Luke Oldfield is our new Queensland Sprintcar Champion after taking a popular win in last nights gruelling 35-lap A-main Title race. Oldfield, who started the race from pole, initially settled into second behind Robbie Farr when the lights went green, but quickly moved into the race lead half a dozen laps into the race, using lapped traffic beautifully to secure the lead. Farr of course didn’t surrender the lead without a fight and the battle that raged between the pair was really something to behold until contact between the pair left Farr pirouetting on his tail tank in turn two. Farr restarted at the rear of the field, and in the following sixteen or so laps had climbed his way back inside the top ten before crashing out of the event with nine laps left to run. Oldfield had complete control of the race and while David Murcott closed in and challenged a couple of times, Oldfield was focused and determined, letting nothing, and no one, slow him down. Oldfield slammed the wall hard heading down the back straight with only half a lap left to run but went on to take the win. David Murcott finished a solid second in the Title race while Peter Lack had a very impressive drive around the high side to fight his way into third to round out the podium. The battle for the minor places was certainly a fierce one and while Brent Kratzmann and Darren Jensen both put on a truly spectacular show for the race fans on the hill, it was Bryan Mann who came through to finish fourth ahead of the ever-consistent Andrew Scheuerle in fifth.

A few light showers in the late afternoon and during track-pack delayed the start of proceedings a little, and made for significantly slower speeds during hot laps as the field of thirty-two cars tried to make the track suitable to racing.

The first heat of the night, heat seven of the weekend, got underway with Brad Ayers and Jimmy Matchett from the front row. Ayers and Matchett raced side-by-side towards turn one but it was Ayers who secured the race lead. Matchett settled into second ahead of Jake Tranter and Richard Morgan while further back in the field Luke Oldfield was working the high line and trying to make his way forward. Oldfield raced around the outside of Dave Whell and was looking for a way past Paul Morris as they entered turn three, but Whell fought back on the bottom and regained his position by the time they exited turn four. Peter Lack initially had a look on the high side of Whell before switching back to the bottom and following Whell under Oldfield as they rounded turn four. Lack and Oldfield raced wheel-to-wheel down the main straight with Oldfield pulling slightly ahead in turn one only for Lack to secure the advantage coming out of turn two. Lack and Oldfield soon caught the tail of Whell, putting all kinds of pressure on the Q23 racer, while Paul Morris was all over the back of Richard Morgan and Jake Tranter. Brad Ayers, still in the race lead with Jimmy Matchett on his tail, was trying to navigate lapped traffic. Brad Ayers went on to take the win ahead of Jimmy Matchett, Jake Tranter, Richard Morgan and Paul Morris. Dave Whell was sixth across the line, managing to hold off Peter Lack and Luke Oldfield, with Anthony Vanderreyden, Scott Doyle and Clem Hoffmans rounding out the finishers.

Heat eight started with Matthew Butler from pole position and Peter Milnes alongside and Steven Johnson and Allan Woods close behind. Butler got the jump on the start and quickly secured the lead ahead of Milnes while Johnson and Woods raced two-abreast until turn two when Johnson was able to pull slightly ahead of Woods and secure third. Brent Kratzmann ran too wide in turn one and lost several positions before rejoining the field, racing around Kristy Bonsey and setting his sights on Paul Rooks. Butler quickly generated a very comfortable margin over his rivals and while Woods searched for a way past Milnes, Mitchell Gee was all over the back of Steven Johnson. Unfortunately for Johnson he got the entry to turn three wrong and slammed the wall hard before scraping along the wall until the Q27 racer came to a stop. Johnson was unscathed but was out of the race. Matthew Butler led the restart from Peter Milnes and Allan Woods with eight laps left to run. Deep in the field Paul Rooks and Brent Kratzmann clashed in turn two, with Kratzmann managing to get through underneath and set out after Robbie Farr, leaving Kristy Bonsey and Andrew Marks to battle it out amongst themselves at the rear of the field. Mitchell Gee was all over the back of Allan Woods, while Mark Pholi tried to fend off the advances of Robbie Farr as they argued over track position. Matthew Butler approached lapped traffic a few laps before the fall of the chequered flag, he had the Q12 racer in magnificent form and went on to take the win some 2.704 seconds ahead of Peter Milnes. Allan Woods held off Mitchell Gee to finish third while Gee crossed the line in fourth ahead of Mark Pholi, Robbie Farr, Brent Kratzmann, Paul Rooks, Kristy Bonsey and Andrew Marks. Steven Johnson did not finish the event.

