After one night of competition, in a field of thirty-three cars, Luke Oldfield leads the points chase going into the second and final night of competition in the 2016 Hungry Jacks Queensland Sprintcar Championship at AusDeck Patios Archerfield Speedway. Oldfield started the night strongly securing quick-time in qualifying, beating Andrew Scheuerle by just six thousandths of a second, and scored a second and a third in his heats before going on to take the win in the thrilling 20-lap preliminary A-Main. Oldfield was focussed and determined and while Scheuerle led the early stages of the race, lapped traffic came into play and Oldfield fought his way in front. Unfortunately for Scheuerle an incident with a lapped car seven laps into the race saw the former Queensland Champion relegated the to rear of the field where he spent the rest of the race trying to fight his way forward whilst dealing with some front-end damage on the AusDeck Patios Q25 racer. David Murcott finished the Preliminary A-Main in second with Robbie Farr in third. Peter Lack had an impressive drive to cross the line in fourth, after initially starting from position eight, with Brent Kratzmann having a very solid run to round out the top five. Bryan Mann, who crashed hard coming out of turn four while challenging Oldfield for the lead, and Kevin Titman, who had an incident on the back straight while battling for position with Kratzmann, are both ones to watch tonight, as are Richard Morgan, Darren Jensen and Mark Pholi who all had impressive runs in the preliminary A-Main.

Qualifying got underway and it was Luke Oldfield, the fourth last car to hit the track, who topped the leader board, stopping the clock at 11.367 seconds. Andrew Scheuerle was second quickest, his 11.373 second lap just 0.006 seconds slower than Oldfield. Robbie Farr (11.462), David Murcott (11.476) and Peter Lack (11.534) rounded out the fastest five. Further back in the field Darren Jensen beat Matthew Butler by just one thousandth of a second, while Peter Milnes (VIC) and Callum Walker both stopped the clock at exactly 11.882 seconds, and Steven Johnson beat Kevin Titman by only three thousandths of a second. The top twenty-two cars were all under twelve seconds, with the top twenty-eight cars separated by just 0.848 seconds.

Heat one started with Rob Hamilton and Jake Tranter from the front row, with Tranter getting the jump on the start and quickly settling in to the lead, generating a comfortable lead by the end of the first lap. Hamilton settled into second with Scott Doyle and Callum Walker fighting over third. Walker had third place secure by the time they exited turn four for the first time, with both Peter Milne and Jimmy Matchett quickly racing around the outside of Doyle and leaving Doyle to fend off the advances of Luke Oldfield, Mark Pholi and Allan Woods. Oldfield used the low line beautifully to race underneath Doyle, with Mark Pholi next in line while further back Allan Woods and Bryan Mann had an exiting battle over mid-field positions. The race was soon brought under caution though after Bryan Mann tagged the wall coming out of turn four and spun the Q16 racer to a stop. Mann restarted at the rear of the field as Jake Tranter led the field to the green. Oldfield immediately took to the high line to race around Matchett and set his sights on Milne, but contact between Doyle and Pholi in turn four brought the race to a stop as both cars flipped to a stop. Fortunately both drivers were unscathed, with Pholi even restarting at the rear, his immaculately presented ANZAC Day livery now a little worse for wear. Tranter again led the restart from Hamilton and Walker, but all eyes were on Oldfield as he raced under Matchett in turn one, and then under Milne as they raced down the back straight before setting his sights on closing the gap to Walker. Allan Woods closed in on both Matchett and Milne, while Mann tried to fight his way back through the field after his earlier incident. With just one lap left to run Oldfield had caught Walker, slipping almost effortlessly under the Q33 racer in turn one, before racing under Hamilton as the came out of turn two for the last time. Walker had one last look as getting underneath Hamilton as the exited turn four and raced towards the chequered flag, but could not quite get the job done. Jake Tranter took the win ahead of Luke Oldfield, Rob Hamilton and Callum Walker. Jimmy Matchett finished fifth and led Peter Milne, Allan Woods, Bryan Mann, Kristy Bonsey and Mark Pholi across the line. Scott Doyle did not finish the event and would unfortunately not make it back trackside for the rest of the night.

