Last night 30 Sprintcar stars turned up at the Toowoomba Speedbowl ready to put on a spectacular show for race fans. For some, it was their first look at the venue since Promoter Allan Woods completed his renovations, while for others it was another chance to etch their names into the history books. With a line up that included David Murcott, Robbie Farr, Andrew Scheuerle, Peter Lack, David Muir, Bryan Mann, Danny Reidy and American Kody Kinser, the show was virtually certain to be spectacular. Robbie Farr once again proved hard to beat, winning both his heat events and claiming second in the Dash before going on to take the win in a gruelling 30-lap A-Main event. Peter Lack had been having a brilliant night until his luck ran out with only three laps left to run. With Lack's premature exit from the race forcing a frantic three-lap dash to the chequered flag, Andrew Scheuerle joined Farr on the podium after crossing the line in second, with David Muir in third. And while the leading group put on a magnificent show for most of the race, negotiating through lapped traffic, it was hard not to watch former dirt modified racer Luke Oldfield as he weaved his way into fourth position, a stearling effort after transferring from the B-Main event. Kevin Titman rounded out the top five.

The format for last nights event was draw and invert, with the heat starting positions drawn at random by Sprintcars Queensland and Toowoomba Speedbowl personnel last week. Scott Lyddiard and Brodie Tulloch shared the front row for the start of heat one, with Mick Sauer and David Whell close behind. Robbie Farr started from position six but it did not take long for the seasoned hard-charger to make his way closer to the front. Farr was into second by the end of the first lap, but as Whell, Lyddiard, Bryan Mann and Sauer went four wide through turn four, with Peter Lack close behind, Lyddiard, Mann, Sauer and Lack got a little too close together and Sauer ended up stalled mid track and facing the rest of the oncoming field. Fortunately everyone was able to avoid the stranded car of Sauer and the Q79 was able to restart at the rear of the field. Tulloch got a great start from position two the second time around and quickly settled into the race lead, opening a small margin over the rest of the field. David Whell and Robbie Farr followed Tulloch on the high line, with Farr quick to secure third and set his mind to getting past Whell. A beautiful slide job through turn four of the opening lap saw Farr steal second from Whell, but Toowoomba-based Whell fought back hard and managed to, briefly, take his position back. Still there was no stopping Farr as he raced around the highline and moved into second only half a lap later and set out after Tulloch and the race lead. Meanwhile mid field Peter Lack was trying to find his way past Scott Lyddiard, seizing the opportunity when Lyddiard ran a fraction too wide entering turn four. Lyddiard soon drifted high and slammed the fence and while he was lucky not to roll, he pulled out of the race soon after. Farr had by this stage closed in on the tail of Tulloch and the race lead, with neither driver holding anything back. The pair battled for several laps before Farr found his way past and secured the lead, pulling a little ahead of Tulloch and the rest of the field. Tulloch continued to run the highline, but faded as the laps wore away with David Whell, Bryan Mann and Peter Lack all managing to get by. Robbie Farr went on to take the win with Peter Lack across the line in second and Bryan Mann home in third. David Whell finished an impressive fourth and led Brodie Tulloch, Terry Bracken, Kody Kinser, Mick Sauer and Wayne Iacono across the line. Scott Lyddiard did not finish the event.

Jimmy Matchett and Brent Kratzmann lined up alongside each other for the start of heat two with Kratzmann getting the jump on the start and quickly settling into the race lead. Andrew Scheuerle put all sort of pressure on Matchett as the pair argued over second and third, Scheuerle searching high and low for a way past the N88 racer. Steven Johnson sat very comfortably in position four while behind him Dan Murray, Luke Oldfield and Kevin Titman had an intense three-way battle over the minor placings. Titman worked the highline for several laps trying to get past Murray, before switching to the low side and pulling off a beautiful inside passing move to secure the advantage. Titman immediately began to pull away showing incredible pace and chasing after the front half of the field, while Murray and Oldfield continued their battle. Steven Johnson was trying to chase down Jimmy Matchett but soon found himself on the defensive as Kevin Titman quickly closed the gap and started putting the pressure on, never easing up and fighting Johnson all the way to the line. Brent Kratzmann was unstoppable out in front and went on to easily take the win with Andrew Scheuerle coming home in second ahead of Jimmy Matchett, Steven Johnson, Kevin Titman, Dan Murray, Luke Oldfield, Ben Hilder, Nathan McFarlane and Anthony Lambert.