Brent Aprile started from pole position in heat nine, with Brandon Rawlings alongside and Kevin Titman and Callum Walker right behind. Rawlings got the jump on the start and was looking to cement his position in the lead as the leading pair raced through turn two. However the race was soon brought under caution when Titman and Walker came together entering turn two, leaving Walker stranded high on the track facing the oncoming field. Walker took to the restart from the rear of the field with Bryan Mann now elevated to the second row in his absence. Aprile and Rawlings raced side-by-side into the first two corners with Rawlings on the high side again able to secure the lead coming out of the second corner. Titman and Mann also raced wheel-to-wheel into the second corner, with Titman on the bottom able to secure the advantage as they exited the corner. Titman turned his attention to Aprile while Mann found Andrew Scheuerle on his tail and stepping up the pressure. Further back in the field Rob Hamilton was doing a remarkable job holding off David Murcott, while the former Australian Champion showed plenty of patience, determination and skill as he searched relentlessly for a way past. Kevin Titman put on a great show as he tried to find a way past Brent Aprile but there was no stopping Brandon Rawlings who went on to take the win ahead of Brent Aprile, with Kevin Titman in third. Bryan Mann came home in fourth ahead of Andrew Scheuerle and Darren Jensen with David Murcott, Rob Hamilton, Callum Walker and James Grady rounding out the finishers.

Heat ten started with Peter Milnes and Brad Ayers from the front row. Milnes got a great start when the green flag flew and while Ayers tried to challenge on the high side Milnes quickly secured the race lead. From position eight on the starting grid Peter Lack immediately took to the high line to race around Robbie Farr in turn one before having a look around the outside of Dave Whell, who was trying to get around the outside of Mark Pholi and Allan Woods. Whell had the best run out of turn two with Pholi settling in behind while Robbie Farr managed to get back underneath Lack. Paul Morris looked for a way past Brad Ayers, while Allan Woods kept the pressure on Morris and further back in the field Dave Whell was under fire from a very hard charging Mark Pholi, who in turn had both Farr and Lack searching feverishly for a way past. Farr raced under Pholi and Whell in quick succession, with Lack getting under Pholi when Pholi ran too wide in turn four. Towards the front of the field Morris was putting all kinds of pressure on Ayers, having a massive look on the inside as they raced down the back straight and into turn three, only for Ayers to fight back strongly to maintain his position. Lack was all over the back of Whell searching for a way past before slipping underneath as they entered turn three a few laps from home. Meanwhile Paul Morris found his way in front of Ayers, leaving Ayers with a determined Farr now on his tail. Ayers did a magnificent job holding Farr off until the very last corner when Farr took to the high line and drag-raced Ayers down the main straight and across the line. Peter Milnes took the win with Paul Morris in second and Robbie Farr securing third only a fraction of a second ahead of Brad Ayers. Allan Woods held on to fifth despite enormous pressure from Peter Lack, who crossed the line in sixth and led Dave Whell, Mark Pholi, Kristy Bonsey, Scott Doyle and Clem Hoffmans across the line.

Heat eleven started with Jimmy Matchett and Brent Aprile from the front row, with Jake Tranter and Kevin Titman out of the second row. Matchett and Aprile raced wheel-to-wheel into turn one but it was Aprile who took control of the race, while Matchett opened to door on the bottom of turn two just enough for Kevin Titman to race through and steal second. Matchett settled into third but quickly found Darren Jensen on his tail, only for Jensen to run too wide in turn three and allow both Richard Morgan and Jake Tranter through. Half a lap later and Jensen raced back around the outside of Tranter, while moments later Luke Oldfield and David Murcott both managed to race underneath Tranter and advance their own positions. Jensen raced under Morgan through turn three with Oldfield hot on his heels. Oldfield looked underneath Morgan but could not quite get the job done, then switched to the high side and ran around the outside of the Q54 racer of Morgan. David Murcott closed in on Richard Morgan while Oldfield closed the gap to Jensen, putting all kinds of pressure on the Q75 before eventually racing around the outside through turn four. Meanwhile at the front of the field Kevin Titman had caught race leader Aprile, who in turn was trying to find a way past a lapped car. Titman took the high side in spectacular fashion, searching relentlessly for a way into the race lead, getting his nose in front for just a moment before Aprile fought back and found a way past the lapped car. Unfortunately for Titman he looped the Q59 racer in turn two while attempting to find a way through the lapped traffic. Titman completed a 360-degree spin and rejoined the race without causing a stoppage but did lose several positions. Brent Aprile went on to take the win ahead of Luke Oldfield and Jimmy Matchett with Darren Jensen in fourth. Kevin Titman managed to salvage fifth and led David Murcott, Richard Morgan, Jake Tranter, Rob Hamilton and Anthony Vanderreyden across the line.