James Grady and David Whell shared the front row for the start of heat two, with Clem Hoffmans and Brad Ayers out of the second row. Whell got a great start and quickly secured the race lead with the rest of the outside row quick to follow. Ayers quickly settled into second with Darren Jensen and Mitchell Gee right on his tail, while Andrew Scheuerle tried to find a way around Richard Morgan as Morgan made his way around Grady. Brent Aprile and Peter Lack got caught at the back behind Grady and Hoffmans, with both drivers soon weaving their way past and setting about chasing down the front half of the field. Meanwhile, towards the front, Mitchell Gee was all over the back of Brad Ayers, searching for a way past and putting incredible pressure on the NQ11 racer. Gee stuck to the low line and was relentless, eventually slipping beautifully underneath Ayers as they rounded turn four. A small mistake from Ayers saw Darren Jensen, Richard Morgan and Andrew Scheuerle all advance, while Brent Aprile and Peter Lack followed shortly after. Mitchell Gee, now in second, was quickly closing in on race leader Whell and beginning to apply enormous pressure as they battled for the race lead. Gee still favoured the low line and had a massive look up the inside of Whell as they navigated turn four, only for Whell to fight back spectacularly on the high side. David Whell went on to take the win ahead of Mitchell Gee and Darren Jensen, who had really closed in on the leaders in the final three laps. Richard Morgan crossed the line fourth ahead of Andrew Scheuerle, Brent Aprile, Peter Lack, Brad Ayers, James Grady, Clem Hoffmans and Anthony Vanderreyden.

Brandon Rawlings started from pole position in heat three with Paul Rooks alongside and Kevin Titman and Steven Johnson right behind. Rawlings and Rooks raced side-by-side into turn one, with Rawlings slightly ahead. Rooks fought back hard on the high side and managed to secure the lead by the time they exited turn two, leaving Rawlings in second ahead of Titman and Johnson. Johnson put the challenge to Titman, as Brent Kratzmann closed in and joined the battle for the minor places, while deep in the field Robbie Farr and David Murcott were trying to find a way underneath Matthew Butler and Ben Hilder. Paul Morris had a big look under Murcott at one stage as they raced through turn four, but could not quite pull it off, while at the front of the field Rawlings began to slowly close the gap to Rooks. Paul Rooks went on to take the win, managing to maintain a one second margin over Brandon Rawlings in second. Kevin Titman crossed the line in third ahead of Steven Johnson, with Brent Kratzmann home in fifth. Ben Hilder was the next one across the line, leading Robbie Farr, David Murcott, Paul Morris, Matthew Butler and Andrew Marks past the chequered flag.

Heat four started with Dave Whell and Rob Hamilton from the front row with Whell again getting a brilliant start and quickly securing the race lead. Hamilton settled into second while Peter Milne got the better of Brad Ayers to secure third. Mitchell Gee raced under Allan Woods in turn one, and Darren Jensen through turn two, before setting his sights on Ayers while Jensen tried to fight back on the top of the track. Andrew Scheuerle and Bryan Mann raced two-wide as they tried to find a way past Woods, with Scheuerle eventually making his way through on the bottom of turn three. Now right on the tail of Jensen and Gee Scheuerle was on a mission and raced under Jensen just one lap later before turning his attention to Gee and Ayers. Gee managed to get past Ayers in turn two, with Scheuerle following half a lap later, leaving Jensen all over the back of Ayers, with Mann and Woods also close behind. Gee came together with Hamilton in turn two, spinning the Q41 racer to a stop and bringing the race under caution. Gee restarted at the rear while Hamilton pulled out of the event before the restart. Dave Whell led the restart from Peter Milne and Andrew Scheuerle with four laps left to run and while Gee tried to make up lost ground from the rear of the field it was Allan Woods stealing the show when the lights went green. Woods was quick to race underneath both Darren Jensen and Kristy Bonsey, advancing two positions in less than half a lap, leaving Bonsey, Jensen and Gee to fight over the final few places. Officials quickly brought the race under caution once more, so some debris could be safely removed from the track, with Whell to again lead the restart and only three laps left to run. Andrew Scheuerle took to the high line, spending one lap searching for a way around Peter Milne before finally managing to secure second with two laps left to run and setting his sights on Whell. It didn’t take long, barely half a lap in fact, and Scheuerle was challenging for the lead. Taking control of the race moments before the white flag appeared Scheuerle was unstoppable and went on to take the win ahead of Dave Whell with Bryan Mann managing to slip under Peter Milne with half a lap to run to secure third. Peter Milne crossed the line in fourth and led Allan Woods, Brad Ayers, Kristy Bonsey, Mitchell Gee and Darren Jensen across the line. Rob Hamilton did not finish the event.

