Last night thirty-three Sprintcars rolled into Ausdeck Patios and Roofing Archerfield Speedway for Round Four of the East Coast Logistics Sprintcar Series and while the battle for the minor positions was fierce, there was just no stopping Luke Oldfield as he raced seemingly effortlessly to his first victory of the 2018-2019 race season. Andrew Scheuerle, Allan Woods and Brent Kratzmann had a thrilling battle for the minor positions over the final few laps of the race, with Kratzmann challenging both Scheuerle and Woods in a breathtaking bid to steal second. Andrew Scheuerle held on to finish second while Brent Kratzmann managed to secure third, after starting ninth, ahead of Allan Woods and Peter Lack. Brent Aprile had an exhilarating run in the NQ42 racer, making his way into second before disappointingly crashing out while making his way past lapped traffic with only six laps left to run.

Qualifying got underway and with thirty-three cars on a very slick track, track conditions changed dramatically the further through the qualifying runs we got. Luke Oldfield topped the leader board, stopping the clock at 12.360 seconds, while Andrew Scheuerle (12.380) and Brent Kratzmann (12.478) completed the top three and gave us an early preview of the podium to come at the end of the night. Peter Lack and Mitchell Gee rounded out the fastest five in qualifying, while less than one second separated the top twenty-six contenders. Scott Genrich beat Brent Aprile by just four thousandths of a second, while Andrew Corbet was just three thousandths of a second quicker than Steve Greer.

Heat one got underway with Anthony Vanderreyden and Phill Foster sharing the front row for the start, with Clem Hoffmans and Brock Dean coming out of the second row. Jayden Peacock, from position five, dove underneath Hoffmans and Dean basically as the lights went green, but contact with Hoffmans set of a chain reaction that almost ended in disaster for Dave Whell and those behind him. Officials brought the race under caution and sent Peacock back a row for the restart. Anthony Vanderreyden got the jump second time around and immediately settled into the race lead, while behind him Dean raced straight between Hoffmans and Foster to secure second by the time they exited turn one. Foster and Hoffmans argued over second and third while Kevin Titman and Dave Whell negotiated over fourth and fifth, as Luke Oldfield began to weave his way through the field. Foster got the better of Hoffmans, while Titman secured the advantage over Whell and ran the top side searching for a way past the Q3 of Hoffmans. Oldfield raced easily underneath Whell and Titman, before taking to the high side to try and get around Hoffmans. Jayden Peacock made his way past Whell and challenged Titman briefly before racing through on the inside only for Titman to immediately fire back on the high side. Unfortunately for Titman he looped the immaculately presented Q59 racer in turn two, and while he was able to keep the car moving, he handed his position to Peacock, and lost another handful of spots as well. Oldfield had made his way underneath Hoffmans and set his sights on Foster and Dean, who were battling for second while also challenging Vanderreyden for the lead. Dean got a fraction too high coming through turn three and clipped the wall, losing some ground on the leaders and dropping out of contention, while Oldfield quickly took his place in the battle with Foster before getting around Foster and challenging Vanderreyden for control of the race. Oldfield searched high and low for a way into the lead, and had several big looks on the high line over the last three laps of the race, but Vanderreyden was smooth and consistent in the lead and refused to surrender control. Anthony Vanderreyden got the win with Luke Oldfield home in second ahead of Phill Foster and Clem Hoffmans. Jayden Peacock finished fifth and led Brock Dean, Adam Butler, Andrew Baumber, Kevin Titman and Mitch Gowland across the line.

Trent Vardy and Andrew Corbet lined up alongside each other for the start of heat two, with Vardy getting the jump when the lights went green and leading the field through the opening corners. Corbet surrendered second to Mark Pholi while Dan Murray secured the advantage over Allan Woods, Mick Sauer and Andrew Scheuerle. Scheuerle quickly found his way underneath Sauer, while Mitchell Gee had a phenomenal run from deep in the field, racing underneath both Sauer and Scheuerle as they powered down the main straight to advance two positions in just one quarter of a lap just moments before the race was brought under caution when Vardy spun the Q55 racer in turn two. Corbet led the restart from Pholi and Murray and while the leading trio led easily, the battles behind them were just starting to heat up. Woods defended his fourth place position from the hard-charging duo of Gee and Scheuerle while Sauer and Nelson Reddacliff had their own battle unfolding behind them. Vardy had another spin, this time in turn three and with Bryan Zelinski also involved, after which the officials relegated the Q55 racer to the infield with six laps left to run. Corbet again led the restart from Pholi and Murray. Woods, Gee and Scheuerle resumed their battle quickly, with both Gee and Scheuerle challenging hard and really stepping up the pressure as the laps wore away, while Reddacliff continued to search for a way past Sauer as they negotiated over the minor places. Andrew Corbet went on to take the win ahead of Mark Pholi and Dan Murray, with Allan Woods coming home in fourth ahead of Mitchell Gee, Andrew Scheuerle, Mick Sauer, Nelson Reddacliff, Bryan Zelinski and Libby Ellis. Trent Vardy did not finish the event.