Brandon Rawlings started from pole position in heat twelve, the final heat of the weekend, with Matthew Butler alongside. Butler got a great start and quickly settled into the race lead, immediately opening a small but very comfortable margin over his rivals. Rawlings settled into second while both Mitchell Gee and Brent Kratzmann took to the high line. Gee made his way around Bryan Mann, Callum Walker and Steven Johnson in the first two corners to settle into third behind his team-mate Rawlings with just half a lap completed, while Kratzmann tried to run around the outside of Mann as Mann raced under Walker in turns one and two. Mann came out ahead of Walker, while Andrew Scheuerle needed no invitation to slip under Kratzmann and set his sights on Walker. As Scheuerle made his way under Walker in turn four, Mann was racing underneath Johnson as they headed down the main straight. Walker fought back hard trying to regain his position from Scheuerle, keeping his more experienced rival on his toes, while Bryan Mann began closing in on Mitchell Gee. Scheuerle was edging ever-closer to the tail of Johnson, while Butler had a massive lead and was rapidly gaining on the back markers. Contact between Butler and the lapped car of Andrew Marks on the back straight could have so easily ended in complete disaster for both cars but somehow both drivers managed to keep their cars upright. Matthew Butler went on to take the win ahead of Brandon Rawlings and Mitchell Gee, with Bryan Mann and Steven Johnson rounding out the top five. Andrew Scheuerle crossed the line in sixth and led Callum Walker, Brent Kratzmann, Paul Rooks, James Grady and Andrew Marks across the line.

The top eight qualifiers lined up for a series of three shootout events with qualifiers five through to eight first up for the two-lap sprint that was the Bronze Shootout. Peter Lack, Brent Kratzmann, Richard Morgan and Bryan Mann shared the track for two qualifying laps, with the fastest two drivers, in this case Bryan Mann and Brent Kratzmann, advancing to the Silver Shootout. Peter Lack and Richard Morgan were eliminated from the Shootout event and would start the A-Main from positions seven and eight respectively.

Joining Bryan Mann and Brent Kratzmann on track for the Silver Shootout were Andrew Scheuerle and David Murcott. This time it was Andrew Scheuerle and Brent Kratzmann who were eliminated from the event. They would start the title race from positions five and six. David Murcott and Bryan Mann advanced to the Gold Shootout, where Luke Oldfield and Robbie Farr joined them on track. Oldfield was the quickest of the group, stopping the clock at 12.221 seconds, with Robbie Farr going second quick with a 12.371 second lap and earning his front row start for the A-main. Bryan Mann and David Murcott would start the feature event from position three and four respectively.

A full field of sixteen cars took to the track for the 20-lap B-main event and the last chance to make it to the big race. Dave Whell and Brent Aprile shared the front row with Matthew Butler and Jimmy Matchett out of the second row. Whell got a brilliant start and quickly secured the race lead, however contact mid-field between Paul Morris and Paul Rooks left Rooks stranded on the bottom of turn one, with Anthony Vanderreyden also spinning to a stop, and bringing the race under caution. A full race restart followed with Whell relegated to the second row for having jumped the first start a little early. Matthew Butler and Brent Aprile now shared the front row with Butler securing the lead when the lights went green. Steven Johnson ran over the left rear of Jimmy Matchett in turn one, slowing just enough to leave Brad Ayers nowhere to go, with Ayers making contact and spinning to a stop, with Kristy Bonsey spinning the Q42 racer to avoid contact. In a separate incident both Paul Rooks and Anthony Vanderreyden had spun to a stop exiting turn four.

