Sprintcars Queensland Sprintcars Qld
New Page 1

Kicking Up The Dirt - East Coast Logistics Series - Round 4
Joanne White posted Sunday May 22, 2016.

Teenage rookie Lachlan McHugh last night stole the show when he took the win in the 30-lap A-main event at AusDesk Patios Archerfield Speedway for Round Four of the East Coast Logistics Crispy Memorial Series. McHugh started the feature event from position ten but gradually worked his way skilfully through the field, seemingly effortless weaving his way past some far more experienced rivals, taking the lead with a beautiful slide job underneath Luke Oldfield through turn four two thirds of the way through the race before opening a sizable lead and taking the win some three seconds ahead of Oldfield in second. Mitchell Gee had a brilliant run to claim the third and final podium position, with Dave Whell and Ben Atkinson rounding out the top five. Early race leader Brent Kratzmann had an absolutely breath-taking run, comfortably leading the first half of the race before being challenged for position by Oldfield. Unfortunately for Kratzmann contact between the pair nineteen laps in ended with Kratzmann stopped on the track and bringing the race under caution. Kratzmann restarted at the rear of the field with eleven laps to run and all eighteen starters still in the race, but put on an inspiring run to climb his way to a very impressive nineth before the fall of the chequered flag.

Qualifying got underway with seven groups hitting the track for time trials. In a field of 36 cars Bryan Mann secured the quickest time, stopping the clock at 11.401 seconds, just 0.066 seconds quicker than Luke Oldfield in second. Andrew Scheuerle was third quickest with Ben Atkinson and Mark Pholi rounding out the fastest five. The top seventeen cars were all in the 11-second bracket, with the top thirty-two cars separated by less than one and half seconds. Andrew Marks had a rough start to the night, inverting the Q96 racer in turn two early in his qualifying session, and while Marks was very disappointed, he was uninjured and would make it back trackside for the heat events. Tony Michell experienced ongoing mechanical dramas in the NQ12 racer and unfortunately did not record a time.

Heat one started with Callum Walker and Matthew Butler from the front row with Walker getting a great start and quickly securing the race lead. Bryan Mann tried to run around the outside while Brent Aprile worked the bottom and managed to slide underneath Paul Morris through turn two. As Aprile began closing in on Mitchell Gee in third, Butler really stepped up the pressure on Walker, putting up a serious challenge for the lead before slipping underneath the leader in turn one to take control of the race. Unfortunately for Butler less than a lap later Aprile spun the NQ42 racer in turn four, where he was collected by both Paul Morris and Rob Hamilton, bringing the race under caution. While Aprile was able to restart the event at the rear of the field, both Morris and Hamilton were unable to take the restart. With the race reverting back to the last competed lap, Callum Walker led the restart with nine laps left to run and a hard-charging and determined Matthew Butler right on his tail. Both Walker and Butler got great starts, quickly opening a small, but short-lived, margin over Gee and Bryan Mann. While Walker did a magnificent job out in front, and Butler did his best to challenge for the lead, it was not long before Gee had closed the gap to Butler and forced his rival on the defensive. The battle between Butler and Gee as they fought over second and third was one to behold, but there was no stopping Callum Walker as he took the win. Matthew Butler crossed the line in second with Mitchell Gee in third ahead of Bryan Mann, Paul Rooks, Kristy Bonsey, Clem Hofmans and Brent Aprile. Paul Morris and Rob Hamilton both failed to finish the event.

Richard Morgan started from pole position in heat two, with Brent Kratzmann alongside. Kratzmann got a brilliant start on the high line, quickly securing the race lead and opening a small margin over Morgan in second by the time they hit turn one. Morgan tried to fight back in turn two but there was no stopping Kratzmann in the immaculately presented Q4 racer. Morgan had another look on the inside through turn three, but the race was quickly brought to a stop when Wayne Iacono got too high in turn three, while racing wheel-to-wheel with Scott Doyle, and collided with the fence before inverting the Q20 car. Iacono was unscathed in the incident but was unable to restart the event. Kratzmann led the restart from Morgan, with David Murcott and Luke Oldfield close behind and nine laps left to run. Kratzmann had a commanding lead, very much in control of the race, and while Morgan stayed with him there was little he could do as Kratzmann gradually extended his lead. Behind them though the battle between Murcott and Oldfield was captivating the crowd, while Mark Pholi began closing in. Further back in the field Darren Silcock, Nelson Reddacliff and Scott Doyle were embroiled in their own thrilling race, with Doyle searching for a way past Reddacliff until Dale Shilleto forced him on the defensive and Reddacliff managed to pull away slightly. Brent Kratzmann had opened a sizable lead over his rivals, while Murcott and Oldfield had caught the tail of Morgan and began searching for a way past. Brent Kratzmann went on to take the win, some two and half seconds, or roughly a quarter of lap, ahead of Richard Morgan who managed to hang on to finish second. David Murcott crossed the line in third and led Luke Oldfield, Mark Pholi, Ben Hilder, Darren Silcock, Nelson Reddacliff, Scott Doyle, Dale Shilleto and Brett Minett across the line. Wayne Iacono was the only driver who did not finish the event.

