Sprintcars Queensland returned to Hi-Tec Oils Speedway in Toowoomba last night for another round of the Queensland Ultimate Sprintcar Championship and the first night of the Ultimate Speedway Challenge. The racing was absolutely phenomenal all night, but it was young gun Jayden Peacock who upstaged the entire field, from charging from the back of his heats, to winning the Pole Shuffle, and finally completely dominating the A-Main to take his maiden feature race win in a Sprintcar. Luke Oldfield challenged Peacock for the lead but a cut down left rear tyre prematurely ended his race with eight laps still to run, while Lachlan McHugh challenged in the closing stages of the race, momentarily gaining the lead before the race was brought under caution. Peacock regained the lead for the restart and didn't look back, and while McHugh again closed in once lapped traffic came into play, it was Jayden Peacock who got a well-deserved win. Lachlan McHugh finished second while Mitchell Gee made a late race pass around the top-side of Robbie Farr to secure third. Andrew Scheuerle got the better of Farr as they raced closer to the chequered flag and crossed the line in fourth with Robbie Farr rounding out the top five.

Qualifying got underway with our drivers qualifying within their own heat groups. Dylan Menz was quick time in the first group, stopping the clock at a quick 11.501 seconds, which proved unbeatable in the later qualifying groups. Steven Lines was second quickest in group one, ahead of Dave Whell and Allan Woods, with Jessie Attard fifth quickest. Jayden Peacock topped the leader board in group two, his 11.559 seconds time beating Robbie Farr, Mitchell Gee, Kevin Titman and Andrew Corbet. Group three qualifying saw Luke Oldfield record the quickest time, an 11.737 second lap, with Lachlan McHugh, Danny Reidy, Andrew Scheuerle and Brett Minett completing the top five.

Heat one started with Clem Hoffmans and Andrew Corbet from the front row, but it was Corbet who got the jump when the green flag few and settled into the race lead. Hoffmans faded as Mitchell Gee came charging through, with Gee challenging Corbet for control of the race just one lap in. Gee slid beautifully underneath Corbet and into the lead, while Jayden Peacock made his way ahead of Robbie Farr and started putting the pressure on Corbet for second. Peacock made it look easy as he raced underneath Corbet, and while Corbet tried to fight back there was little he could do. Farr followed Peacock soon after, slipping into third with around half the race completed. Kevin Titman searched for a way past Corbet but there was no stopping Mitchell Gee out in front as he raced to a very comfortable win. Jayden Peacock finished second, a little over two seconds behind Gee, with Robbie Farr home in third. Kevin Titman finished fourth and led Andrew Corbet, Michael Stewart, Mitch Gowland, Kris Jennings, Clem Hoffmans and Shane Matthews across the line.

Peter Lack started heat two from pole position and, with Jessie Attard alongside, led the field to the green. Lack initially got the jump heading into turn one, but Attard swiftly raced underneath Lack coming out of turn two to take the lead. Lack fired back, unwilling to relinquish the race lead, and momentarily regained control of the race, only for Attard to again come back hard to make his way back in front. Allan Woods and Steven Lines bided their time while negotiating over third and fourth, with Lines soon getting ahead of Woods. Dave Whell got the better of Adam Butler and began to close in on the back of Woods but ran out of laps before he could make a move. Jessie Attard got the win ahead of Peter Lack, Steven Lines and Allan Woods, with Dave Whell, Dylan Menz, Nick Simmons, Paul Rooks, Adam Butler and Libby Ellis rounding out the finishers. Mark Pholi unfortunately had ongoing engine dramas in the Q14 racer and did not start the race.

