Kicking Up The Dirt - The 2012-2013 Season Begins
Author : Joanne White

Its going to be a big year for Sprintcars Queensland, with a full and busy season calendar that includes the locally contested Club Championship and the KRE Sprintcar Series, as well as World Series Sprintcar events, the Capalaba Sprintcar cup and the Australian Sprintcar Title amongst others. The season kicked off last night with the first official night of the season, with 35 cars contesting round one of the KRE Sprintcar series at SuperCheap Auto Archerfield Speedway.

The line-up had your regular Queensland front-runners – Todd Wanless, Darren Jensen, Andrew Scheuerle, Danny Reidy, David Muir, Peter Lack and the rest – plus the likes of Garry Brazier, James McFadden and Robbie Farr. Despite light rain in the area all evening, Archerfield Speedway Promoter John Kelly was determined to get the show completed, and after only one prolonged and persistent shower and a short rain break, John graded the track with just enough time to run the Sprintcar A-Main before curfew. Todd Wanless was the eventual winner, with Garry Brazier second and Darren Jensen very impressive all night and filling the final podium positions. James McFadden and Danny Reidy completed the top five.

Time trials got under way with some of the top-guns up first. Danny Reidy, Darren Jensen, Terry Bracken (Driving the Q19 formally driven by Ricky Mitchell), Todd Wanless and Peter Lack took to the track in the first qualifying session of the season. Wanless was quickest of the session and his time of 11.850 proved to be unbeatable during the remaining qualifying sessions. Terry Bracken, who has had limited seat time in recent years, was the only other driver to qualify in the 11-second bracket, stopping the clock at 11.900 to secure second position in the qualifying order. A tiny margin of 0.034 seconds separated Darren Jensen, Andrew Scheuerle, Jeremy Cross (NSW) and Garry Brazier. Danny Reidy beat James McFadden by only four thousandths of a second, with David Muir and Robbie Farr completing the top 10 qualifiers.

Brett Thomas and Brock Dean shared the front row for the start of Heat One, with Thomas getting a brilliant start when the lights went green. From the back of the field Garry Brazier, James McFadden and Todd Wanless were all trying to edge their way closer to the front, but it wasn’t long before the yellows were brought out. Young Ben Hilder had spun the Q95 racer in turn four, leaving Brazier nowhere to go. The pair became entangled and brought about a full race restart with both Hilder and Brazier from the rear. Thomas again got a great start from pole and settled into an early lead, while Dean ran a little wide on the start and became embroiled in a battle for position with Adrian O’Connell and Paul Rooks. Kevin Titman, who had started in position five, made short work of making his way forward, challenging O’Connell for second by the time the field hit turn two. But it was all eyes on McFadden, who had started from position seven on the start, as he took to the low line and passed Rooks, Dean and Titman in turn two, manoeuvring his way into third by the second corner and setting his sights on O’Connell and Thomas out in front. McFadden and Titman pulled away from the rest of the field, as Dean faded and Brazier and Wanless began to move forward. Titman stayed right on McFadden’s tail, even stealing the position from the former Australian Champion for several laps until a spin in turn three, which saw Titman complete a 360 degree spin before rejoining the race towards the rear of the field, handing the position back to McFadden. Further back in the field Paul Rooks ran extremely close to the turn three wall, losing a position or two as the field worked the low line. Wanless, Dean and Rooks were battling things out in a wheel-to-wheel battle midfield, while McFadden caught and passed O’Connell and Thomas in the closing laps of the race. James McFadden took the win, ahead of Brett Thomas, Adrian O’Connell, Garry Brazier, Todd Wanless, Brock Dean, Paul Rooks, Ben Hilder, Kevin Titman, Jordyn Brazier (Garry’s 16 year old son in his first competitive night of Sprintcar competition) and Brandon Burrows.