Brandon Rawlings and Dave Whell shared the front row for the start of heat three, with hard-chargers Lachlan McHugh and Kevin Titman right behind. Rawlings got a brilliant start, with McHugh quick to follow on the bottom while Titman and Ben Atkinson tried to find a way past Whell, all with Andrew Scheuerle on their tail. Simon Jupe and Jayden Peacock were trying to find a way past Brad Ayers, while at the rear of the field Andrew Marks raced his way past both James Grady and Anthony Vanderreyden by the end of the first lap. Jupe got a little out of shape in turn two, allowing Marks to slip underneath and advance one more position closer to the front, setting his sights on Brad Ayers, who was busy trying to race underneath Kevin Titman while also on the tail of Peacock. Chaos unfolded in turn three, with Titman, Ayers, Peacock and Vanderreyden all involved, with both Peacock and Vanderreyden becoming stranded on the track and bringing the race under caution. Unfortunately for Peacock he was unable to restart the event. Rawlings led the restart from McHugh and Whell, with Andrew Scheuerle next in line with eight laps still to run. Scheuerle started looking underneath Whell, while further back in the field Jupe started looking for way under Marks, only for Ayers to join the battle as he searched for a way past Jupe. The battle unfolding mid-field between Whell, Titman and Atkinson was captivating but there was no stopping Brandon Rawlings and Lachlan McHugh out in front. Rawlings went on to take the win with McHugh officially second ahead of Andrew Scheuerle, Dave Whell, Ben Atkinson, Kevin Titman, Andrew Marks, Simon Jupe, Brad Ayers, James Grady and Anthony Vanderreyden. Jayden Peacock was the only driver who failed to complete the 10-lap journey.

Heat four was an action-packed affair that started with Paul Rooks and Brandon Rawlings from the front row, with Kevin Titman, David Murcott, Mitchell Gee and Bryan Mann all right behind and eager to make their way closer to the front. Rooks got a brilliant start from pole position and quickly secured the race lead, leaving the rest of the field to argue over second. Titman tried to follow Rooks on the low line, while Murcott tried to run straight between Titman and Rawlings as they approached the first corner. Contact between Titman and Rawlings in turn one started a chain reaction of events that saw both drivers spin, leaving Murcott nowhere to go. Murcott climbed over the back end of Rawlings and inverted the Q83 racer, while Bryan Mann collected the wall in his efforts to spin the Q16 racer and avoid contact. Murcott and Rawlings were both unable to restart the event, with Murcott not returning to the track for the rest of the night, while Titman and Mann restarted from the rear of the field. Paul Rooks was now joined on the front row by Nelson Reddacliff, who had originally started from position eight, and the pair led the field to the second attempted start. Rooks again got a brilliant start and quickly secured the lead while Reddacliff and Gee argued over second. Gee managed to secure second by the end of turn two and almost immediately inherited the race led when Rooks suddenly pulled out of the event with mechanical dramas on the Q64 racer. Reddacliff settled into a very comfortable second while Darren Silcock raced underneath Dale Shilleto to steal third. Shilleto then found himself with Bryan Mann on his tail, with Kevin Titman quickly closing in as both Mann and Titman tried to make up lost ground. Mann worked the high line to get around Shilleto, but got a little too sideways in turn two and left Shilleto with nowhere to go. Contact between the pair left Shilleto stranded on the track and brought the race under caution. Gee led the restart from Reddacliff and Silcock with eight laps left to run. Titman and Mann put on a great show as they both tried to find a way past Silcock, with Titman taking to the high line in spectacular fashion to secure the advantage over Mann. Titman stayed on the back of Silcock, while Silcock closed in on Reddacliff to begin challenging for second. Mitchell Gee went on to take the win, about half a lap ahead of Nelson Reddacliff in second and Darren Silcock in third. Kevin Titman came back to finish fourth after having initially gone rear of the field, while Bryan Mann managed to salvage fifth and led Kristy Bonsey and Dale Shilleto across the line. Paul Rooks, Brandon Rawlings, Wayne Iacono and Dave Murcott all failed to finish the event.