Kris Jennings started heat three from pole position with Steve Greer alongside and Kristy Bonsey and James Grady on the second row. Jennings and Greer raced side-by-side into turn one, with Greer on the top side emerging in front as they exited turn one. It was short-lived though with Greer promptly looping the Q84 racer in turn two and bringing the race under caution, with Greer relegated to the rear of the field for the restart. Grady, in his first race this season, was elevated to the front row for the restart alongside Jennings. Jennings led the way when the lights went green, getting a brilliant start and quickly securing the lead, oblivious to the action unfolding behind him. Scott Genrich, now from position four, raced straight between Bonsey and Grady to move into second, but when both Brent Aprile and Brent Kratzmann tried to do the same moments later, at the same time, contact between the pair as they raced for the same piece of track ended with the left front wheel of the Q2 of Kratzmann being torn from the car. Peter Lack had literally nowhere to go and bounced wildly, with Lack somehow managing to keep the Q5 from tipping over. Steve Greer was left with nowhere to go and he too became involved as Kratzmann and Lack blocked the track in front of him. Kratzmann, Lack and Greer were all unable to restart the event. Jennings and Grady led the field for the third attempt at a start, with Jennings again dominating when the lights went green and immediately securing the lead and opening a small lead over the rest of the field. Grady settled into second ahead of Kristy Bonsey, but it was clear that Bonsey, who has been in incredible form the past couple of race meetings, was all over the tail of the Q40 racer, patiently biding her time and waiting for the right opportunity to strike. Brent Aprile, Tony Wynne and Randy Morgan battled at the rear of the field, while Bonsey was relentless as she applied increasing pressure to Grady. Another caution for the stopped car of Tony Michell bunched the field back up, with Jennings to lead the restart from Grady and Bonsey. Jennings quickly pulled several car lengths ahead of the rest of the field once the race resumed, while Bonsey saw an opening underneath Grady as they exited turn two and quickly raced through on the bottom, advancing to second and leaving Grady to try and defend his position from Aprile. Grady managed to hold Aprile off for several laps, until Scott Genrich came charging through and put himself between Grady and Aprile. Kris Jennings went on to take the win ahead of Kristy Bonsey and James Grady, with Scott Genrich home in fourth ahead of Tony Wynne, Brent Aprile and Randy Morgan. Tony Michell, Steve Greer, Peter Lack and Brent Kratzmann all failed to finish the event.

Heat four saw Randy Morgan start from pole position with Kris Jennings alongside. Morgan got a brilliant start and quickly secured the lead while Jayden Peacock attempted to race up the inside of both Dan Murray and Kris Jennings. Jennings hung on to second ahead of both Murray and Peacock, but it was Brent Kratzmann on the top side who captivated the crowd as he raced boldly around Dave Whell and Kristy Bonsey before looking to get around Peacock and Murray in one big spectacular run around the top through the first couple of corners of the race. Oldfield tried to follow Kratzmann on the top side, while Bonsey bravely fought back on the bottom to regain her position. Bonsey, with both Kratzmann and Oldfield all over her tail tank, set her sights on Murray and began challenging for third, while Kratzmann had another look on the topside. Oldfield dived underneath Kratzmann as they rounded turn four just moments before Libby Ellis spun to a stop on the back straight and brought the race under caution. Morgan led the restart from Jennings and Peacock but less than a lap in and the race was brought back under caution when Peacock spun in turn three, just moments after Oldfield got the better of Bonsey and began chasing Murray, and as Kratzmann raced around Bonsey. Morgan and Jennings again led the restart from Murray and Bonsey, while Oldfield took to the high line and spent several laps searching for a way around Bonsey and Murray, eventually getting the job done and setting out after Jennings, while Bonsey was left to defend her position from Kratzmann. Oldfield caught Jennings in a few laps before quickly racing up the inside of the striking Q81 car and into second and setting his sights on Morgan. Randy Morgan got the win, a little more the three seconds ahead of Luke Oldfield in second, while Kris Jennings crossed the line in third and led Dan Murray, Kristy Bonsey, Brent Kratzmann, Trent Vardy, Andrew Baumber, Jayden Peacock, Dave Whell and Libby Ellis home.

