Last night Sprintcars Queensland headed back to Hi-Tec Oils Speedway in Toowoomba, despite a less than favourable weather forecast, for Ultimate Pink Night, proudly presented by The Chronicle, and another round of the Queensland USC. We had nearly thirty cars set to put on a brilliant show, and support fund raising efforts for the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and what a night it was. The threat of imminent inclement weather meant we pushed through the program as quickly as possible and while the team at Hi-Tec Oils Speedway did a magnificent job to get and hour and a half ahead of schedule, rain at around 8.30pm, after our B-main was completed but before the A-Main could hit the track, left everyone with no choice but to abandon the rest of the race meeting. Peter Lack and Robbie Farr were set to share the front row for the start of the A-Main, with Mitchell Gee and Jayden Peacock set to come out of the second row. Mother Nature was the winner last night and while we are all disappointed we could not complete our final race of the evening, we do hope that some of the much-needed rain reached some of the places that really do need it.

Qualifying got underway and it was Mitchell Gee who topped the leader board, stopping the clock at an exceptionally quick 10.896 second lap. Gee was the only driver to break into the ten-second bracket, while Jayden Peacock went second quickest with a quick 11.014. Brent Kratzmann was third after the conclusion of qualifying, stopping the clock at 11.080, while Robbie Farr (11.125) and Peter Lack (11.194) rounded out the top five. The fastest nineteen cars were separated by less than one second, proving again how close the competition is. Unfortunately for Mitch Gowland though, his night ended very prematurely, a broken rocker in the motor bringing an early end to his night, without recording a qualifying lap.

Heat one started with Clem Hoffmans and Randy Morgan from the front row with Mick Sauer and Andrew Scheuerle from the second row. While Sauer got a great start on the bottom, Mitchell Gee was brilliant on the top side as he began making his way to the front. Scheuerle and Gee quickly made their way around Hoffmans, while Morgan secured the lead and started opening a comfortable margin on the rest of the field. Hoffmans faded back through the field, but it was the battle between Andrew Scheuerle and Mitchell Gee as they fought over second that captivated the crowd. Gee was absolutely relentless as he searched high and low for a way past Scheuerle, and while Gee held nothing back, having several looks underneath Scheuerle, Scheuerle was equally determined and denied Gee at every opportunity. Lapped traffic came into play, and while Scheuerle was magnificent as he quickly made his way past the back markers, Gee stayed right on his tail. Gee pushed Scheuerle all the way to the chequered flag, but neither had anything for Morgan out in front. Randy Morgan got the win ahead of Andrew Scheuerle and Mitchell Gee, while Mick Sauer crossed the line in fourth ahead of Kevin Titman, Clem Hoffmans, Shane Matthews and Libby Ellis. Scott Genrich did not finish the event.

Nathan Black and Dave Whell led the field to the green for the start of heat two, with Whell briefly securing the lead as they rounded the first two corners. Danny Reidy though was magnificent on the top side, boldly racing around the outside of Whell to take control of the race with just half a lap completed. Unfortunately for Reidy it did not last long, a near disaster for the Q19 racer just one lap in saw him surrender the lead back to Whell, while Jayden Peacock also snuck through to relegate Reidy back to third. The race was brought under caution for the spun car of Sean Rose, with Dave Whell to led them back to the green when the race resumed. The moment the green flag flew Jayden Peacock began challenging Whell for the lead, taking to the high line and trying to race around the Q4 racer, only for Whell to fight back hard on the bottom and maintain the lead. Slight contact between the pair slightly dislodged the front wing on the Peacock Q77 racer, with Peacock soon coming under fire from a determined Reidy as he fought to make up lost ground. Reidy raced beautifully underneath Peacock with just a few laps left to run, leaving Peacock to defend his position from Peter Lack, and began chasing after Dave Whell and the race lead. Reidy searched for a way past Whell, challenging the Q4 racer right to the final corner, but it was Dave Whell who got the win ahead of Danny Reidy, Jayden Peacock, Peter Lack, Brett Minett, Nicholas Whell, Sean Rose and Nathan Black.