Heat five started with Dave Whell and Ben Hilder from the front row, with Matthew Butler and Lachlan McHugh right behind. Whell got a brilliant start on the pole, quickly jumping ahead to secure the race lead, with Butler swiftly following on the low line, racing under Hilder and moving into second before they made it to turn two. Meanwhile, mid-field, Luke Oldfield was attempting to run straight between Mark Pholi and Lachlan McHugh as they entered turn one for the first time, only for Pholi to have the best run through the corner, emerging in front and quickly slipping underneath Hilder as well as they exited turn two. McHugh was working the high line beautifully, patiently searching for the right opportunity to get around Hilder whilst giving himself and his rivals plenty of racing room. Before long McHugh seized his opportunity on the outside of turn one, making his way in front of Hilder and setting his sights on Pholi. Butler pulled off a massive wheel-stand racing down the back straight, and quickly found himself in the middle of the battle between Pholi and McHugh, with Oldfield now looking to join the battle, having taken to the low line and raced underneath Hilder in turn three. Oldfield then slid underneath McHugh in turn four and began looking for a way under Mark Pholi, all the while McHugh stuck to the top. Ben Hilder was on the move, making a great come back to race underneath McHugh through turn four, but the race was brought under caution just a couple of laps later when Butler and Oldfield were left stranded on the track in turn four. A luckless Mark Pholi tried to avoid contact but there simply was not anything he could do and he too became involved. All three restarted the event from the rear of the field while Whell, Hilder and McHugh led the restart with six laps left to run. McHugh again took to the high side but was forced to change tactics when Hilder went up high and put a serious challenge to Whell for the race lead. With a lap not quite complete the race was again brought under caution when James Grady spun the Q40 racer in turn four. A lap into the restart and McHugh found his way underneath Hilder, while Oldfield made great progress and was soon challenging Jayden Peacock for position. Within just a couple of laps Oldfield was back up to fourth and putting some serious pressure on Hilder, while Anthony Lambert and Matthew Butler battled at the rear of the field. Dave Whell went on to take the win ahead of Lachlan McHugh, Ben Hilder and Luke Oldfield, with Jayden Peacock home in fifth. Mark Pholi, Anthony Lambert, Matthew Butler, Clem Hoffmans and James Grady rounded out the finishers.

The sixth and final heat of the night saw Richard Morgan and Callum Walker share the front row for the start. Morgan got a great start and quickly secured the race lead with Walker settling into second while Brent Aprile took to the high line to secure the advantage over Brent Kratzmann and then race around Walker to steal second when the race was just half a lap old. Andrew Scheuerle also took to the high line, racing around Kratzmann and setting his sights on Walker, while further back in the field Andrew Marks raced around the high side of Rob Hamilton and Simon Jupe, with Jupe immediately fighting back on the low side and the pair going wheel-to-wheel into turn three. Jupe was able to secure the advantage, though was still under immense pressure from both Marks and Hamilton, while ahead of them Ben Atkinson was battling with Brad Ayers, and Kratzmann and Scheuerle were still trying to find a way past Walker. The race was however brought to a stop when Marks got a little sideways in turn three, where he was collected by Brett Minett, forcing him to spin to a stop. With damage to the steering Marks retired to the infield before the race resumed. Morgan led the restart from Aprile, Walker and Scheuerle with Kratzmann challenging Scheuerle when the lights went green. Walker also had a great run, having a look underneath Aprile before coming under fire himself from Scheuerle and Kratzmann, all the while Brad Ayers was waiting to strike as he looked to make a move on the inside of Kratzmann. Richard Morgan went on to take the win ahead of Brent Aprile, Callum Walker, Andrew Scheuerle, Brent Kratzmann, Brad Ayers, Ben Atkinson, Rob Hamilton, Simon Jupe, Brett Minett and Anthony Vanderreyden. Andrew Marks did not finish the event.