Heat five hit the track with Tony Wynne and Anthony Vanderreyden on the front row to lead the field to the green. Wynne got the jump on the start but Vanderreyden charged around the top, just as Andrew Corbet challenged on the bottom, the trio three wide as they rounded turn one. Contact between Wynne and Vanderreyden saw the pair spin in front of the entire field, leaving both Steve Greer and Scott Genrich nowhere to go. A full restart followed with Andrew Corbet and Mick Sauer now sharing the front row. Corbet got a brilliant start and quickly secured the race lead, with Peter Lack settling into second ahead of Mick Sauer while behind them Andrew Scheuerle worked the top side as he tried to advance ahead of Mitch Gowland and Mark Pholi. Gowland got underneath Pholi, with Scheuerle attempting to follow him through, only for the race to be brought under caution when Steve Greer spun to a stop in turn one. Corbet led the restart from Lack and Sauer, while deeper in the field Scheuerle made short work of getting underneath Pholi and moved one spot closer to the front. Gowland challenged Sauer as Scheuerle charged on the top side, making his way around Gowland before turning his attention to Sauer and getting underneath the Q69 racer a couple of laps later. Gowland kept the pressure on Sauer and eventually made his way through, using the bottom and getting the advantage as they raced down the back straight, but there was no stopping Andrew Corbet out in front as he raced to his second heat race victory of the night. Peter Lack finished second with Andrew Scheuerle home in third ahead of Mitch Gowland, Mick Sauer, Mark Pholi, Scott Genrich, Bryan Zelinski, Tony Wynne and Steve Greer. Anthony Vanderreyden, who suffered a flat right rear tyre in the opening lap incident, did not finish the race.

Clem Hoffmans started from pole position in the final heat of the night, with Phill Foster alongside and Brock Dean and James Grady from the second row. Hoffmans got the jump when the green flag flew, with Dean and Brent Aprile charging through on the bottom underneath both Grady and Foster and advancing to second and third respectively. Allan Woods, from position seven, started his climb towards the front, with Mitchell Gee on his tail. A caution two laps in for the spun car of Tony Michell briefly halted proceedings, with Hoffmans, Dean and Aprile to lead the restart. Aprile immediately dove underneath Dean as they rounded turn one, while Woods took to the high line to get around Foster and begin challenging Dean. Woods was nothing short of sensational as the raced exquisitely around the high line, racing his way around Dean and Aprile in less than half a lap and had considerable momentum as he began challenging Hoffmans for control of the race, taking the lead less than a lap later. Mitchell Gee was making his way forward, getting the better of Foster and closing in on Dean, as Dean began challenging Aprile. Dean got underneath Aprile to regain third, leaving Aprile and Gee to negotiate over the minor positions, the pair having an intense battle for a number of laps before Gee emerged in front. Allan Woods went on to take the win ahead of Clem Hoffmans and Brock Dean, with Mitchell Gee home in fourth. Brent Aprile finished fifth ahead of Kevin Titman, Phill Foster, Nelson Reddacliff, Adam Butler, James Grady and Tony Michell.

Luke Oldfield and Andrew Scheuerle shared the front row for the start of the Dash event, and while Oldfield got a great jump when the lights went green, Scheuerle challenged hard on the top side through the opening corners before Oldfield was able to secure the lead. Oldfield began to open what would become a substantial margin, while Scheuerle settled into a comfortable second. The battle for third was fierce, with Mitchell Gee, Allan Woods and Peter Lack all in the mix and trading places back and forth. Lack had third only for Woods to slide through on the bottom, with Gee quickly following. Lack charged back underneath Gee half a lap later and set out after Woods, while Gee chased Lack and searched for a way around the outside before having a huge look on the inside of the Q5 Mega Fuels racer. Luke Oldfield got the win ahead of Andrew Scheuerle and Allan Woods, with Mitchell Gee stealing fourth from Peter Lack in a bold and perfectly timed move on the high side coming out of the final corner. Peter Lack finished fifth ahead of Brent Aprile, Scott Genrich and Andrew Corbet.