Heat Two started with Anthony Lambert and Mark Pholi from the front row, with Lambert getting a good start and securing the early lead with Matt Young quickly moving into second. Mid field things came unravelled when an incident that involved Paul Morris and Luke Oldfield left Oldfield, fresh from an impressive run to win the Mackay spectacular early in September, stranded in turn one. Luke Tinson, who has just stepped into Sprintcars from the Wingless Sprintcar division, had nowhere to go and clipped the stationery car of Oldfield. Both Oldfield and Tinson restarted at the rear of the field. The full race restart that followed saw Lambert and Young once again get great starts, settling into first and second by the time they hit turn one. Mark Pholi fought back hard on the lowline coming out of turn two, challenging Young for position and stealing second heading down the back straight. Young was left in the clutches of Paul Morris and Peter Lack, who were having their own two-wide battle mid-field until Morris managed to slip by Young and give himself a moment of breathing space. Only one lap later race leader Lambert spun in turn three, while the rest of the oncoming field took evasive action. Fortunately for all involved, everyone was able to avoid the stranded #38 racer and Lambert restarted at the rear of the field. Mark Pholi led the restart from Morris and Young with nine laps still to run. Pholi had a comfortable lead, but it was the action unfolding mid field that captivated everyone’s attention. Peter Lack was working the low line trying to find a way past Matt Young, while Danny Reidy was searching high and low to find his way past Jeremy Cross, eventually getting the job done in turn four and setting his sights on Young, who had just lost his position to Lack. Paul Morris got all crossed up coming into turn two, surrendering a few positions while he straightened the car and rejoined the race, while Luke Oldfield got a tiny bit sideways in turn three, where he was clipped by Ronnie Barber and brought the race under caution once more. Paul Morris was also involved. Neither Morris nor Barber restarted the event, while Oldfield was relegated to the rear of the field. Pholi led the restart from Lack and Reidy, and while Reidy managed to steal second on the first lap of the restart, Lack stole it right back the following lap. Mark Pholi went on to take the win with Peter lack across the line in second and Danny Reidy officially third. Jeremy Cross finished fourth and led Matt Young, Terry Bracken, Anthony Lambert, Luke Oldfield, Luke Tinson and Steven Greer home. Paul Morris and Ronnie Barber did not finish the race.

Matthew Butler and Steven Johnson led the start of Heat Three, with Butler getting the better start and securing the advantage heading into turn one. As had been the case all night the inside row proved fast and both Melissa Boyes and Brent Kratzmann managed to move their way closer to the front into position two and three, after starting third and fifth respectively, by the end of the first corner. Steven Johnson managed to get the #27 onto the low line and challenged Kratzmann for position through turn two, while himself coming under pressure from Robbie Farr, Dan Murray and David Muir. Murray was stuck on the highline, and faded back through the field a little, while Farr really put the pressure on Johnson. Kratzmann and Johnson moved past Boyes, with Farr soon following suite as Boyes quickly faded through the field. Farr moved past Johnson and set out after Kratzmann, as Darren Jensen tried to find a way past Dan Murray towards the tail end of the field. Muir, onboard the Titman Garages #36 racer, worked his way in front of Johnson while Farr and Kratzmann went wheel-to-wheel. Contact between the two saw both get a little airborne on the highline, while Muir gained two positions slipping past the incident on the low line. Kratzmann and Farr both recovered and picked up right where they left off, this time Farr making short work of getting in front of Kratzmann and opening a small margin. Kratzmann was left in the clutches of Andrew Scheuerle while further back in the field Johnson and Boyes were side by side. Johnson emerged in front, while Boyes and Murray came together in turn four, with Boyes coming to a stop and bringing the race under caution. Butler led the restart with Muir and Farr close on his tail tank and while Butler drove exceptionally well and managed to hold Muir off for several laps, Muir made his was to the front in time to greet the chequered flag and take the win ahead of Andrew Scheuerle and Matthew Butler. Robbie Farr crossed the line in fourth ahead of Brent Kratzmann, Steven Johnson, Dan Murray, Darren Jensen, Gary Finglas and Scott Lyddiard. Melissa Boyes did not finish the race.

Heat Four started with Matthew Butler and Brock Dean off the front row with Butler getting a great start and Dean settling into second. The race was brought under caution less than a lap in, with two separate incidents unfolding at the same time. Luke Oldfield spun the #20 car exiting turn three, and was somehow missed by the oncoming field, while Andrew Scheuerle was facing the wrong way in the #25 racer in the middle of turn three. Ronnie Barber then made contact with Scheuerle, with both cars becoming stranded near the fence. All cars involved restarted the race with Butler again securing the advantage when the green flag flew and he went on to lead most of the race relatively unchallenged until the final few laps. Both David Muir and Ronnie Barber had less than ideal starts, but both fought back hard as the race wore on. Scheuerle battled things out with Paul Rooks, searching for a way past the #64 racer for several laps, while Luke Oldfield and Mark Pholi put on their own show further back in the field. Meanwhile Garry Brazier was on the move, he was up to third and closing in on Matthew Butler. Brazier’s years of experience served him well and despite a great fight by Butler, Brazier moved into second and set out after Brock Dean in the race lead. Brock Dean went on to take the win, with Garry Brazier in second ahead Andrew Scheuerle, Matthew Butler, Matt Young, Paul Rooks, Luke Oldfield, Mark Pholi, David Muir and Luke Tinson. Ronnie Barber pulled out of the race with only one lap left to run.