The Dash was comprised of the six heat race winners (Callum Walker, Brent Kratzmann, Brandon Rawlings, Mitchell Gee, Dave Whell and Richard Morgan) plus the two highest points scorers of the night (Bryan Mann and Luke Oldfield). As highest points scorer for the night Mann drew a random marble before the dash that inverted the top eight starters, putting Brandon Rawlings and Callum Walker off the front row for the start of the six-lap affair. Rawlings got a great start and quickly secured the race lead, but all eyes were on Brent Kratzmann as he took the Kratzmann Caravans Q4 to the high line in spectacular fashion to race around the outside of both Whell and Walker by the end of turn two. With just half a lap complete Kratzmann had secured second and while Walker initially fought back, Kratzmann simply had too much momentum and after another lap he and Rawlings had cleared out ahead of the rest of the field. Kratzmann was all over the back of Rawlings, searching high and low and putting on a truly breath-taking show for the fans, but the race was soon brought under caution when Bryan Mann spun in turn four. Rawlings led the restart from Kratzmann and Oldfield with just three laps left to run, with Walker initially having a bit of a look for a way past Oldfield, only to resign himself to a mid-field position as Brandon Rawlings took the win and secured pole position for the start of the A-Main event. Brent Kratzmann crossed the line in second, already showing plenty of pace and form ahead of the main event, with Luke Oldfield, Mitchell Gee, Callum Walker, Richard Morgan, Bryan Mann and Dave Whell rounding out the finishers.

Eighteen cars lined with for the start of the B-Main event, with only the top four finishers to transfer to the back of the A-Main. Ben Hilder and Matthew Butler shared the front row with Hilder getting the jump on the start and quickly securing the lead ahead of Butler. Unfortunately with barely a lap complete Nelson Reddacliff spun to a stop in turn four and brought the race under caution. Hilder led the restart from Butler, Darren Silcock and Brad Ayers but chaos mid-field in turn two once the lights had gone green saw Clem Hoffmans collide with the wall, deflating his right rear tyre, and slowing to a stop on the top of the track, once again bringing the race under caution. Hilder, Butler and Silcock continued to lead, this time with Jayden Peacock now ahead of Ayers. The green however was again short-lived, with James Grady this time spinning to a stop in turn four. Hilder again led the restart from Butler and Silcock, this time with twelve laps left to run, with Peacock quickly making his way around Silcock and Ayers trying to follow on the high side. Paul Rooks battled with Anthony Lambert for a few laps, while further back in the field Brett Minett was embroiled in a close battle with Simon Jupe and Rob Hamilton, the trio trying to close the gap to Kristy Bonsey. Matthew Butler and Jayden Peacock both managed to raced past Ben Hilder to secure first and second, leaving Hilder in third. Brad Ayers crossed the line in fourth, securing the final transfer to the A-Main, with Darren Silcock, Paul Rooks, Rob Hamilton, Brett Minett, Wayne Iacono and Dale Shilleto rounding out the top ten. Kristy Bonsey was next across the line ahead of Anthony Vanderreyden, James Grady and Andrew Marks. Simon Jupe, Anthony Lambert, Nelson Reddacliff and Clem Hoffmans all failed to finish the 15-lap event.

A star-studded field of eighteen cars contested the 30-lap A-Main event, with Brandon Rawlings and Brent Kratzmann to lead them to the green. Both Rawlings and Kratzmann got great starts, with Rawlings just in front as they entered turn one. Rawlings had the lead but ran a fraction wide in turn two, which was all the invitation Kratzmann needed to race inside Rawlings in a perfectly timed and executed move as they powered down the back straight. Once Kratzmann had the lead Rawlings tried to fight back but Kratzmann was determined and managed to hang on to the lead as they competed the first lap. Meanwhile, Callum Walker had a brilliant start when the lights went green, racing up the inside of Luke Oldfield to settle into fourth behind Mitchell Gee. Mid-field Lachlan McHugh was beginning a stellar run from position ten, taking to the high line early and starting to weave his way through the field. Committed to the high line McHugh raced around the outside of Andrew Scheuerle, Dave Whell and Callum Walker, who had made a small mistake and dropped several positions. Team-mates Mitchell Gee and Brandon Rawlings were going all out in a battle between themselves as they argued over second and third, with Gee eventually running around the outside of Rawlings in turn four to gain the advantage. Luke Oldfield was sitting in fourth with Lachlan McHugh quickly gaining ground as he made his way past Richard Morgan. Kratzmann had completely cleared out and had a sizable lead over Gee, while Oldfield tried to race underneath Rawlings through turn three. Andrew Scheuerle, Ben Atkinson and Bryan Mann had a great battle mid-field, but it was hard not to watch Oldfield and McHugh as they both edged closer to the front of the field, having both made it past Rawlings and setting out after Gee, the pair putting on a truly spectacular show for fans as they raced wheel-to-wheel. Meanwhile at the front of the field Kratzmann scraped the back straight wall as he got closer to lapped traffic. Gee was closing in fast and before long Gee was on the tail of the leader. Gee had a massive look underneath Kratzmann in turn two, but Kratzmann fought back valiantly on the high side to maintain his lead, then racing underneath a lapped car a lap later and trying to gain some ground on his rival. Scheuerle, Atkinson and Mann were doing their best to entertain the crowd, the trio swapping and changing positions several times in a close battle that ensured there was plenty of action unfolding to keep the crowd entertained. Back at the front of the field Oldfield and McHugh were rapidly closing in on Kratzmann and Gee with lapped traffic slowing the leaders a fraction. Oldfield was on a mission to get to the front and after he and McHugh quickly found their way around a lapped car, Oldfield set his sights on Gee. It only took a couple of laps before Oldfield began challenging Gee for second. The pair raced two-abreast for several laps, with Gee on the top and Oldfield on the bottom, before Oldfield finally managed to secure the advantage and set his sights on Kratzmann. A lap after securing second Oldfield slid underneath Kratzmann in turn four, but contact between the pair ended with Kratzmann stranded on the track and the race under caution. Kratzmann restarted at the rear of the field with 11 laps left to run.