Heat three started with Michael Saller and Brett Minett from the front row, with Andrew Scheuerle, Danny Reidy, Lachlan McHugh and Luke Oldfield right behind and eager to get to the front. Saller got a great start when the green flag flew, quickly securing the lead and leaving Minett to try and defend his position from the rest of the field. Scheuerle quickly raced underneath Minett and into second, only for Reidy to make his move on the bottom and take second for himself. Oldfield and McHugh had a fierce battle raging over the minor positions, the pair right on the back of Scheuerle. Oldfield had a couple of looks underneath Scheuerle but was unable to find a way through, only to loose a position to McHugh a few laps into the race. Oldfield was relentless as he challenged McHugh before making his way through as they rounded turn four, only for McHugh to immediately return serve and take his position back. Oldfield and McHugh traded places back and forth several times, before Oldfield managed to lock in the advantage and pull ever so slightly ahead of McHugh. Deeper in the field Minett and Max Johnston were embroiled in their own intense battle for position, the pair racing two abreast for a number of laps and exchanging positions back and forth a number of times over the course of the race while at the front of the field Michael Saller was untroubled in the race lead. Andrew Scheuerle caught Danny Reidy as the laps wore on, with Scheuerle having one last bold, but unsuccessful, look on the inside of Reidy as they rounded the final corner of the race. Michael Saller went on to take the win, with Danny Reidy holding on to finish second ahead of Andrew Scheuerle, Luke Oldfield, Lachlan McHugh, Max Johnston, Brett Minett, Tony Wynne, Scott Genrich, Brodie Tulloch and Bryan Zelinski.

Mitch Gowland and Andrew Corbet led the field to the green for the start of heat four, with Kevin Titman and Robbie Farr right behind them. Kevin Titman got a brilliant start and quickly raced through on the bottom to take control of the race, while Gowland and Corbet almost came together, giving Farr the only opening he needed to make his way forward and into second. Farr turned his attention to Kevin Titman and the race lead, making short work of sliding underneath the Q59 racer to take control and while Titman fought back valiantly there was little he could do. Deeper in the field Mitchell Gee and Michael Stewart raced side-by-side, Putting on a brilliant show for race fans with Gee on the top side and Stewart on the bottom. Gee was magnificent on the high line, getting ahead of Stewart and beginning to challenge Corbet. Gee swept beautifully around the top-side of the Q78 racer and began chasing down Gowland, while Corbet brought the race under caution when he nosed into the inside wall in turn four. Farr led the restart from Titman and Jayden Peacock with five laps left to run. Jayden Peacock, who had started back in sixth, quickly made his way underneath Titman once the race resumed and while Titman challenged Peacock briefly, Peacock had his sights set firmly on Farr. Peacock raced boldly underneath Farr and into the race lead, the pair going on to have perhaps one of the best races of the night, trading slide job after slide job until Peacock settled into the race lead with one lap left to go. Jayden Peacock got the win while Kevin Titman successfully challenged Robbie Farr for second on the final corner, with Titman in the immaculately presented Q59 racer taking second ahead of Robbie Farr, Mitchell Gee, Michael Stewart, Mitch Gowland, Clem Hoffmans, Kris Jennings, and Shane Matthews. Andrew Corbet did not finish the event.

Heat five started with Allan Woods and Dave Whell from the front row, with Peter Lack and Dylan Menz behind them on the second row. Whell secured the lead when the lights went green, with Woods settling into second. Menz had the better of Lack, with Lack soon having a big look underneath Menz, but at the front of the field Woods challenged Whell for the race lead. Woods took control of the race while Steven Lines was working the top-side and gaining ground on both Whell and Woods. Lines raced around the outside of Whell to move into second and set out after Woods. Jessie Attard and Peter Lack had a thrilling battle as they negotiated over the minor places, and while Attard held the advantage, Lack searched tirelessly for a way back in front. Woods was extremely comfortable out in front, running the high side just inches from the wall, and while Lines closed in as lapped traffic came into play he could not quite get close enough to make a move. Allan Woods got the win ahead of Steven Lines and Dave Whell, with Jessie Attard home in fourth and leading Peter Lack, Dylan Menz, Adam Butler, Nick Simmons, Libby Ellis, Paul Rooks and Mark Pholi across the line.

