There is no better way to see in the New Year than a breath-taking night of Sprintcar racing action. The show the boys put on at AusDeck Patios Archerfield Speedway last night epitomises what remarkable talent we have here in South East Queensland, with some brilliant racing and a final four laps that truly captivated the crowd. Allan Woods led the first ten or so laps of the feature, under enormous pressure from Lachlan McHugh, with McHugh then taking control of the race for several laps before Andrew Scheuerle raced his way into the lead. Scheuerle did a superb job out in front, leading the vast majority of the race with a comfortable lead, but a series of yellow light caution periods in the last seven laps of the race bunched the field up behind him. Scheuerle led each restart but with two and half laps to run Luke Oldfield raced spectacularly around the outside as they headed down the back straight, stealing control of the race, while Donny Schatz, who had come from position nine on the grid, raced under McHugh to move into third. Schatz took to the high line as he challenged both Scheuerle and Oldfield for the lead, making his way past Scheuerle with just one lap left to run. Luke Oldfield took the win, a magnificent effort after rolling the car and damaging the front end of the chassis during the first round of heats. Donny Schatz crossed the line in second while Andrew Scheuerle was forced to settle for third. Lachlan McHugh and Bryan Mann completed the top five.

Qualifying got underway with Mitchell Gee, in the last group to qualify, securing quick time after stopping the clock at 11.824 seconds. Lachlan McHugh was second quickest with a 11.906 second lap, while Allan Woods (11.924), Andrew Scheuerle (11.961) and Luke Oldfield (12.024) rounded out the fastest five. Brent Kratzmann missed a spot on the top five by just one thousandth of a second, stopping the clock at 12.025 seconds, while the top twenty cars were separated by less than one second. James Grady beat Dylan Menz by just three thousandths of a second, while Neil Howard did not record a time. Donny Schatz languished back in nineteenth and would need a couple of solid heats to avoid the B-Main.

Sean Iacono and Donny Schatz shared the front row for the start of heat one, with Schatz getting a brilliant start and the entire outside row going with him. Darren Jensen and Kevin Titman quickly secured second and third respectively, while Mitchell Gee spent the first lap trying to run around the outside of Cody Maroske and Sean Iacono. Lucas Wolfe began making his way forward, but the race was brought under caution when Gee hit a rut in turn two and collided with the fence. Unfortunately Gee was unable to restart the event. Schatz led the restart from Jensen and Titman with seven laps to run, and while Schatz began opening a comfortable lead, further back in the field Brent Kratzmann and Lucas Wolfe were exchanging positions as they argued over mid-field places. Kratzmann raced under Wolfe as they rounded turn three, with Wolfe then sliding beautifully back underneath Kratzmann three quarters of a lap later. Wolfe started chasing down Iacono while Neil Howard and Clem Hoffmans battled at the rear of the field. Donny Schatz went on to take the win ahead of Darren Jensen and Kevin Titman, with Sean Iacono, Lucas Wolfe, Brent Kratzmann, Cody Maroske, Neil Howard and Clem Hoffmans rounding out the field. Mitchell Gee did not finish the race.