Heat three saw Anthony Lambert start from pole position, with Dan Murray alongside. The pair drag raced side-by-side into the first corner but it was Lambert who took control of the race. Lachlan McHugh settled into third while Brent Kratzmann raced around Robbie Farr and Andrew Corbet to briefly hold down fourth, but Robbie Farr quickly got underneath Kratzmann and made short work of moving into second, after starting back in fifth, racing up the inside of both McHugh and Murray as they rounded turn four. McHugh raced underneath Murray, with Kratzmann following half a lap later, leaving Murray with Corbet on his tail. Kratzmann began challenging Lachlan McHugh for track position, while Farr was all over the back of Lambert for a few laps before making his underneath the Q90 racer and taking control of the race. McHugh was quick to follow Farr past Lambert, while deeper in the field Andrew Corbet made his way past Brent Kratzmann and began challenging Lambert, putting all kinds of pressure on the Q90 while Kratzmann stayed close behind and ready to make a move if the opportunity presented itself. It was a close battle for the minor positions, the battle for third really heating up with just a lap and a half left to run, but there was not stopping Robbie Farr as he raced to an easy victory ahead of Lachlan McHugh and Anthony Lambert, while Brent Kratzmann got the better of Andrew Corbet on the final lap of the race. Brent Kratzmann finished fourth ahead of Andrew Corbet, Dan Murray, Anthony Vanderreyden and Jason King.

Heat four saw Anthony Vanderreyden and Brett Minett share the front row for the start, and while Minett was able to secure the lead, all eyes were on Danny Reidy as he sailed around the top of both Vanderreyden and Minett on the opening lap. Andrew Corbet and Mitchell Gee searched for drive on the high line, while Peter Lack worked the bottom, all three searching for a way past Vanderreyden, and while Lack managed to get his nose a fraction in front on the bottom, Vanderreyden fought back to maintain third. Corbet was quick on the top side and, with a little persistence, raced around Vanderreyden, with both Lack and Gee getting past Vanderreyden when he made a small mistake in turn four moments later. Corbet, Lack and Gee tried to close the gap to Minett, with Lack getting underneath Corbet as they rounded turn one, and Gee following him through almost a lap later when Corbet began to slow. The race was brought under caution to give Corbet a chance to limp the Q78 racer from the highline to the infield, just as Reidy was beginning to make his way through lapped traffic. Reidy led the restart from Minett, Lack and Gee, with Reidy quickly opening a very impressive lead and Lack immediately putting immense pressure on Minett. Lack raced round the outside of Minett, with Gee right on his tail, and while Gee challenged Lack for second for the final few laps of the race, there was little he could do. Danny Reidy got the win ahead of Peter Lack and Mitchell Gee, with Brett Minett home in fourth and leading Anthony Vanderreyden, Clem Hoffmans, Nicholas Whell and Jason King across the line. Andrew Corbet did not finish the event.

Heat five started with Nathan Black and Mick Sauer form the front row. Sauer got the lead when the lights went green, but Robbie Farr, from position six this time, was absolutely brilliant as he raced around the top side, around Andrew Scheuerle, Lachlan McHugh, Dave Whell and Nathan Black and into second with less than half a lap completed. Unfortunately for Farr the race was promptly brought under caution when Sean Rose spun the Q56 racer in turn one, bringing about a full restart. Mick Sauer again led the field through the first corner, only this time Lachlan McHugh stuck to the high line, refusing leave the top open for Robbie Farr this time around. Whell got the better of Black to secure second, while McHugh quickly made his way into third. McHugh made it look easy as he then raced boldly around the outside of Whell, while behind them Andrew Scheuerle raced around Nathan Black, with Robbie Farr in hot pursuit. Farr got around Black before racing underneath Scheuerle half a lap later, and turned his attention to Whell, spending just a couple of laps closing the gap before putting the pressure on as he negotiated for third. Farr got underneath Whell as they rounded turn four and set about closing the gap to McHugh and Sauer, quickly closing the gap as the laps wore on and they raced closer to the chequered flag. McHugh challenged Sauer for the lead but could not quite get the job done, all the while Farr was closing in quickly behind, soon joining the battle for the lead. With two laps left to run Farr showed his nose underneath McHugh, only for McHugh to fight back hard on the high side and finding enough momentum to challenge Sauer for the lead as the white flag flew. McHugh was exceptionally fast on the top side, racing side-by-side with Sauer as they raced towards the finish, crossing the line two abreast, with Lachlan McHugh stealing the win and leaving Mick Sauer in second ahead of Robbie Farr. Andrew Scheuerle finished fourth and led Dave Whell, Nathan Black, Sean Rose and Shane Matthews across the line.