Anthony Lambert and Paul Morris started alongside each other for the start of Heat Five. Lambert got the jump on the start but few could help but watch Peter Lack on the outside. Lack started from position six, and managed to find some drive on the highline that hadn’t been much help to many of the drivers all night. In the first two corners Lack blasted around the outside of Brent Kratzmann, Dan Murray and Ben Hilder, and set his sights on Paul Morris in second. It only took one lap and he had made his way around the outside of Morris and started chasing down race leader Lambert. Meanwhile both Darren Jensen and Jeremy Cross were working their way closer the front, and Dan Murray was battling with Ben Hilder mid-field. Lack had moved into the race lead and opened a sizable margin over the rest of the field, while light rain falling on the venue made the track a little greasier. Jensen was searching for a way past both Murray and Hilder, while at the tail end of he field Gary Finglas and Jordyn Brazier came together bringing out the yellows with one lap left on the board. With the light rain falling, and more rain on the radar, the race was declared with Peter Lack the winner ahead of Anthony Lambert, Paul Morris, Dan Murray, Darren Jensen, Brent Kratzmann, Jeremy Cross, Ben Hilder, Todd Wanless, Jordyn Brazier and Gary Finglas.

Heat Six rolled out onto the increasingly wet track, with Melissa Boyes and Steven Johnson to lead them away after a few quick hot laps to try to shift some of the moisture from the track surface. Boyes got a great start, leading the field into turn one, but Adrian O’Connell from position four took to the highline and blasted around the top, to steal the lead by the time the field exited turn two. Danny Reidy got all out of shape in turn two, while Robbie Farr ran very wide in turn three and then began challenging Kevin Titman for position. The race was soon brought under caution for Melissa Boyes who had slowed to a stop in turn two. She did not restart the race. O’Connell led the restart from Johnson, Titman, Farr and James McFadden. McFadden took to the highline and managed to get past Farr, but when McFadden got caught behind Titman, Farr managed to slip by both on the low line. Farr made quick work of slipping by O’Connell and setting out after Johnson, while further back in the field Kevin Titman spun the #59 racer in turn four, doing a complete turn before rejoining the race track, moments before Terry Bracken spun the #19 car in turn three. Brandon Burrows and Steven Greer took evasive action with both cars getting extremely close to the turn three wall. Steven Johnson led the restart with Robbie Farr hot on his heels. Johnson drove exceedingly well, smooth consistent and under a lot of pressure from the vastly more experienced Farr. Farr too had a great run, trying the highline for a few laps before switching to the low line to get the job done. Mid field Brett Thomas found himself under fire from Danny Reidy, with Reidy keeping the pressure on and making Thomas work hard to maintain his position. Robbie Farr went on to take the win ahead of Steven Johnson, James McFadden, Brett Thomas and Danny Reidy. Kevin Titman managed to sneak the tip of his nose cone in front of Adrian O’Connell as they crossed the line, stealing sixth by a tiny five thousandths of a second. O’Connell crossed the line in seventh ahead of Terry Bracken and Scott Lyddiard. Brandon Burrows, Steven Greer and Melissa Boyes all failed to finish the event.

Some more quick hot laps before the Dash event to shift yet more rain from the track and we were ready to get things under way with the top six qualifiers. Andrew Scheuerle and James McFadden shared the front row for the six-lap event. Scheuerle got the jump on the start, with Garry Brazier quickly settling into second, leaving McFadden to try to fend off the advances of Todd Wanless. The pair entered turn three side-by-side, when Wanless’ right rear tyre climbed up on top of McFadden’s left front, where the two become entangled to the point that both were forced to stop and bring the race under caution. McFadden was unable to restart the event while Wanless was relegated rear of the field but actually managed to start from position four after pole sitter Andrew Scheuerle was also relegated to the rear of the field. During the yellow light stoppage the rear stays on Scheuerle’s main wing had given way, tilting his wing forward and obstructing his view. He was forced to pull the car up so track officials, his own crew, and McFadden (who was first on the scene), could right the wing and allow Scheuerle to continue the race, from the rear of the field of course. The restart saw Garry Brazier and Robbie Farr share the front row with Brazier getting the jump on the start and Farr keeping the pressure on. One lap in and the race was under caution again – Brazier had spun the #21 racer in turn two. Farr led the restart and quickly opened a sizable lead over the rest of the field, with Wanless in second doing battle with Peter Lack in third. Scheuerle and Brazier were running their own race at the tail of the field, until Scheuerle pulled out of the event completely. Robbie Farr took the win from Todd Wanless, Peter Lack with Garry Brazier the only other finisher. Andrew Scheuerle and James McFadden both failed to finish the event.