Heat three started with Brent Aprile and Brad Ayers from the front row and a field of heavy-hitters right on their tail. Aprile got a brilliant start when the lights went green and quickly settled into the race lead. Danny Reidy had a great run from position four and quickly made his way into second in the opening corner only for the race to be brought under caution, officials deeming Aprile to have jumped the start. Second time around and it was again Aprile who secured the race lead and while Reidy tried to repeat his great run on the first start and duck underneath Brad Ayers, David Muir came blasting around the outside to steal second and set out after Aprile and the race lead. By the end of the first lap Muir had caught Aprile and the two engaged in an intense battle for several laps as Muir searched the highline in a bid to find just a little extra drive. Aprile too drove an exceptional race and managed to keep Muir at bay for several laps. Unfortunately for Aprile, lapped traffic came into play and a fraction of a second hesitation as he approached Melissa Boyes in the Q8 racer was all the invitation Muir needed. Working his favoured highline Muir moved past both Aprile and Boyes and into the race lead. While Aprile stayed with him, ready to pounce if Muir made a mistake, there was little he could do as the Titan Garages racer maintained control of the race. Less than a lap after securing the race lead Muir ran too high into turn four and grazed the wall, but refused to lose momentum or surrender his position in the lead of the race. David Murcott had been quietly working his way through the field after starting from position nine, and had a great fight with Danny Reidy for the last few laps of the race. David Muir went on to take the win with Brent Aprile in second and Danny Reidy in third. David Murcott was forced to settle for fourth and led Brad Ayers, Mark Pholi, Luca Cox, Paul Rooks and Melissa Boyes across the line.

Heat four started with Terry Bracken and Kody Kinser from the front row with Bracken getting the jump when the green flag flew. Bryan Mann, from position three, was quick to follow Bracken with Robbie Farr and Peter Lack both coming on strong and moving closer to the front of the field when Kinser ran a little too wide in turn four. Mid field Bryan Mann and Robbie Farr battled for position, but Farr was on a mission and was not about to let anything slow him down or get in his way. Farr managed to get past Mann, leaving Mann to deal with the pressure from Peter Lack who was now right on his tail. Scott Lyddiard's night went from bad to worse when slammed the turn four wall for the second time in as many races and once again ended up on the infield. At the rear of the field Brodie Tulloch was busy putting the pressure on Mick Sauer, the two giving it their all as they argued over seventh and eighth position. There was no stopping Robbie Farr though and as the race wore on he was able to catch and get by Terry Bracken to steal the race lead before being the first to greet the chequered flag. Bracken had a strong and consistent run in the Mitchell Motorsport Q19 racer and finished an impressive second, with Bryan Mann, Peter Lack, Kody Kinser, David Whell, Mick Sauer and Brodie Tulloch rounding out the finishers. Scott Lyddiard and Wayne Iacono both failed to finish the event.

Heat five saw Ben Hilder and Nathan McFarlane share the front row with young Hilder doing a magnificent job to secure the advantage in the Q95 Motorguard Motorsport racer when the lights went green. Hilder got a great start and quickly settled into the race lead while the rest of the field argued amongst themselves. Kevin Titman was quick to move into second and while Luke Oldfield lost some ground when he got a little out of shape in turn four, he recovered well and set about getting the NQ17 racer closer to the front. Further back in the field Steven Johnson and Dan Murray fought over the minor places with Johnson emerging in front and setting out after Jimmy Matchett. Luke Oldfield, Brent Kratzmann and Anthony Lambert also had a great battle going, with positions changing several times. Ben Hilder went on to take the win, with Kevin Titman in second and Andrew Scheuerle in third. Luke Oldfield finished fourth ahead of Nathan McFarlane, Brent Kratzmann, Anthony Lambert, Steven Johnson, Jimmy Matchett and Dan Murray.