Andrew Corbet started heat two from pole position with Wayne Iacono alongside and Dave Whell and Brock Dean from the second row. Corbet and Iacono raced side-by-side through turn one, with Iacono on the top side taking control of the race by the time they exited turn two. Chaos was unfolding behind them though, with Jayden Peacock attempting a bold run on the low side of Peter Lack, with Lack almost ending up in the fence coming out of turn two. Still further back in the field Luke Oldfield got into the rear of Lachlan McHugh, with Oldfield riding a wheel and almost inverting the Q17 racer. Oldfield stopped on the back straight, bringing the race under caution and forcing a full restart. Lack and Peacock were none to happy with each other, exchanging blows as the field regrouped for the start, the pair sharing the third row as the field took the green. Corbet and Iacono again drag raced to the first corner, with Iacono once more taking control of the race, while Lachlan McHugh raced around the outside of Jayden Peacock and Sean Richards, while also trying for an outside pass on Peter Lack. McHugh got momentarily caught behind Dave Whell, which opened the door on the bottom for Lack to slip through and regain his position ahead of McHugh, but Luke Oldfield was on the move and swiftly raced around Peacock and Richards before slipping under McHugh and Lack. Lack challenged Oldfield as they argued over position, but Oldfield quickly found his way underneath Dave Whell. While Oldfield set about chasing down Brock Dean and Andrew Corbet, Lack tried to find a way past Whell, while defending his position from McHugh. Wayne Iacono had a spin in turn four that brought the race under caution, leaving Corbet to lead the restart from Oldfield and Dean with five laps left to run. Oldfield was all over the back of Corbet when the race resumed, while McHugh, who had already made his way past Lack, was searching for a way past Whell. Mitch Gowland had a spin in turn three, with Iacono spinning to avoid contact. Both cars restarted at the rear of the field with Corbet and Oldfield still in control of the race and five laps still on the board. Peacock raced underneath Lack through turn one, with Lack returning the favour and slipping back through on the inside as they raced down the back straight. Peacock fought back through turn four, but Lack dominated on the high side, while McHugh and Whell argued over fourth and fifth. Oldfield and Corbet came together while fighting over the lead, leaving Oldfield to roll spectacularly end-to-end down the back straight. Oldfield was not injured in the crash, but the car suffered damage to the front end of the chassis. Brad Hilder from BHR Fabrications worked his magic between the heats, and managed to get Oldfield back on track for the second round of heats. Brock Dean inherited the race lead in heat two with just four laps to run but with Lachlan McHugh now right on his tail. Dave Whell had a couple of big looks on the inside of McHugh when the race resumed but could not quite get the job done. Brock Dean went on to take the win ahead of Lachlan McHugh and Dave Whell, with Peter Lack coming home in fourth in advance of Jayden Peacock, Wayne Iacono and Mitch Gowland. Andrew Corbet, Luke Oldfield and Sean Richards all failed to finish the event.

Dylan Menz and James Grady shared the front row for the start of heat three, with Dan Murray and Callum Zizek out of row two. Grady got the initial jump on the start, with Menz fighting back hard on the bottom to take the lead in turn one. Grady however had a beautiful run on the top and quickly regained control of the race in turn two, and while Menz had another look on the bottom in turn four of the first lap, Grady started to open a small lead over the rest of the field. Dan Murray raced his way underneath Zizek, leaving Zizek to try and defend his position from David Murcott, while Bryan Mann and Andrew Scheuerle closed in. Menz, Murray and Murcott soon closed in on Grady, while Scheuerle took to the high side to race around the outside of Bryan Mann in the final corner of the race. James Grady took the win ahead of Dylan Menz, Dan Murray and David Murcott, with Callum Zizek across the line in fifth after holding off a fast-finishing Andrew Scheuerle. Scheuerle was sixth home and led Bryan Mann, Allan Woods and Brett Minett past the chequered flag. Logan Schuchart, who had also experienced mechanical issues in qualifying, continued to suffer with gremlins on board the USA1 Motorguard Motorsport racer and pulled out of the event after just one lap.

Heat four saw Brett Minett start from pole position with Dave Whell alongside and Callum Zizek and Lucas Wolfe out of the second row. Minett got a brilliant start and quickly secured the lead over Whell and Wolfe, but it was mid-field that was captivating the crowd. Jayden Peacock took the high line to try and get around Peter Lack, while Lachlan McHugh worked the bottom. When Lack drifted a little too high in turn four Peacock switched to mid track, racing straight between McHugh on the bottom and Lack on the top. It was spectacular to watch the trio going three wide as they were about to complete the first lap of the race, but it was Peacock who emerged in front and left McHugh and Lack to argue amongst themselves for a moment. Within half a lap McHugh had not only secured the advantage over Lack but was challenging Peacock for position, sliding exquisitely underneath the Q77 racer as they navigated turn two. Mitchell Gee raced underneath Zizek just moments before mechanical issues forced Gee to slow to a stop high in the track in turn three, just as Peacock and Lack tried the race under McHugh. Minett led the restart from Whell and Wolfe with nine laps still to run. McHugh and Peacock made light contact in turn one before McHugh raced underneath the Q77racer as they exited turn two. Peacock fought back hard, the battle between the pair absolutely thrilling crowd, while Peter Lack stayed within striking distance and soon ran the highline to get around Peacock as they navigated turn four. A lap later Peacock brought the race under caution when he spun to a stop in turn three, leaving Minett, Whell and Wolfe to again lead the restart, but with only six laps left to run. Lack attempted an impressive outside passing move on Zizek a lap after the race resumed, and very nearly came to disaster as he bounced down the main straight. Lack was able to pull the Q5 racer off the track half a lap later, prematurely ending his race. McHugh raced his way underneath Wolfe and set out after Whell, while Peacock began trying to climb his way back through the field. Unfortunately for Peacock a second spin, in much the same place as before, ended his race with three laps still incomplete. Minett led the restart from Whell and McHugh and while Whell challenged Minett for the lead for the opening lap, Minett remaining in control and refused to surrender the lead. Contact between the pair with the white flag in the air gave McHugh the opportunity he needed to slip into second. Brett Minett went on to take the win ahead of Lachlan McHugh, Dave Whell, Lucas Wolfe, Callum Zizek, Andrew Corbet and Neil Howard. Jayden Peacock, Peter Lack and Mitchell Gee all failed to finish the 10-lap journey.