Jake Tranter and Brandon Rawlings shared the front row for the start of heat five, with Callum Walker and Kevin Titman close behind. Tranter got the jump on the start but the battle for second between Rawlings and Walker was fierce, with Rawlings marginally in front but under extreme pressure from Walker. Ben Hilder had a brilliant run on the low line, racing underneath Titman as they headed down the back straight while Luke Oldfield tried to work the high line around Mark Pholi from the rear of the field. Pholi tried to find a way around Jimmy Matchett, while David Murcott had a look underneath Pholi in turn four. Racing wheel-to-wheel down the main straight both Pholi and Murcott were looking for a way under Matchett when contact between the pair left Murcott stranded and facing the wrong direction on the bottom of turn one, bringing the race under caution. Tranter led the restart from Rawlings and Titman with nine laps left to run. Murcott began his climb back through the field, while Oldfield raced around Pholi in turn two before slipping underneath Matchett in turns three and four. Paul Morris was next in line for Oldfield, with the Q36 racer making short work of making his way in front of Morris and setting out after Ben Hilder and Callum Walker. Jimmy Matchett and David Murcott came together on the back straight, both spinning to a stop and bringing the race under caution with five laps left to run. Tranter again led the field to the green, with Rawlings and Titman still on his tail. Oldfield was in magnificent form, exchanging positions with Ben Hilder several times before finally securing the advantage and racing underneath Rawlings, who had only moments before surrendered his position to Callum Walker. Unfortunately the race was brought under caution once more, this time for Andrew Marks who had spun to a stop exiting turn two after contact with David Murcott. Marks was unable to restart the event. Jake Tranter again led the restart from Kevin Titman and Brandon Rawlings, with all eyes however on Oldfield who took to the restart from position six. Oldfield immediately took to the high line and systematically worked his way around Ben Hilder, Callum Walker and Brandon Rawlings in a little over a lap and half before significantly closing the gap to Tranter and Titman as they battled between themselves for the race lead. Titman put up a huge challenge to Tranter, working the high line beautifully, but ran a fraction too wide in turn four on the final lap, not only allowing Tranter to pull away but giving Oldfield the opportunity to have a big look up the inside to challenge for second. Jake Tranter took the win, his second of the night, with Kevin Titman managing to hang on to second just 0.041 seconds ahead of Luke Oldfield in third. Brandon Rawlings crossed the line in fourth ahead of Callum Walker, Mark Pholi, David Murcott, Ben Hilder, Paul Morris and Jimmy Matchett. Andrew Marks did not finish the race.