Brett Minett started heat six from pole position with Andrew Scheuerle alongside and a tough field behind. Minett initially secured the advantage but it did not last long, with both Scheuerle and Lachlan McHugh diving underneath the Q94 racer and relegating Minett back to third. McHugh had the lead, and while Scheuerle had a massive look underneath the Q23 racer McHugh held on to the lead. Michael Saller made his way towards the front of the field, challenging Scheuerle for second, and before long Saller had relegated Scheuerle back to third. Scheuerle raced back underneath Saller almost immediately while on the top-side Luke Oldfield was absolutely sensational as he raced around the outside of Saller and began putting the pressure on Scheuerle. Oldfield searched high and low for a way past the Q25 of Scheuerle but the race was soon brought to a stop when Brett Minett clipped the inside wall hard coming out of turn four and had a nasty moment that ended his race. Fortunately Minett walked away from the wreck. McHugh led the restart from Scheuerle, Oldfield and Saller with five laps still to run and while Oldfield challenged Scheuerle for second, the race was promptly brought under caution when Danny Reidy spun the Q19 racer after contact with Max Johnston as the pair fought over fifth position. When the race resumed all eyes were on Oldfield as he took to the high line and started challenging Scheuerle once more, before switching to the bottom and sliding underneath the Q25 racer and into second. Oldfield set out after McHugh and the race lead, while Max Johnston, Scott Genrich and Brodie Tulloch negotiated over the mid-field positions. Oldfield closed in on the back of McHugh with the white flag in the air, only for the race to be brought back under caution just moments before the chequered flag when Bryan Zelinski spun the NQ71 racer to a stop. McHugh led the field to the green for a two-lap dash to the chequered flag and remained untroubled out in front, while behind him Oldfield and Scheuerle made contact, opening the door for Saller to make his move on Scheuerle and put the challenge to Oldfield within sight of the finish line. Lachlan McHugh got the win ahead of Luke Oldfield and Michael Saller, with Andrew Scheuerle home in fourth and leading Max Johnston, Brodie Tulloch, Danny Reidy, Scott Genrich and Bryan Zelinski across the line. Brett Minett and Tony Wynne both failed to finish the event.

Fifteen cars lined up for the start of the fifteen-lap B-Main, with Michael Stewart and Mitch Gowland to lead them to the green. Gowland got a great start and led the way through turn one, while Andrew Corbet, from position four, quickly got the better of Stewart and settled, albeit only briefly, into second. Deeper in the field Brodie Tulloch raced around the outside of Scott Genrich shortly before Genrich withdrew from the event, while at the front of the field Gowland had started to open a small margin on his rivals. Nick Simmons and Andrew Corbet fought over minor positions, both seeking a transfer to the main event, with Corbet eventually securing the advantage and starting to pull ever so slightly ahead of Simmons. Mark Pholi, who seemed to have finally sorted out the earlier mechanical problems on board the Q14 racer, was coming on strong from the rear of the field, weaving his way through the competition and edging his way close to the front, his sights firmly set on a top four transfer position. Stewart started closing in on Gowland in lapped traffic, but the race was brought under caution with two laps left to run. Gowland led the restart but it was the battle between Stewart and Corbet as they fought over second that captivated the crowd. Mitch Gowland got the win while Andrew Corbet got past Michael Stewart with half a lap left to run. Stewart fought back hard, the pair crossing the line side-by-side, with Michael Stewart snaring second just 0.082 seconds ahead of Andrew Corbet in third. Nick Simmons crossed the line in fourth, securing the final transfer to the A-Main, while Mark Pholi finished an impressive fifth and only narrowly missed out on a start in the main race. Brodie Tulloch finished sixth and led Adam Butler, Bryan Zelinski, Paul Rooks, Kris Jennings, Clem Hoffmans, Shane Matthews and Libby Ellis across the line. Brett Minett and Scott Genrich did not finish the event.

The first of our Pole Shuffle events saw Robbie Farr take on Mitchell Gee, with Farr getting the jump off the start and easily taking the win to advance to the next round. Lachlan McHugh joined Farr on track but again there was little he could do once Farr secured the lead when the lights went green. Farr advanced once more, this time taking on Steven Lines. After one false start Farr and Lines raced side-by-side into the first corner, with Lines soon emerging in front and taking control. Lines got the win, eliminating Farr from the Pole Shuffle event, and prepared to take on Luke Oldfield in the second last Pole Shuffle of the evening and his chance at a front row start for the A-Main. Oldfield chose the bottom for the start and quickly secured the lead, and while Lines fought hard, it was Oldfield who got the win and advanced to the last Pole Shuffle of the night. Highest point scorer of the evening Jayden Peacock joined Luke Oldfield on track for a two lap event that would determine who would get lane choice to the A-Main event. Peacock chose the top-side for the start and while they raced wheel-to-wheel into the first corner, Peacock soon secured the advantage. Jayden Peacock got the win with Luke Oldfield second, the pair set to share the front row for the start of the A-Main race.