Sean Iacono and Dylan Menz shared the front row for the start of heat five with Iacono getting the better start and securing the lead. Menz challenged on the high side but Luke Oldfield came through on the bottom to move into second behind Iacono. Deep in the field Brent Kratzmann had a truly brilliant run on the bottom, and raced under Bryan Mann, David Murcott and James Grady all before turn two. Murcott followed Kratzmann under Grady and the pair set off after Menz, while Oldfield raced under Iacono and stole the lead. Murcott got underneath Kratzmann in turn four, leaving Kratzmann to defend his position from Mann and Andrew Scheuerle, while Murcott himself chased down Menz and Iacono. In one bold move the former Australian Champion raced almost effortlessly underneath both Menz and Iacono as the trio rounded turns one and two. Kratzmann and Mann quickly made their way past Menz, with Scheuerle not far behind, with Kratzmann soon making his way under Iacono. Mann followed a lap later while Scheuerle spent a few laps searching for his way through. Luke Oldfield went on to take the win ahead of David Murcott, while Bryan Mann eventually got the better of Brent Kratzmann to finish third. Kratzmann crossed the line in fourth and led Andrew Scheuerle, Sean Iacono, Dylan Menz, Sean Richards and James Grady across the line. Mitch Gowland did not finish the event.

The sixth and final heat for the night saw Wayne Iacono and Cody Maroske share the front row. Maroske got the jump on the start and led the field into the first two corners. Donny Schatz, who had started from position four, was quick to race around the top and stole the lead with only half a lap complete. Schatz immediately started to open a comfortable lead, leaving the rest of the field to argue over the minor places. Darren Jensen had a great run on the bottom, racing under Brock Dean and Dan Murray before turning his attention to Iacono. Jensen raced past Iacono on the second lap, only to leave the bottom open and allow Iacono back through, with Dan Murray also challenging Jensen for track position. Jensen quickly regained the advantage over Iacono as they raced down the back straight, while Kevin Titman withstood a passing attempt from Allan Woods. Titman raced up the inside of Brock Dean and started putting all kinds of pressure on the back of Iacono, while Dean and Woods were left to their own battle. Titman raced around the outside of Iacono but right behind them Woods and Dean came together, with Dean inverting the Q8 racer in turn four. Dean was not hurt in the crash but was unable to restart the race. Schatz led the restart from Maroske and Jensen, with Jensen searching high and low for a way past Maroske when the race resumed. Donny Schatz took the win ahead of Cody Maroske and Darren Jensen, with Dan Murray fourth across the line. Kevin Titman came home in fifth and led Allan Woods, Clem Hoffmans, and Wayne Iacono past the chequered flag. Brock Dean did not finish the event.

The top eight qualifiers after time trials and heats rolled out for the Dash event, with Brent Kratzmann and Alan Woods to share the front row. Woods got a brilliant start and quickly secured the race lead while Kratzmann held down second despite an early charge from Kevin Titman on the bottom. Andrew Scheuerle raced around the high side of Titman while Kratzmann had a massive look on the bottom of Woods as he fought for control of the race. Woods held on to the lead, with Kratzmann forced to settle for second ahead of Scheuerle, while Lachlan McHugh ran the high side around Kevin Titman. McHugh then raced underneath Scheuerle half a lap later, while Titman had a brilliant run on the bottom to race under Scheuerle. Luke Oldfield put the challenge to Scheuerle late in the race, while Brent Kratzmann lost second to Lachlan McHugh when he got a fraction too sideways in turn two. Titman challenged Kratzmann on the high line, while David Murcott tried to find a way underneath Scheuerle. Allan Woods went on to take the win with Lachlan McHugh in second and Brent Kratzmann in third. Kevin Titman was fourth across the line and led Andrew Scheuerle, David Murcott, Luke Oldfield and Darren Jensen home.

