Round four of World Series Sprintcars headed to Hi-Tech Oils Speedway in Toowoomba last night and while a brief rain delay before the meeting got underway, forced a change in format, we were still in for a thrilling night of Sprintcar racing. Thirty-one cars took to the track to put on a show, with a star-studded field set to entertain the large, and patient crowd. The afternoon started hot and steamy, followed by a rain delay, after which the temperature dropped and wind picked up. The wind added an interesting element to the racing, with even drivers in non-wing divisions struggling at times with the conditions. We were set up for an exhilarating A-Main event, with David Murcott and Robbie Farr set to share the front row, however a massive crash in the B-Main that saw Kevin Titman tear down a large section of the catch fence, forced the abandonment of the entire race meeting. Titman, thankfully, walked away from the wreck unscathed. David Murcott, who had earned pole position for the start of the A-Main after a spectacular run in the shootout events, was credited with the round win.

After rain soaked the venue and delayed the start of the event, qualifying was scrapped in favour of a draw and invert format for the heat events. Hot laps got underway to give the drivers a chance to warm the engines up, with the wind affecting several drivers and proving that it very well may play an important role in proceedings.

Heat one hit the track and completed some hot laps before lining up for a start. However officials then sent the field back to the pits in favour of bringing out heat two for some hot laps of their own. Track conditions were some of the windiest seen at the venue and Callum Walker actually clipped the pit gate wall with his right rear wheel as he exited the track. Unfortunately for Walker the incident and resulting damage to the Q33 racer would end his night of competition. The second and third heat groups hit the track for three qualifying laps, with fewer dramas but still enduring the excessive winds.

Heat one returned to the track and while Callum Walker was scheduled to start from pole position, his earlier incident saw him miss the heat. Allan Woods inherited pole position, with Brett Minett alongside, with Brooke Tatnell now up to third on the inside of Andrew Scheuerle. Allan Woods got the jump on the start and quickly settled into the race lead and began opening a comfortable margin over his rivals. Tatnell quickly secured second ahead of Scheuerle while Minett faded as his vastly more experienced rivals came through. Lachlan McHugh, who has spent the past few weeks getting some experience at tracks in the southern states, quickly closed in on Scheuerle, all the while under pressure from a very hard charging Kevin Titman. Titman had a big look on the inside of McHugh but could not quite get the job done, while Andrew Scheuerle had a lot of smoke, and flames, billowing from under the bonnet of the Q25 racer. It didn’t bother Scheuerle in the slightest, as he both chased Tatnell and defended his position from McHugh. Allan Woods went on to take the win ahead of Brooke Tatnell and Andrew Scheuerle, with Lachlan McHugh across the line in fourth. Kevin Titman did a magnificent job to cross the line in fifth and led Danny Reidy, Darren Jensen, Chris Harrison, Jason Pryde and Brett Minett across the line. Unfortunately Callum Walker was unable to start the event.

Heat two started with Sean Iacono and Michael Saller sharing the front row, with the formidable duo of David Murcott and Bryan Mann right behind them. Saller got a brilliant start and quickly settled into the race lead with Mann quick to follow on the high side to secure second. David Murcott and Brent Kratzmann both made up positions during the first lap as Iacono faded through the field. Daniel Harding, after breath-taking run at Archerfield just last weekend, was keen for another strong performance and once the race got underway quickly started putting all kinds of pressure on the back of Rob Hamilton. Saller had built a sizable lead over Mann when the race was brought under caution for the spun car of Rob Hamilton. Hamilton restarted at the rear of the field while Saller, Mann, Murcott, Kratzmann and Jamie Veal led the field to the green with six laps left to run. Saller was very comfortable out in front while Murcott drove under Mann to, briefly, try to steal second. Mann was not willing to surrender without a fight and quickly regained the advantage, but all eyes were on Jamie Veal as he raced his way around Kratzmann and began closing in on Murcott. Michael Saller took the win easily, with Bryan Mann home in second ahead of David Murcott, Jamie Veal, Brent Kratzmann, Mitchell Gee, Daniel Harding, Jayden Peacock and Rob Hamilton. Sean Iacono did not finish the event, exiting the event after just four laps.

Heat three saw Robbie Farr start from pole position with Andrew Wright alongside and Peter Lack and Dave Whell from the second row. Farr got the jump on the start and quickly secured the lead before opening a sizable margin over the rest of the field. Wright settled into second while Lack held down third but immediately came under fire from a very much in form Dave Whell. Whell had a brilliant run and really put the challenge to Lack for a few laps, but Lack was just too strong and managed to stay ahead. Jake Tranter soon caught the tail of Whell, all the while defending his position from Luke Oldfield, as he too tried to make his way closer to the front. James McFadden was trying to make his way forward as well but the race was soon brought under caution after Dylan Menz made heavy contact with the wall in turn four and did damage to the rear end of the Q46 racer. Menz was not injured but was unable to restart the race. Farr led the restart from Wright, Lack and Whell, with Whell again having a massive look underneath Lack when the race resumed. Lack was not prepared to surrender the position and refused to let Whell through, while Tranter began to make his way forward. Luke Oldfield and James McFadden battled mid-field, with McFadden soon securing the advantage and then beginning to close the gap to Whell. Lack held nothing back but couldn’t catch Wright, still it was hard not to watch McFadden as he raced around the outside of Whell, as well as the lapped car of James Grady, in one thrilling high line pass. Tranter began closing in on Lack but could not get close enough to make a move and ultimately ran out of laps. Robbie Farr went on to take the win ahead of Andrew Wright and Peter Lack, with Jake Tranter fourth across the line. James McFadden came home in fifth and led Luke Oldfield, Dave Whell and James Grady home. Scott Genrich and Dylan Menz both failed to finish the event.