Luke Oldfield led the restart from Mitchell Gee and Lachlan McHugh with McHugh sliding underneath Gee in turn three, only for Gee to fight back in turn four, while Dave Whell raced underneath Brandon Rawlings down the back straight. The mid field battle was just about as good as it gets, with Ben Atkinson, Callum Walker, Richard Morgan, Andrew Scheuerle and Bryan Mann all vying for the best track position and continually exchanging positions. McHugh was all over the back of Oldfield, sliding underneath the Q36 racer in turn one, only for Oldfield to return the favour in turn two to regain the lead. McHugh was looking at the high line again when the race was brought to stop for the luckless Bryan Mann who again became involved in someone else's incident. Mann ended up inverting the Q16 racer in turn three and while he walked away from the wreck his race was prematurely over.

With eight laps left to run Luke Oldfield led the restart from Lachlan McHugh, Mitchell Gee and Dave Whell. Another stoppage a lap later, this time a yellow for Brent Aprile who had spun to a stop in turn one, and we were left with a thrilling seven lap dash to the chequered flag. Oldfield led them to the green but from the moment the race resumed McHugh was all over the race leader, immediately challenging for control of the race and executed a beautiful slide job through turn four to steal the lead. Oldfield tried to fight back and while the pair were already several car lengths ahead of the rest of the field, McHugh simply began to pull away. The battle for third was starting to really heat up, with Ben Atkinson now looking to displace Mitchell Gee from the podium, while Andrew Scheuerle and Callum Walker were searching for a way to get closer to the front. Dave Whell ended up putting a serious challenge to Gee for third, while deep in the field Kratzmann was coming on exceptionally strong and climbing his way through the field. Lachlan McHugh went on to take the win ahead of Luke Oldfield and Mitchell Gee, with Dave Whell and Ben Atkinson rounding out the top five. Andrew Scheuerle finished in sixth and led Callum Walker, Ben Hilder, Brent Kratzmann, Kevin Titman, Jayden Peacock, Mark Pholi, Brad Ayers, Richard Morgan and Matthew Butler across the line. Brent Aprile, Brandon Rawlings and Bryan Mann all failed to finish the event.

Sprintcars Queensland will return to AusDeck patios Archerfield Speedway next Saturday night, 28 May 2016, for the final night of competition in the 2015-2016 race season. It has been a thrilling season with some truly spectacular racing from our drivers, both seasoned competitors and Sprintcar new-comers alike, and next Saturday night is sure to be a brilliant and breath-taking conclusion to a remarkable season. Can Lachlan McHugh get another win – he is an exceptionally talented young racer (still in high school) and has a very big future ahead of him in this sport. Can Luke Oldfield secure another win for the Titan Garages team to end his first year on the team on a high note, or will Brent Kratzmann get the win he looked almost certain to get last night? Andrew Scheuerle dominated the first couple of months of the 2015-2016 season, but the wins haven’t come quite so easily since his winning streak ended and capping the season off with a win is something he will certainly be aiming for. Bryan Mann, Mitchell Gee, Brandon Rawlings, Richard Morgan, Kevin Titman, or basically anyone competing next weekend could walk away with the final win of the season. You will not want to miss this one so be sure to get yourself (and a friend or ten) trackside next Saturday night and see all the racing action for yourself. And as always, pop down to the pits after the racing is finished and meet your favourite drivers, grab an autograph or even some team merchandise.

 

[ Back To Referring Page | Back To News ]

New Page 1
New Page 1
UP COMING EVENTS
30/3 Gladstone Speedway
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