Paul Rooks started from pole position in heat six, sharing the front row with Clem Hoffmans after James Grady elected to start rear of the field. Hoffmans got the jump on the start and quickly secured the race lead while Rooks settled into second and Richard Morgan secured third ahead of Steven Johnson. Peter Lack took to the high line to get around Matthew Butler, with Robbie Farr also looking on the high side. In fact the battle between Butler, Lack, Farr and Brent Kratzmann was breath-taking to watch, with both Farr and Kratzmann quick to react when Butler spun in front of them in turn four. Hoffmans led the restart from Rooks and Morgan, while Peter Lack and Robbie Farr were both busy trying to find a way past Steven Johnson, while Johnson was in turn looking for a way past Brent Aprile. The race was however soon brought under caution once more, this time for the spun car of Anthony Vanderreyden in turn two, with Hoffmans to again lead the restart. Richard Morgan challenged Paul Rooks for second once the race resumed, while Peter Lack and Robbie Farr resumed their battle with Brent Aprile and Steven Johnson. Johnson managed to get past Aprile, but when Aprile got too sideways in turn three Peter Lack and Matthew Butler were forced to take evasive action, while Robbie Farr was able to slip through on the low line. Anthony Vanderreyden spun to a stop in his efforts to avoid the chaos in front of him and brought the race to a stop once more. Hoffmans continued to lead on the restart with Rooks still in second ahead of Morgan and Johnson with seven laps still to run. Once the race resumed Farr quickly ran around the outside of Johnson while Kratzmann raced underneath Lack. Towards the front of the field Farr had caught the battle for the lead with Rooks and Morgan fighting feverishly for second while both searched for a way past Hoffmans. As Morgan raced under Rooks in turn three Farr took to the very bottom as he raced under both Morgan and Rooks making it three wide through turn three. By the time the exited turn four Farr had secured second and set his sights on Hoffmans, leaving Morgan and Rooks to argue over third and fourth, while behind them Kratzmann and Lack were putting on a spectacular show as they raced two-abreast for mid-field positions. Morgan had secured the advantage over Rooks, leaving Rooks with Johnson now on his tail, and Kratzmann and Lack closing in fast. Rooks ran too wide in turn four, loosing a lot of round, and forcing Lack to take evasive action to avoid contact. Lack looped the Q5 racer with the front wheels in the air and managed to avoid both Rooks and the wall before setting the front wheels back on the track and continuing on. Unfortunately James Grady had spun the Q40 in turn four in his efforts to avoid Lack and brought the race under caution. By this stage Farr had secured the race lead and led the restart from Hoffmans and Morgan. Barely half a lap into the restart and contact at the rear of the field when Lack climbed over the right rear of Rooks in turn two brought the race to another stop and while Rooks was out of the race with a flat right rear tyre, Lack, despite contact with the wall in turn two, was able to restart at the rear. Farr led the restart from Hoffmans and Morgan, with Morgan quickly taking to the high line and challenging for second, while behind them Brent Kratzmann was putting all kinds of pressure on the back of Steven Johnson. Kratzmann eventually slipped under Johnson but Johnson fought back hard on the high side, the pair then looking for a way past Hoffmans and Johnson looked around the outside and Kratzmann tried slipping underneath. Robbie Farr went on to take the win ahead of Richard Morgan, Clem Hoffmans, Steven Johnson, Brent Kratzmann, Matthew Butler, Anthony Vanderreyden, James Grady and Peter Lack. Paul Rooks and Brent Aprile both failed to finish the event.

Sixteen cars took to the track for a gruelling 20-lap Preliminary A-Main event with Luke Oldfield and Andrew Scheuerle to share the front row for the start. Scheuerle got the jump and quickly settled into the race lead ahead of Oldfield and Bryan Mann with Robbie Farr briefly in fourth until David Murcott raced through on the inside in turn two. Peter Lack took to the high line in an effort to find a way around Mitchell Gee but clipped the wall exiting turn two and lost a little ground. Lack then found Brent Kratzmann, Richard Morgan and Kevin Titman all on his tail, making for an exciting battle for the minor positions. Lack challenged Gee for position but soon found a hard charging Titman on his tail, while Gee clipped the wall coming out of turn two and was forced out of the race a few laps later with mechanical problems on the Q41 racer. Darren Jensen and Mark Pholi were embroiled in their own battle mid-field, while Callum Walker, Dave Whell and Allan Woods put on a show behind them. Within only a couple of laps both Scheuerle and Oldfield were entering lapped traffic, first making their way past Woods before trying to find a way past Whell and Walker. Scheuerle tried to race underneath Whell and Walker in turns three and four but to no avail, with Oldfield then committing to the highline and racing around the outside of Scheuerle in turn two to steal the lead in lapped traffic, clipping the wall coming out of turn two in the process. Oldfield, on the high side, tapped the back of Whell as he searched for a way past, unsettling Whell just enough to leave Scheuerle nowhere to go. Scheuerle spun into the back of Whell while Oldfield tried to straighten his own car and darted down track, right in front of Woods, Mann and Murcott. Scheuerle was extremely lucky the incident wasn’t worse, and while he restarted at the rear of the field, he had some damage on the front end of the Q25 racer that was sure to hinder his progress towards the front.