Fifteen cars lined up for the start of the B-Main race, with Callum Zizek and Mitchell Gee from the front row. The leading duo raced wheel-to-wheel into turn one but it was Gee on the high line who managed to secure the lead, although Zizek challenged hard and soon managed to regain the lead. Brock Dean raced up the inside of Cody Maroske, while James Grady tried to race around the outside of Jayden Peacock with Dylan Menz having a look at a running underneath both Grady and Peacock. Peacock won that battle and was soon racing underneath Maroske and challenging Dean for position, but Maroske and Sean Iacono were both right on his tail. Dylan Menz got through on the low side of James Grady, while Brett Minett had a beautiful run on the bottom to race under both Grady and Menz just as the race was brought under caution for Andrew Corbet who had spun in turn one. Zizek led the restart from Gee and Dean, with Peacock in the fourth and final transfer spot for the A-Main race. Logan Schuchart was the man to watch when the race resumed, a lot of effort from the team went into ridding the USA1 racer of its gremlins, but with the car now running better than it had all night, Schuchart was on a mission to make his way from the back of the B-main field and into a transfer position. Schuchart raced his way under Minett and Peacock in quick succession, but the race was soon brought back under caution for Neil Howard who had spun in turn two, and Peacock who had spun on the exit of turn four. Zizek again led the restart from Gee and Dean while Schuchart was up to seventh. The race only lasted another couple laps before being brought under caution once more, this time for James Grady, who had spun in turn three, and Wayne Iacono who had spun in turn two. With eleven laps still to run Zizek again led the field to the green, with Gee all over his tail tank. Dylan Menz had a brilliant run on the high side as he searched for a way around Sean Iacono, while Schuchart raced through on the bottom of Menz and put the challenge to Iacono. Gee searched high and low for a way past Zizek, eventually getting underneath the T22 racer in turn one and immediately starting to open a comfortable lead. Schuchart raced ever closer to a transfer position as the race was again brought under caution, this time for Clem Hofffmans who had stopped in turn two. On the restart Schuchart raced around the outside of Maroske before diving underneath Dean, but James Grady spun the Q40 racer in turn four and brought the race under caution once more. Grady was relegated to the infield as Gee led the field to the green for the final four laps, with Zizek in second and Schuchart up to an impressive third. Schuchart quickly moved into second when the race resumed, leaving Zizek to try and defend his position from Dean and Maroske. Maroske took the high line with a little over a lap to run and began challenging both Dean and Zizek for position. Maroske made his way around Dean and raced side-by-side with Zizek as they crossed the line and greeted the chequered flag. Mitchell Gee took the win ahead of Logan Schuchart, while Cody Maroske secured third just 0.085 seconds ahead of Callum Zizek. Zizek crossed the line in fourth and secured the final transfer to the A-Main event, while Brock Dean, who had spent most of the race comfortably inside the top four, finished fifth and would miss out on the chance to start the main race. Sean Iacono crossed the line in sixth and led Sean Richards, Andrew Corbet, Dylan Menz, Brett Minett and Neil Howard across the line. James Grady, Clem Hoffmans, Jayden Peacock and Wayne Iacono did not finish the 15-lap event.

