmann third with Lachlan McHugh and Kevin Titman now the top five with twelve laps left to run. Aprile got a brilliant start when the lights went green, with Rawlings settling into a comfortable second, but the battle between Kratzmann and McHugh resumed right where it left off, with both drivers putting on a spectacular show, only to be joined in battle by Kevin Titman who briefly stuck his nose under both Kratzmann and McHugh, making sure they knew he was there. Kratzmann stuck to the bottom while McHugh ran the top, the pair side-by-side as they negotiated over third and closed in on Rawlings in second. Kratzmann managed to secure the advantage over McHugh and set about trying to find a way in front of Rawlings, while from the rear of the field the original front runners were trying to make up as much lost ground a possible while battling the back-markers. Back towards the front Kevin Titman was putting a big challenge to McHugh, stealing his position for a number of laps before McHugh fought back and regained the advantage. As the laps wore on it became clear there was going to be no catching Aprile in the race lead, but the battle for second was really only just beginning, as McHugh and Titman caught the back of the battle between Kratzmann and Rawlings, making it a tight four-way battle with only a handful of laps left on the board. McHugh made his way in front of both Titman and Kratzmann and set his sights on Rawlings, while Titman soon ran around the outside of Kratzmann in turn four with just one lap left to run. The final corner of the race saw both McHugh and Titman get underneath Rawlings in a thrilling end of an exhilarating race. Brent Aprile took the win with Lachlan McHugh second and Kevin Titman in third. Brandon Rawlings crossed the line in fourth while Brent Kratzmann rounded out the top five. Callum Walker finished an impressive sixth and led Ben Hilder, Andrew Scheuerle, Richard Morgan, David Murcott, Luke Oldfield, Bryan Mann, Dave Fanning, Mark Pholi, Peter Milnes, Simon Jupe and James Grady across the line. Mitchell Gee was the only driver who did not complete the thirty-lap journey.

Sprintcars Queensland will take next weekend off racing before returning to AusDeck Patios Archerfield Speedway the following weekend, Saturday 21 May 2016 for Round Four of the East Coast Logistics Crispy Memorial Series. With the season nearing the end be sure to get yourself trackside and see all the racing for yourself. See you trackside!

 

[ Back To Referring Page | Back To News ]

New Page 1
New Page 1
UP COMING EVENTS
31/3 Gladstone Speedway
13/4 Hi Tec Oils Toowoomba Speedway
4/5 Maryborough Speedway
5/5 Maryborough Speedway
 
 
Sprintcar World - Powered by Eagle Chassis

Nominations

 
 
 
Footer
www.sprintcarsqueensland.com.au