Twenty cars lined up for the start of the thirty-lap A-Main race, with Jayden Peacock choosing to start from the outside of the front row, leaving Luke Oldfield from pole position. Peacock got the jump when the lights went green, quickly securing the lead and while Oldfield challenged hard and almost had the lead for himself, it was Peacock who had control. Robbie Farr challenged Oldfield for second, while Lachlan McHugh was having a brilliant run on the bottom, battling both Jessie Attard and Mitchell Gee. Out in front Peacock had opened a massive lead over both Oldfield and Farr, while McHugh started to really apply the pressure as he made his way past Steven Lines and then, just a couple of laps later, Farr as well. Kevin Titman and Allan Woods raced side-by-side mid-field before Titman made contact with the turn four wall. Titman was able to keep the car moving but pulled out of the event soon after. McHugh closed in on the back of Oldfield before making it all look easy as he raced underneath the Q17 racer as they rounded turn one. Oldfield immediately fought back on the top-side, making the most of the lapped traffic and raced straight back around the outside of McHugh to regain his position. With lapped traffic now well and truly in play Oldfield began to significantly close the gap Peacock had created when he had clear track ahead of him. Peacock was not concerned though, and while he was sensational on the top-side, he used the bottom when needed to get through the lapped traffic. Oldfield was closing in fast and seemed to be setting up for a passing move when a small moment in turns three and four saw him loose ground. The left rear tyre on the Q17 of Oldfield let go soon after, with Oldfield forced out of the race with about nine laps left to run. Steven Lines and Jessie Attard, who were running fourth and fifth, spun to a stop and brought the race under caution.

Jayden Peacock led the restart from Lachlan McHugh, Robbie Farr, Andrew Scheuerle and Mitchell Gee. Both McHugh and Farr challenged Peacock for the lead when the race resumed, the trio almost three wide as they took the green, with McHugh finding some drive on the bottom and making his way into the race lead. Unfortunately for McHugh the race was promptly brought under caution with less than a lap completed, with Peacock getting the lead back for the restart.

Still with nine laps left to run Jayden Peacock led the restart from Lachlan McHugh and Robbie Farr, and while Peacock this time denied McHugh his shot at the race lead, Farr found himself under enormous pressure from a very hard-charging Mitchell Gee. Gee got around the outside of Farr, with Andrew Scheuerle following soon after and relegating Farr back to fifth. Scheuerle chased after Gee with only six laps left to run. Deep in the field Allan Woods challenged Michael Saller, only for Danny Reidy to charge through and get in between them. McHugh caught Peacock in lapped traffic but Peacock was too strong. Jayden Peacock secured the win, his first feature win in Sprintcars, with Lachlan McHugh second and Mitchell Gee rounding out the podium. Andrew Scheuerle finished a comfortable fourth ahead of Robbie Farr, Danny Reidy, Michael Saller, Allan Woods, Dave Whell, Peter Lack, Michael Stewart, Dylan Menz, Andrew Corbet and Mitch Gowland. Max Johnston, Jessie Attard, Nick Simmons, Luke Oldfield, Steven Lines and Kevin Titman all failed to finish the event.

Massive congratulations to Jayden Peacock and his team on their maiden win last night from all of us at Sprintcars Queensland.

Sprintcars Queensland will return to Ausdeck Patios and Roofing Archerfield Speedway next Saturday night, 10 November 2018 for another round of the East Coast Logistics Sprintcar Series. Can we get our fifth winner from as many race meetings, or will Lachlan McHugh, Peter Lack, Steven Lines or Jayden Peacock be the first to get two wins on the board this season? Come along and get your backside trackside and see it all for yourself! Only six sleeps until race day…