An action-packed heat four started with Chris Harrison and Darren Jensen from the front row with Danny Reidy and Jason Pryde right behind. Jensen got the jump on the start and quickly settled into what proved to be an unassailable lead. Pryde secured second while Danny Reidy slid almost effortlessly under Chris Harrison to advance a little closer to the front, while further back in the field Andrew Scheuerle got a little sideways while fighting for track position. Harrison made contact with wall in turn four and brought the event under the first caution of the race and while Harrison was uninjured he was not able to restart the race. Jensen led the restart from Pryde, and Reidy while Lachlan McHugh and Brooke Tatnell had followed close behind as they both searched for a way closer to the front. Reidy had a spectacular run as he had a look on the inside of Pryde, while McHugh boldly ran the high line around Reidy before setting his sights on the W14 racer of Pryde. Tatnell was on the move but Brett Minett soon brought the race under caution when he spun in turns three and four. With eight laps still to run Jensen once again led the restart with Pryde still in second but now under enormous pressure from both McHugh and Tatnell. McHugh took to the high side to race exquisitely around the outside of Pryde as they navigated turn four, with both Tatnell and Reidy quickly slipping through when Pryde ran too wide moments later. Allan Woods was next to bring the race under caution, spinning the Boss Hogs Steak House Q28 to a stop, leaving Jensen to lead the field for yet another restart. McHugh sat in second ahead of Reidy and Tatnell, with Reidy having a breath-taking run as he challenged McHugh on the low line. Unfortunately for Reidy, McHugh was able to hang on to second, and quickly set his sights on Jensen and began closing in. McHugh was flying and had a big look underneath Jensen, while Jensen used the top to stay ahead. Tatnell was committed to the high side and attempting a thrilling outside run around the top of Reidy, only for the race to again be brought under caution, this time for the spun car of Kevin Titman in turn four. Jensen led the restart from McHugh, Reidy and Tatnell, still with six laps left to run, and once the lights went green once more Jensen was quick to open a small lead. Tatnell again took the high side in an attempt to get around Reidy, but Reidy fought back hard, with Jason Pryde taking his turn to bring the race under caution after he too spun in turn four. Once again it was Darren Jensen who led the field to the green, with Lachlan McHugh, Brooke Tatnell and Danny Reidy close behind. Tatnell had a big look on the inside of McHugh as they raced into turn one, but ran just wide enough in turn two to allow Reidy through. Kevin Titman was moving forward, making up ground and positions after his earlier spin, passing three cars in only a handfull of laps and rapidly closing in on the tail of Andrew Scheuerle. McHugh closed in on Jensen in the race lead and the battle between them really began to heat up. The pair spent the final lap almost side-by-side as McHugh challenged for control of the race, but it was Darren Jensen who took the win ahead of Lachlan McHugh, Danny Reidy, Brooke Tatnell, Andrew Scheuerle, Kevin Titman, Allan Woods, Brett Minett and Jason Pryde. Chris Harrison did not finish the race.

Jamie Veal started heat five from pole position, with Daniel Harding alongside. Veal got the jump when the green flag flew, with Harding quickly settling into second. Contact between Brent Kratzmann and Rob Hamilton, who had shared the second row for the start, saw Hamilton spin in turn one, leaving a luckless Mitchell Gee nowhere to go. Contact between Hamilton and Gee followed, and while neither car stopped and were able to avoid a caution period, Gee limped the Q36 Titan Garages racer to the infield, while Hamilton circulated slowly for the remainder of the race. Meanwhile Bryan Mann was looking for a way under Jayden Peacock, the pair putting on a brilliant show for the fans, but there was no stopping Jamie Veal out in front. Veal went on to take the win, with a massive margin over second placed Daniel Harding, with Brent Kratzmann coming home in third and leading David Murcott, Jayden Peacock, Bryan Mann, Michael Saller and Rob Hamilton across the line. Mitchell Gee was unable to finish the event.

Heat six started with James McFadden and Luke Oldfield sharing the front row as they led the field to the green. McFadden led the first start but officials were not happy with the way the leaders crossed the line and brought the race under caution so the boys could try again. McFadden again got the better start and quickly secured the race lead ahead of Oldfield with Peter Lack and Robbie Farr close behind. Oldfield captivated the crowd as he challenged McFadden for the lead, working the bottom as he searched for a way through, all the while Lack closed in while working the topside and looking to make his way to the front. Farr had a brilliant run on the bottom, having a big look under Lack as he tried to advance through the field. McFadden had cleared out and opened a sizable lead, navigating lapped traffic with ease, and went on to take the win ahead of Luke Oldfield, Peter Lack, Robbie Farr and Jake Tranter. Andrew Wright was next across the line with Dave Whell, Scott Genrich and James Grady rounding out the finishers. Dylan Menz unfortunately did not finish the event.