Eighteen cars lined up for the 15-lap B-Main event, with Dan Murray and Kevin Titman from the front row. Murray got the jump on the start with Titman settling into second ahead of Adrian O’Connell, while Brett Thomas got a brilliant start in the #69 racer quickly moving into fourth by the end of the second corner. Unfortunately it was not meant to be, with a minor incident involving six cars – Ben Hilder, Scott Lyddiard, Melissa Boyes, Luke Tinson, Jayden Brazier and Gary Finglas – unfolded on the exit of turn four. Lyddiard, Finglas and Boyes were all unable to restart the event, while Hilder, Tinson and Brazier restarted from the rear of the field. Murray again got the best start, with Matt Young quickly making himself comfortable in second ahead of the battle between Kevin Titman and Steven Johnson. Johnson took to the highline to get passed Adrian O’Connell in the opening corners of the race, before switching to the low line to steal position from Titman and Young in quick succession. Titman too took to the low line to gain a position on Young. What followed was a couple of yellow light stoppages, once each for Paul Morris and Luke Tinson, but the race was barely three laps old when the red lights were thrown on for young Jordyn Brazier. Having clipped the wall coming out of turn four on the restart Jordyn launched the #21 into the catch fence with considerable speed behind him. He crashed along the fence down the main straight, tearing down strips of fence and sending the flag marshal running for cover, before landing back on the racing surface and rolling a few times towards the infield of turn one. Jordyn emerged from the wreck unscathed but would take no further part in the evenings racing. The race resumed after due attention had been given to the broken fence, with Dan Murray leading the way ahead of Steven Johnson, Kevin Titman and Brett Thomas with 12 laps to run. The race was really on between Thomas, in the final transfer position, and Brock Dean and as the laps wore away Dean timed his move perfectly and slipped by Thomas to steal the elusive transfer spot only a few laps from home. When Matthew Butler and Anthony Lambert spun to a stop in turn three with one lap left on the board, and the rain once again falling over the circuit, the race was declared. Dan Murray took the win, with Steven Johnson in second and Kevin Titman and Brock Dean securing transfers to the A-Main. Brett Thomas was officially fifth ahead of Adrian O’Connell, Paul Morris, Matt Young, Ben Hilder, Luke Tinson, Brandon Burrows, Matthew Butler and Anthony Lambert. Jordyn Barzier, Mark Pholi, Scott Lyddiard, Gary Finglas and Melissa Boyes did not finish the race.

Just as the nights main events were about to get underway, the heavens opened again, this time for a heavier and slightly longer shower than the venue had endured for the earlier part of the evening. A 15-minute rain delay, followed by the grading of the track and some track-packing before the commencement of the Sprintcar A-main meant that, while we were rapidly approaching the 10.30pm curfew, thanks to John Kelly’s efforts we were able to run the A-Main – finishing right on curfew.

The A-Main got under way with Robbie Farr and Todd Wanless from the front row. Wanless got the jump, with Garry Brazier quickly settling into second while James McFadden and Robbie Farr argued over third and forth. Five laps in and contact between the pair left Farr stranded in the middle of turn two, facing the oncoming field. Fortunately all were able to avoid the stricken #7 racer and Farr restarted at the rear of the field. Wanless led the restart from Brazier, McFadden and Darren Jensen, but only a few laps later the reds were brought on for Steven Johnson who had inverted the #27 racer in turn two. Johnson had gotten a little out shape entering the turn and was collected by Brent Kratzmann, who had nowhere to go, and rolled the car. Johnson was unscathed, and there was little damage to his car, but his night of competition was over. Wanless again led the restart, while Brazier came under extreme pressure from McFadden. Farr began his climb towards the front of the field, but with a field of quality cars on a fast track, it was a tough job. Luke Oldfield and Brock Dean were impressive all race, while Darren Jensen has always been a strong contender and really put on a good show at the front of the field. The remaining 19-laps ran without incident and with each driver involved in their own battle for position right through the field it was an exciting race. The leaders entered lapped traffic, giving Brazier, McFadden and Jensen and Reidy a chance to close the gap to leader Wanless, but there was little doubt that it would be Wanless’ race. He went on to take the win, with Garry Brazier in a close second with Darren Jensen getting the better of James McFadden in the closing laps of the race to steal third. McFadden finished fourth ahead of Danny Reidy, Andrew Scheuerle, Peter Lack, Terry Bracken, Robbie Farr, Luke Oldfield, Brock Dean, Brent Kratzmann, David Muir, Kevin Titman and Jeremy Cross. Dan Murray, Steven Johnson and Paul Rooks were the only non-finishers of the 25-lap event.

It was certainly an exciting opening night and has set the bar high for the season ahead. It’s a credit to John Kelly and SuperCheap Auto Archerfield Speedway team for getting the event through despite some persistent showers courtesy of Mother Nature. Sprintcars Queensland will return to SuperCheap Auto Archerfield Speedway in two weeks time, on Saturday 13 October 2012, for another frantic night of Sprintcar racing action. It really will be a show not to be missed, so get your backside trackside and see the action for yourself!