Still with 20-laps left to run Matthew Butler and Brent Aprile led another full race restart. Butler again got a great start and quickly settled into the race lead, while Aprile settled into second ahead of Whell and Matchett who were arguing over third. Matchett had a great run on the high side to secure the advantage but Whell kept the pressure on while Steven Johnson tried to defend his position from Paul Morris. Mid-field Rob Hamilton had a brilliant run in the Q11 racer, working the high line beautifully, while Andrew Marks had perhaps the best drive of his weekend in the Q96 car, the pair fighting over mid-field positions just outside of a transfer to the A-main event, with Callum Walker and Brad Ayers soon joining the negotiations for track position. Steven Johnson had a brilliant run on the inside of Dave Whell, while Paul Morris had advanced and was putting all kinds of pressure on the back of Jimmy Matchett. The race was however soon brought under caution for the spun car of Anthony Vanderreyden in turn one. By this stage Brent Aprile had taken control of the race and led the restart from Butler and Matchett with seventeen laps left to run. Paul Morris was all over the back of Jimmy Matchett, while Steven Johnson and Dave Whell fought over the minor places and Andrew Marks tried to fend off the advances of a hard-charging Rob Hamilton and Brad Ayers. Scott Doyle was having a brilliant run around the high-side, making up ground and edging his way closer to a top four transfer. Andrew Marks managed to pull a little ahead of Hamilton and Ayers before closing in on the back of Whell. Marks ran the bottom beautifully while Whell was strong on the top, the pair racing side-by-side for a lap before Marks managed to secure the advantage. Ayers followed soon after but within a couple of laps Whell had pulled the car up on the infield with mechanical problems. Aprile was beginning to approach lapped traffic when deep in the field an incident between James Grady and Paul Rooks left Rooks stranded on the bottom on turn four and brought the race under caution. Aprile led the restart with seven laps left to run and Butler, Matchett and Morris right behind him. Whilst the battles raged behind the leading quartet, with Johnson, Marks, Ayers, Walker and Bonsey all having a great run, there was no stopping Brent Aprile out in front. Aprile went on to take the win ahead of Matthew Butler and Jimmy Matchett with Paul Morris scoring the final transfer to the back of the A-Main event. Steven Johnson crossed the line in fifth ahead of Andrew Marks, Callum Walker, Brad Ayers, Kristy Bonsey, Scott Doyle, Clem Hoffmans, Rob Hamilton and James Grady. Paul Rooks, Dave Whell and Anthony Vanderreyden did not finish the journey.

A star-studded field of twenty Sprintcars rolled onto the track for the thirty-five lap Hungry Jacks Queensland Sprintcar Championship race, with Luke Oldfield and Robbie Farr to share the front row and a big strong field rich in talent behind them. Oldfield let the way down the main straight when the lights went green, but Farr was too quick on the high side and managed to secure the lead by the time they exited turn one. Oldfield settled into second with Bryan Mann and David Murcott arguing over third. Brent Kratzmann got a great start on the high line, but dropped a few positions in turn two when Peter Lack and Richard Morgan came charging through underneath. Darren Jensen ran underneath Kratzmann in turn three while Kevin Titman, Mark Pholi and Mitchell Gee ran three-wide behind them. David Murcott slid underneath Bryan Mann, only for Mann to come straight back on the low side exiting turn four to regain third ahead of Murcott and Andrew Scheuerle. Brent Kratzmann was making impressive progress forward after initially fading a little, and was now putting on a thrilling show as he and Peter Lack raced wheel-to-wheel whilst also battling Richard Morgan, all with Darren Jensen and Mitchell Gee right on their tail and ready to strike. Titman soon joined the group fighting for position, with Titman and Jensen really holding nothing back as they negotiated over track position. Titman eventually emerged in front, turning his attention to Richard Morgan and having a great battle before making his way in front. Mitchell Gee was coming on strong, racing underneath Jensen in turn three and almost making it ahead of Morgan in the same passing move, only for Jensen to fight back strongly and regain his position half a lap later. Jensen then slipped under Morgan but it was hard to ignore the battle for the lead between Oldfield and Farr. Oldfield stole the lead from Farr but Farr quickly stole it back just a lap later in lapped traffic. Oldfield chased hard and slight contact between the front of the Q36 Titan Garages racer of Oldfield and the back end of the East Coast Logistics NQ7 racer of Farr was just enough to turn Farr around. Farr lifted the front wheels high off the ground, pirouetting the NQ7 racer on its tail tank before tipping gently on its side. A luckless Jimmy Matchett was also involved, with both Matchett and Farr restarting at the rear of the field.