The top eight qualifiers took to the track for a series of three shootout events, with qualifiers five through to eight first up in the Bronze Shootout. The quartet took to the track for a few qualifying laps, with David Murcott the fastest of the group with an 11.432 second lap and securing a transfer to the Silver Shootout. Joining him would be Lachlan McHugh, who went second quickest (11.442 seconds) during the Bronze Shootout, leaving Peter Lack (11.611) and Darren Jensen (11.766) to start the A-Main from positions seven and eight after being eliminated from the Shootout events.

James McFadden and Brooke Tatnell joined David Murcott and Lachlan McHugh on track for the Silver Shootout, with Murcott again dominating the qualifying laps. Murcott recorded the quickest time of the Silver Shootout (11.401), with Brooke Tatnell going second quickest (11.497) and securing the final transfer to the Gold Shootout, despite nearly hitting the wall. James McFadden (11.550) and Lachlan McHugh (11.653) rounded out the Silver Shootout finishers and would share the third row of the starting grid for the A-Main.

The Gold Shootout saw David Murcott and Brooke Tatnell joined on track by Robbie Farr and Jamie Veal for three qualifying laps. David Murcott again topped the leader board, his time of 11.401 on his final circulation (and identical to his first and fastest lap in the Silver Shootout) enough to earn himself pole position for the A-main event, with Robbie Farr (11.561) set to share the front row after coming home in second. Jamie Veal (11.569) and Brooke Tatnell (12.173) finished third and fourth in the Gold Shootout and would start alongside each other on the second row for the start of the A-Main.

The sixteen-car B-Main got underway with Andrew Wright and Jake Tranter from the front row, with Daniel Harding, Danny Reidy, Kevin Titman, Jayden Peacock, Dave Whell and Mitchell Gee to name just a few close behind. It was a tough field for a B-Main race and with only the top six to transfer it was always going to be an entertaining race. Tranter got the jump when the green flag flew, settling into the race lead ahead of Wright, but the race was swiftly brought under caution when Jayden Peacock got too sideways in turn four, heading down track and left a luckless Kevin Titman with nowhere to go. Titman restarted at the rear of the field, but it was a big field and he now had an even bigger task in front of him. A full race restart followed, with Tranter again securing the advantage over Wright and Reidy, while Titman tried to make up lost ground. Mitchell Gee was in impressive form, putting all kinds of pressure on Danny Reidy before having a massive look on the inside of the Q19 racer as he tried to make his way forward. Harding was coming on strong just as the leaders were entering lapped traffic, challenging Reidy for position, while at the rear of the field Brett Minett and James Grady were having an intense battle for the minor places. Tranter had a spin, while leading, and managed to keep the car moving, dropping back to fifth as a result. Despite being in a comfortable transfer position, Tranter quickly set about chasing down Reidy and began searching for a way through, having a bit of a look on the inside of Reidy but unable to get the job done. Kevin Titman had made up incredible ground and was almost back into a transfer position when he rode the right rear of Dave Whell as he attempted a thrilling outside passing move as the pair approached turn three. Unfortunately for Titman things ended badly as the Q59 racer launched high into the catch fence, bringing the race to sudden and unexpected stop. The fence did its job perfectly and stopped Titman from joining the crowd on the hill, while also keeping Titman himself safe, and while the fence suffered extensive damage, Titman was able to walk away from the wreck. Track staff gently extracted the Titman car before assessing the damage to the fence and unfortunately had to cancel not only the remainder of the B-main event, but also the rest of the nights program. It was decided that the fence could not be adequately repaired on the spot and left in a condition that would be safe for drivers, officials and fans so the B-Main was declared and the A-Main abandoned. Safety is, and needs to always be, the number one priority and while it is always disappointing to end a race meeting in such a way, the safety of everyone involved is paramount and cannot ever be compromised. Andrew Wright was declared the winner of the B-Main, ahead of Daniel Harding, Mitchell Gee, Jake Tranter, Danny Reidy and Dave Whell, who would have all secured transfers to the A-Main had it been able to have been run. Jason Pryde, Jayden Peacock, Chris Harrison, Scott Genrich, Rob Hamilton, Brett Minett, Dylan Menz, and James Grady rounded out the B-Main field while both Kevin Titman and Sean Iacono failed to finish the event.

David Murcott was credited with the World Series Sprintcars Round Four win, ahead of Robbie Farr and Jamie Veal, with positions determined on points and qualifying order heading into the A-Main race.

Sprintcars Queensland will return to Archerfield Speedway next Saturday night, 10 December 2016, for one last hit out before the busy Christmas / New Year racing period. Some come on out and cheer on your favourite – it is going to be a thrilling night of Sprintcar racing action and your last chance to see these things with wings before Christmas. See you Trackside!