Luke Oldfield led the restart from Bryan Mann and David Murcott with thirteen laps left to run. Mid-field Kevin Titman and Peter Lack had a fierce battle unfolding, while behind them Richard Morgan and Brent Kratzmann exchanged positions several times as both drivers thrilled the crowd with their battle. In just a couple of laps the leaders were again approaching lapped traffic, with Bryan Mann carrying impressive speed and challenging Oldfield for the lead. Unfortunately for Mann things came to a very sudden stop when he made heavy contact with the wall coming out of turn four while attempting a bold outside passing move for the race lead. Mann got considerable air underneath the Q16 racer, and while Mann walked away from the wreck the car suffered significant damage.

Luke Oldfield led the restart from David Murcott and Robbie Farr, but all attention was focused on the battle behind them between Peter Lack, Kevin Titman, Brent Kratzmann and Richard Morgan. Morgan ran round around the outside of Kratzmann in turn two, but Kratzmann fought back on the low line and raced under not only Morgan but Titman as well. Titman immediately fought back on the low line, regaining his position in turn one, only for Kratzmann to again charge through on the bottom of turn two. Unfortunately for Titman things ended badly and after contact with the wall coming out of turn two he headed down track, where he was collected by Jake Tranter, who had nowhere to go. Titman ended up spun to a stop on the back straight while Tranter completed a couple of 360 degree spins before spinning to a stop on the infield in turn three. Unfortunately neither Titman nor Tranter were able to restart the event.

Luke Oldfield again led the restart from David Murcott and Robbie Farr with only seven laps left to run. Mark Pholi and Darren Jensen continued their thrilling race long battle mid-field, with positions changing several times as they negotiated on track position, while also trying to close in on Richard Morgan. Luke Oldfield went on to take the win ahead of David Murcott and Robbie Farr, with Peter Lack and Brent Kratzmann rounding out the top five. Richard Morgan crossed the line in sixth and led Darren Jensen, Mark Pholi, Callum Walker, Andrew Scheuerle, David Whell and Allan Woods across the line. Kevin Titman, Jake Tranter, Bryan Mann and Mitchell Gee all failed to finish the event.

Luke Oldfield leads the points chase going into the final night of competition tonight, but with plenty of racing action still to come, including a further two rounds of heats, he will certainly have his work cut out for him if he wants to the claim the Q1 for himself. Anything can happen tonight, so make sure you get yourself out to AusDeck Patios Archerfield Speedway and see all the action for yourself. And don’t forget to pop on down to the pits after the racing has finished to meet the drivers and grab an autograph or two (or thirty!)

Current Points after one night of competition:
01. 139 Luke Oldfield
02. 126 Robbie Farr
03. 118 Andrew Scheuerle
04. 110 David Murcott
05. 104 Brent Kratzmann
06. 102 Peter Lack
07. 95 Richard Morgan
08. 90 Mark Pholi
09. 88 Bryan Mann
10. 86 Darren Jensen
11. 85 Mitchell Gee
12. 83 David Whell
13. 81 Jake Tranter
14. 80 Allan Woods
15. 79 Callum Walker
16. 77 Kevin Titman
17. 63 Steven Johnson
18. 62 Paul Morris
19. 62 Jimmy Matchett
20. 62 Peter Milne
21. 61 Brandon Rawlings
22. 59 Brent Aprile
23. 58 Ben Hilder
24. 56 Matthew Butler
25. 52 Brad Ayers
26. 51 Clem Hoffmans
27. 28 Paul Rooks
28. 29 Rob Hamilton
29. 37 James Grady
30. 37 Kristy Bonsey
31. 32 Anthony Vanderreyden
32. 26 Scott Doyle
33. 20 Andrew Marks