The sixth and final heat event of night saw David Murcott and Paul Rooks from the front row. A tough combination in any row of the starting line up, both drivers were going to be difficult to beat from the front row. Murcott got the jump on the start and quickly settled into the race lead with Rooks in second and Melissa Boyes and David Muir on the chase. Further back in the field Danny Reidy and Brent Aprile began working their way closer to the front of the field, pushing their way past Mark Pholi while Muir searched for a way past Boyes. Muir spent several laps trying to find the right line to get past Boyes on, searching the highline but eventually taking to the low line to slip by when Boyes ran a little higher entering turn three than she had done on previous laps. David Murcott took the win with Paul Rooks in second ahead of David Muir, Brent Aprile, Danny Reidy, Melissa Boyes, Brad Ayers and Luca Cox. Mark Pholi did not finish the event.

Four cars, those who had qualified in position five through to eight, contested the B Dash event. Brent Aprile and Peter Lack shared the front row for the start of the four-lap event, with Bryan Mann and Brent Kratzmann bringing up the rear. The first start was aborted with Lack being deemed to have jumped the start. The second attempted start was better, with Aprile taking the lead into the first corner. Lack was determined to get to the front though and swiftly blasted around the outside to secure the lead by the time he exited turn two. Mann and Kratzmann initially battled at the rear of the field but Mann soon emerged in front and set about trying to get past Aprile. The battle between Aprile and Mann lasted the final three laps of the race, with Mann slipping by on the inside of Aprile in turn one of the final lap. Aprile fought back and stole his position back in turn three, only for Mann to come back hard on the low line and drag-raced side-by-side across the line. Peter Lack took the win with Bryan Mann crossing the line in second securing the final transfer to the A-Dash. Brent Aprile finished third with Brent Kratzmann rounding out the finishers.

Robbie Farr, David Muir, David Murcott and Andrew Scheuerle joined Peter Lack and Bryan Mann on track for the 4-lap A-Dash. The first start was aborted, this time the finger pointed at Farr, but second time around was again much better. Farr got the jump when the lights went green but while Farr ran mid-track into turn one, Murcott took to the low line and seemingly effortlessly moved into the race lead. Farr fought back but was forced to settle for second while Bryan Mann had one his best drives so far this season in a battle with David Muir. David Murcott went on to take the win and earn pole position for the start of the A-Main event with Robbie Farr in second Bryan Mann in third. David Muir finished fourth with Andrew Scheuerle and Peter Lack rounding out the finishers.

Thirteen cars took to the track for the 15-lap B-Main event, with Luke Oldfield from pole position and Jimmy Matchett alongside him on the front row. Oldfield got the jump on the start and quickly settled into the race lead while Steven Johnson and Kody Kinser took to the low line to slip by Matchett and secure second and third respectively. Johnson and Kinser would spend much of the race in a close battle for position that would captivate the crowd, while Brodie Tulloch sat in fourth and came under pressure as the final transfer position to the A-Main. Mick Sauer, Luca Cox, Nathan McFarlane and Anthony Lambert had a great battle at the tail of the field, but soon race leader Oldfield came charging through the traffic. Oldfield and his team had clearly figured out the new surface of the Toowoomba Speedbowl and was about three quarters of a lap ahead of second placed Kody Kinser and Steven Johnson. The battle between Kinser and Johnson was really heating up, both drivers giving it their all and the pair exchanging positions several times as the race wore on. Contact between Dan Murray and Mark Pholi late in the race nearly brought things undone, with several other cars taking evasive action and the three race leaders only just managing to avoid the incident. With only two laps left to run it was a green, white, chequer dash to the finish. Luke Oldfield was unstoppable out in front and easily took the win from Kody Kinser and Steven Johnson with Brodie Tulloch securing the final transfer to the A-Main after finishing fourth. Brad Ayers crossed the line in fifth and led Jimmy Matchett, Luca Cox, Nathan McFarlane, Mick Sauer, Dan Murray, Mark Pholi and Anthony Lambert. Melissa Boyes did not finish the race while Wayne Iacono and Scott Lyddiard did not start the race.