The A-Main sure was a sight to behold, with eighteen starters, Allan Woods and Lachlan McHugh from the front, Donny Schatz from back in ninth and thirty-five laps to kick the New Year off in style. Woods got the jump on the start and quickly settled into the lead with McHugh hot on his heels and Andrew Scheuerle and Brent Kratzmann arguing over third, while Kevin Titman got too crossed up coming out of turn two and faded right back through the field. Luke Oldfield started to make his way forward, running the low line to get underneath David Murcott and then attempting an inside pass on Kratzmann. Murcott ran the topside around both Oldfield and Kratzmann, but Oldfield got into the back of Kratzmann and almost brought both undone. Kratzmann recovered well and soon began challenging Murcott for position, while at the front of the field McHugh was relentless as he searched for a way past Woods. Darren Jensen ran the top while trying to find a way around Bryan Mann, forcing Schatz to the bottom as he searched for a way through. It took a number of laps but Schatz eventually found his way under both Jensen and Mann, while in front of them Oldfield took to the high side and he raced wheel-to-wheel with Kratzmann. Mitchell Gee was having an absolutely brilliant run and had followed Schatz right through the field to be within the top five, and while Mann tried to fight back on the top side, Gee was too fast. Logan Schuchart was also having a very impressive drive from the rear of the field, while Lucas Wolfe began challenging Darren Jensen for position. Gee raced around the outside of Kratzmann but by this stage Scheuerle had caught the tail of McHugh and Woods. McHugh took the high side and finally managed to take control of the race, with Scheuerle using the bottom to move into second just a couple of laps later. Scheuerle was in magnificent form and had the car flying, taking full advantage of lapped traffic and stealing the lead from McHugh when the Q23 racer got momentarily caught behind a lapped car. Oldfield and Schatz closed in on Murcott, with Oldfield eventually getting through on the bottom. Schatz took to the high line but Murcott would not surrender without a fight, while Scheuerle worked on opening a sizable lead and getting a few lapped cars between himself and his nearest rival. The race, which had looked like it might go the full distance without incident was brought to a stop when David Murcott and Mitchell Gee came together in turn one and brought the race under caution.

Andrew Scheuerle led the restart from Lachlan McHugh, Luke Oldfield and Donny Schatz with seven laps left to run. Oldfield worked the bottom to find a way underneath McHugh, eventually getting the job done, and while McHugh fought back hard on the low side there was no stopping Oldfield. Dan Murray then had a spin in turn four and brought the race under caution once more.

With four laps left to run Andrew Scheuerle led the field to green once more, only this time it was Luke Oldfield right on his tail ahead of Lachlan McHugh and Donny Schatz. Less than a lap into the restart and we were back under caution as chaos unfolded in turn four. The incident involved Kevin Titman, Callum Zizek, and Dave Whell, with David Murcott ending up up-side-down. Titman, Zizek and Murcott were all unable to restart the event, though no one was hurt in the crash.

Andrew Scheuerle led the field to the green one last time with four laps remaining on the board. Donny Schatz quickly made his move, slipping underneath Lachlan McHugh in turn two, while Oldfield started to line up his move. Taking to the high line Oldfield raced around the outside of Scheuerle with just two and half laps left to run and took control of the race. Scheuerle of course fought back valiantly on the bottom, but soon found Schatz on the high side trying to steal the show. With just one lap left to run Schatz made his way around Scheuerle and gave it everything he had to catch Oldfield. But in the end it was Luke Oldfield who took the win, with Donny Schatz in second and Andrew Scheuerle forced to settle for third. Lachlan McHugh crossed the line in fourth while Bryan Mann rounded out the top five. Peter Lack was sixth past the chequered flag and led Allan Woods, Lucas Wolfe, Logan Schuchart, Darren Jensen, Brent Kratzmann, Mitchell Gee, Dave Whell, Cody Maroske and Dan Murray across the line. Kevin Titman, Callum Zizek and David Murcott were the only drivers who did not finish the main race.

Sprintcars Queensland will now head to Hi-Tec Oils Speedway in Toowoomba tomorrow night where we will be joined by the travelling stars of World Series Sprintcars, and a few extra talented additions, for the first of four nights of World Series Sprintcar action. Can Luke Oldfield continue to dominate and secure another win? Will Peter Lack, who almost always shines at the Toowoomba venue, be able to stand atop the podium? And can Andrew Scheuerle, who is in magnificent form at the moment, get a win after victory narrowly escaped his grasp last night? Can one of the other talented Queenslanders beat the best in the country? Be at Hi-Tec Oils Speedway in Toowoomba tomorrow night, or tune in live to clayperview.com, and see all the action for yourself. After that we head back to AusDeck Patios Archerfield Speedway on Wednesday 04 January 2017, Friday 06 January 2017 and Saturday 07 January 2017 for more World Series Sprintcars action. See you trackside!