A huge field of nineteen cars lined up for the start of what was meant to be a 15-lap B-Main event with Kris Jennings and Clem Hoffmans to lead them to the green. Jennings got a brilliant start when the green flag flew, quickly securing the lead despite an initial challenge on the high side from Hoffmans, but the race was promptly brought under caution when James Grady tipped the Q40 racer on its side after contact with a fellow competitor mid-field. A full restart followed and while Jennings and Hoffmans raced side-by-side into the opening corner, it was Jennings who again emerged in front with Hoffmans settling into second ahead of Dave Whell and Randy Morgan. The race was only a couple of laps old when it was again brought to a stop, with Bryan Zelinski up-ending the #71 racer in turn two, with several other cars involved. Jennings led the restart, with the race now reduced to just ten laps, from Hoffmans, Morgan and Whell with Jayden Peacock sitting just outside of the transfer positions. Jennings immediately opened a comfortable margin on the others, leaving them to fight over the minor places, with Morgan putting all kinds of pressure on Hoffmans and Peacock all over the back of Whell. Peacock attempted to run the high line around the Q4 racer, only to loop his own #77 car and fade back several positions, while Adam Butler had a great run around the top side, getting past Andrew Baumber and closing in on Anthony Vanderreyden. Kris Jennings got the win ahead of Randy Morgan and Dave Whell, with Clem Hoffmans managing to hang on to finish fourth and claim the final transfer to the back of the A-Main grid. Adam Butler managed to get up as high as fifth, after starting way back in sixteenth, and only narrowly missed a transfer, while Dan Murray finished sixth and led Anthony Vanderreyden, Andrew Baumber, Trent Vardy, Jayden Peacock, Tony Wynne, Tony Michell and Steve Greer across the line in the shorted race.

The A-Main rolled onto the track with an eighteen-car field rich in talent set to take the green for the 30-lap main event, with Luke Oldfield and Andrew Scheuerle to lead them to the green. Oldfield got the jump when the lights went green and quickly secured the lead while Scheuerle settled into second and left Allan Woods and Mitchell Gee to fight over third. Brent Aprile and Brent Kratzmann both took to the high line trying to make their way towards the front, while Woods raced underneath Scheuerle to take second and leave Scheuerle to defend his position from a very hard-charging Gee. Gee got around the top side of Scheuerle while Peter Lack and Brent Aprile closed in and Kratzmann made his way around Andrew Corbet, and Kevin Titman and Scott Genrich negotiated over mid-field positions. Out in front Oldfield entered lapped traffic, with Gee and Woods closing in and Scheuerle stepping up the pressure on Woods as he fought for a position in the top three. The battle that followed between Woods, Gee and Scheuerle was something special, but it was Aprile on the high line who seemed to steal the show. Aprile committed to the high side and in less than one corner raced around both Scheuerle and Gee as if the pair were standing still. Aprile had incredible speed in the NQ42 racer, and weaved his way through the lapped traffic, chasing Woods, while Scheuerle and Woods continued their battle, only to be joined by a very much in-form Peter Lack. Scheuerle stayed with Aprile, challenging him for position, the pair coming together in turn two and lucky to avoid a bigger incident, while Lack momentarily got the better of Gee before Gee dove straight between Lack and a lapped car as they rounded turn three, only for Lack to fight back strong and regain the advantage coming out of turn four. Aprile had the NQ42 racer absolutely on rails as he raced almost effortlessly around Woods and into second. While Aprile set about beginning to try and close the almost half a lap gap to Oldfield in the race lead, Gee, Scheuerle and Lack battled over the minor places. Gee slid underneath Lack as they rounded turn three, with Lack attempting to fight back underneath Gee in turn four, but contact between the right rear of Lack and the left front of Gee would change the course of their race. While Lack bounced around and defied gravity to keep the car on four wheels, losing several positions in the process, Gee was left with a cut down left front tyre. Both drivers were fortunate to escape a bigger incident but would be left with a less than ideal racecar for the remainder of the race. Aprile was beginning to narrow the gap to the race leader but contact with a lapped car saw him roll end-to-end in turn three and out of the race with six laps to run. Fortunately Brent walked away from the wreck.

Luke Oldfield led the restart from Allan Woods, Andrew Scheuerle and Brent Kratzmann with six laps left to run. Woods initially stayed with Oldfield as the race resumed but was soon forced on the defensive as Scheuerle raced through on the bottom, with Kratzmann following almost immediately. Kratzmann was in fine form and raced straight underneath Woods as they rounded turn four, before challenging Scheuerle for second as they entered turn one. Woods raced back around the outside of Kratzmann as they headed through turn two, only for Kratzmann to get back underneath half a lap later and move back into third. Woods chased Kratzmann for the rest of the race but there was little he could do to get back on the podium. Luke Oldfield got the win ahead of Andrew Scheuerle with Brent Kratzmann filling the final podium position after an inspiring drive from ninth on the starting grid. Allan Woods finished fourth ahead of Peter Lack, Andrew Corbet, Brock Dean, Mitchell Gee, Randy Morgan (9th after transferring from the B-Main), Scott Genrich, Kristy Bonsey, Mick Sauer, Dave Whell, Mark Pholi, Kris Jennings and Clem Hoffmans. Brent Aprile and Kevin Titman were the two starters who did not finish the event.

Sprintcars Queensland will make use of the Rain Date we had set aside for next weekend to make up the round lost to rain back in October and will be back at Ausdeck Patios and Roofing Archerfield Speedway next Saturday 01 December 2018, for another round of the East Coast Logistics Series. See you there!