Luke Oldfield led the restart from David Murcott and Bryan Mann with twenty-six laps left to run. Peter Lack, who took to the restart from position five, immediately took to the high line and raced around the outside of Andrew Scheuerle and while Scheuerle tried to fight back there was no stopping Lack as he set out after Bryan Mann and David Murcott. Mitchell Gee and Richard Morgan were having a great battle mid-field but Gee ended up slamming the wall in turns three and four and limping the Q41 from the circuit, while Morgan spun the Q54 racer in turn two less than a lap later and brought the race under caution. He did not restart the event.

With twenty-four laps left to run Luke Oldfield again led the restart, from David Murcott and Bryan Mann, but with Peter Lack now well within striking distance. Whilst Andrew Scheuerle initially challenged Lack for position, and Titman had a big look on the inside of Kratzmann, it was only half a lap into the restart before Lack was putting on a truly breath-taking performance as he tried to find a way around Bryan Mann, and Brent Kratzmann had pulled a fraction ahead of Kevin Titman and was busy sliding underneath Andrew Scheuerle to steal fifth. Scheuerle was able to steal his position back half a lap later, while Lack kept the pressure on the back of Mann relentlessly. Mann made one small mistake, drifting a little too close to the turn three wall, and opened the door more than wide enough for Lack to slip through. Lack set about chasing down Murcott, while Mann tried to defend his position from Scheuerle, and Titman and Kratzmann argued over the minor places. Oldfield, Murcott and Lack began weaving their way through lapped traffic, and while Oldfield had a seemingly comfortable lead, Murcott was suddenly under a lot of pressure from Lack. The race was however brought under caution for Brandon Rawlings who was slowing rapidly and trying to limp the stricken NQ44 racer off the racing circuit with twelve laps left to run.

Luke Oldfield led the restart from David Murcott and Peter Lack with Bryan Mann and Andrew Scheuerle still running inside the top five and Robbie Farr back up to eleventh after his earlier incident. Scheuerle was all over the back of Mann while behind them Darren Jensen and Kevin Titman were having a thrilling battle for mid-field positions with the pair swapping positions several times before Jensen began to pull away and challenge Kratzmann for sixth. Robbie Farr was on a mission to get to the front, but just as Oldfield was again approaching lapped traffic, Farr collided with the turn three wall, inverted the NQ7 racer and was out of the race. Farr was not scathed in the incident but would have been hoping for much better ending to his Queensland Title campaign.

Luke Oldfield, David Murcott and Peter Lack led the restart with nine laps left to run. Bryan Mann slid underneath Lack in turn two to steal third but Lack swiftly switched to the low side as they raced down the back straight to slide straight back underneath Mann in turn three. Mann was far from done trying for a podium and again fought back hard, trying to slide back under Lack half a lap later, only this time Lack was committed to the high side and managed to maintain his position despite slamming the wall as they raced down the back straight once more. Mark Pholi was making a late charge, really putting the challenge to both Darren Jensen and Brent Kratzmann. In fact, Pholi and Kratzmann ran two abreast for several laps, with Pholi sometimes a fraction in front, but Kratzmann did not concede the position and was always there on the top fighting for every inch of racetrack. Kratzmann finally managed to get ahead of Pholi and tucked down on to the low line, cementing his advantage over Pholi. Oldfield was again approaching lapped traffic as the laps wore on, and despite slamming the back straight wall hard with just half a lap left to run, Luke Oldfield went on to take the win in the 2016 Hungry Jacks Queensland Sprintcar Championship. David Murcott finished second ahead of a very impressive Peter Lack. Bryan Mann finished a solid fourth with Andrew Scheuerle rounding out the top five. Darren Jensen crossed the line in sixth ahead of Brent Kratzmann, Mark Pholi, Kevin Titman, Matthew Butler, Peter Milnes, Brent Aprile, Paul Morris, Allan Woods and Jimmy Matchett. Robbie Farr, Jake Tranter, Brandon Rawlings, Richard Morgan and Mitchell Gee all failed to finish the 35-lap journey.

From everyone at Sprintcars Queensland we offer big congratulations to Luke Oldfield and the Titan Garages team for a hard fought and well-deserved Queensland Title win. Congratulations also to our other Podium finishers David Murcott and Peter Lack, as well as the rest of the 33-car field for a truly breath-taking weekend of racing. Sprintcars Queensland will take next weekend off before returning to AusDeck Patios Archerfield Speedway on Saturday 07 May 2016 for Round Three of the East Coast Logistics Crispy Memorial Sprintcar Series. The racing is sure to be nothing short of spectacular so come along and see it all for yourself! See you trackside!