Dan Murray and Anthony Lambert led the field to the green for the sixth and final heat event of the night, with Randy Morgan and Kevin Titman close behind and Brent Kratzmann and Jayden Peacock the only other starters. Lambert got the jump on the start and set a brilliant pace out in front as Titman settled into second after racing around Murray on the opening corner. Peacock followed Titman around Murray and began negotiations with Titman over second, beginning a thrilling battle that would keep the crowd entertained. Peacock got past Titman, only for Titman to quickly return serve on the bottom half a lap later. The pair raced side-by-side, thrilling the crowd as they fought over track position, with Titman eventually getting the advantage and Peacock lightly tagging the wall as they raced out of turn four. Kratzmann sat in fourth, having got the better of Murray, but soon joined Titman and Peacock in the battle for the minor places, and while Titman managed to pull slightly ahead, The battle between Peacock and Kratzmann intensified. Kratzmann was persistent on the bottom, and while he had several big looks underneath Peacock, Peacock managed to hang on to the advantage. A caution for the spun car of Dan Murray in turn three with four laps left to run bunched the field back up, with Anthony Lambert to lead them away. Lambert got a brilliant start, while Randy Morgan had a bold look underneath Kratzmann. Kratzmann of course denied him a way through, while Titman and Peacock resumed their fight for second, with Peacock eventually getting underneath Titman. Anthony Lambert got a very popular win ahead of Jayden Peacock and Kevin Titman with Brent Kratzmann home in fourth ahead of Randy Morgan and Dan Murray.

We ran a shootout format last night, with Peter Lack, Lachlan McHugh, Brent Kratzmann and Andrew Scheuerle taking to the track for the Bronze Shootout. Lachlan McHugh topped the leader board with a quick 11.583 second lap and he, along with Peter Lack (11.590) would transfer to the Silver Shootout. Andrew Scheuerle (11.653) and Brent Kratzmann (11.858) were eliminated from the Shootout event.

For the Silver Shootout Lachlan McHugh and Peter Lack were joined on track by Robbie Farr and Danny Reidy. This time it was Peter Lack who recorded the quickest time, a 11.297 second lap, while Robbie Farr, who stopped the clock at 11.377 seconds, would also advance to the Gold Shootout. Danny Reidy (11.568) and Lachlan McHugh (11.706) failed to make the transfer and would share the third row of the grid for the start of the A-Main race.

Jayden Peacock and Mitchell Gee joined Peter Lack and Robbie Farr on track for the Gold Shootout, but experience won when Peter Lack and Robbie Farr bettered their young rivals to earn front row starts in the upcoming feature event. Lack stopped the clock at 11.229 seconds, a fraction quicker than the 11.413 recorded by Robbie Farr. Mitchell Gee was third quickest of the group, stopping the clock at 11.442, while Jayden Peacock completed the Gold Shootout contenders with an 11.628 second lap.

Dan Murray and Andrew Corbet led the small B-Main field to the green, with Corbet quickly securing the lead when the green flag flew. Nathan Black tried to follow on the high line, only for Murray to fight back hard on the bottom to maintain second. Corbet was untroubled in the race lead, while the battle for the final transfer position was beginning to heat up behind him. Anthony Vanderreyden sat in fifth and was searching for a way past Jason King, eventually making his way through and securing fourth. Sean Rose brought the race under caution as he slowed near the fence a few laps in, leaving Corbet to lead the restart with five laps to run. Corbet was unchallenged in the race lead, oblivious to the battle unfolding behind him, while Black was all over the back of Murray as they fought over second. King tried to find a way back past Vanderreyden but could not quite make it work, while Murray came under increasing and relentless pressure from Black. With just a lap and a half left to run Black challenged Murray, the pair racing side-by-side until Black managed to secure the advantage with less than one lap left to run. Andrew Corbet got the win ahead of Nathan Black and Dan Murray, with Anthony Vanderreyden securing the fourth and final transfer to the A-Main. Jason King finished fifth ahead of Clem Hoffmans and Shane Matthews, while Sean Rose and Nicholas Whell did not finish the event.

Unfortunately light drizzle began to fall across the venue before the A-Main had a chance to hit the track. It had been part of the weather forecast for days and while the team at Hi-Tec Oils Speedway did everything they could to get the entire program in, running an incredible hour and a half ahead of schedule, it quickly became apparent that we would sadly be unable to run the A-Main event.

Our next race meeting will now be back at Ausdeck Patios and Roofing Archerfield Speedway on Boxing Night, Wednesday 26 December 2018. That will be a MASSIVE night of Sprintcar racing so get yourself (and your family/friends/neighbours) trackside to see it all for yourself!