Eighteen cars lined up for the start of the A-Main event, with David Murcott and Robbie Farr to lead them away. Murcott got the jump on the start and led from Farr and David Muir. Farr ran wide in turn four at the end of the first lap, slammed the wall and while it didn’t exactly slow him down, Murcott moved a little further head. Fortunately for Farr the race was brought under caution half a lap later for the spun car of Kody Kinser in turn two. A double row restart followed with 29 laps still to run and Murcott still in the race lead. Murcott again got the jump on the start with Farr settling into second and Bryan Mann and David Muir fighting over third and Andrew Scheuerle and Brent Aprile debating whom should be in front of who. Luke Oldfield was starting to make impressive progress towards the front of the field, making the most of every opportunity, when the race was again brought under caution. This time it was the spun car of Brent Aprile in turn two that brought the race to a stop with only two laps completed. David Murcott again led the restart with 28 laps left to run and again got a brilliant start and quickly secured his position in front of Farr and an impressive Bryan Mann. Andrew Scheuerle, Peter Lack and Kevin Titman argued three wide over the minor places while the rest of the field tried to sort themselves out. Unfortunately for Murcott his luck was about to run out in a big way. Murcott got a little sideways in turn four almost one lap into the restart, he was collected by Mann, who had nowhere to go and no time to react, and from there Murcott was no more than a passenger as he rolled the Q83 racer out of the race. The rest of the field took evasive action as best they could, most managing to find a hole to slip through. Mann was able to restart the race, but Murcott, who was not hurt in the crash, was out of the event.

Robbie Farr and David Muir lead the restart with 28 laps left to run and Andrew Scheuerle and Peter Lack right on their tail. Farr got the jump on the start but it was not long before Peter Lack made his way into second in only a couple of laps. Luke Oldfield was a man on a mission and while he had several great battles with various competitors as he worked his way through the field. It was hard not to watch Oldfield as he weaved his way past his rivals and quickly made his way closer to the front. Farr continued to lead from Lack and Scheuerle with the leaders encountering lapped traffic after only a couple of laps. Unfortunately for Lack his luck ran out only three laps from the chequered flag and he inverted the #58 racer in turn four while running in second. Lack walked away from the wreck but would be unable to finish the event. Robbie Farr led the restart with Andrew Scheuerle elevated to second with David Muir, Kevin Titman and Luke Oldfield now within striking distance in the three-lap run to the finish. In the end there was no stopping Robbie Farr and he went on to take the win with the ever-consistent Andrew Scheuerle a solid second and David Muir completing the podium. Luke Oldfield managed to steal fourth from Titman in those final three laps with Titman officially finishing fifth in another strong performance. Brent Aprile was sixth across the line and led Danny Reidy, Bryan Mann, Brent Kratzmann, Ben Hilder, Terry Bracken, Steven Johnson, Paul Rooks, Brodie Tulloch and David Whell across the line. Peter Lack, Kody Kinser and David Murcott all failed to finish the event.

Sprintcars Queensland will return to SuperCheap Auto Archerfield Speedway next Saturday night, 14 December 2013, for our last race before the festive season kicks off. Get yourself out to Archerfield Speedway and see the cars and the stars for yourself. Both the Sprintcars Queensland Club Championship and the KRE Sprintcar series are really starting to heat up and you can be sure that these guys will put on an incredible show for the race fans. Come on out and cheer on your favourite driver and pop on down to the pits after the racing and meet the drivers, grab an autograph or photo and see the Sprintcars up close. See you trackside!