Donny Schatz showed us once again last night why he is the best in the world as he ran away from his rivals in the Sprintcar A-Main at Ausdeck Patios and Roofing Archerfield Speedway for Round Seven of the East Coast Logistics Sprintcar Series and Night One of USA Sprintcars. Our own Brent Kratzmann provided an initial challenge, racing the high side and fighting Schatz for control of the race as they negotiated the first lap of the thirty-five-lap affair, but Schatz was just too quick in the U15 racer, quickly securing the lead and beginning to open what would quickly become a sizable margin. Kratzmann was left to defend his position from an extremely hard-charging Luke Oldfield, and, while not taking anything away from Schatz, it was the breath-taking and unrelenting race-long battle between Kratzmann and Oldfield that stole the show. While Schatz weaved his way seemingly effortlessly through the back markers, at one point lapping up to and including sixth and searching for a way past Allan Woods and Andrew Scheuerle, who were running fourth and fifth at the time, Kratzmann and Oldfield traded places back and forth as they negotiated over second and third. Oldfield was relentless, and managed to get in front of Kratzmann on several occasions, but Kratzmann was determined and immediately fired back each time Oldfield found a way in front, quickly regaining his position. The battle between the pair was truly exceptional, with Brent Kratzmann eventually crossing the line in second and Luke Oldfield securing third. Andrew Scheuerle sat in fourth for most of the race, occasionally looking to join Kratzmann and Oldfield in the fight for the minor places, but faded in the final six laps, with Allan Woods and Mitchell Gee charging through to claim fourth and fifth respectively, leaving Scheuerle in sixth.

Qualifying got underway and while Donny Schatz set the benchmark at 11.789 seconds, Luke Oldfield lowered the time just one lap later, his 11.624 second lap securing Quick Time in the qualifying run in a field of thirty-eight cars. Schatz was second quickest ahead of Mitchell Gee (11.937), Andrew Scheuerle (11.997) and Brent Kratzmann (12.135). Mid-field Mick Sauer beat Brett Minett by just three thousandths of a second, with Minett only four thousands of a second quicker than Ben Hilder. Brock Dean beat Allan Woods by two thousandths of second, while Mitch Gowland was only 0.006 seconds slower than Woods. Less than one and half seconds separated the top thirty-two cars.

Heat one started with Dave Whell and Anthony Vanderreyden from the front row, with Whell getting the best start when the lights went green. Whell quickly secured the race lead while Ryan McNamara challenged Vanderreyden for second and, deeper in the field, Brent Aprile raced up the inside of both Mark Pholi and Steve Greer before also getting underneath Mick Sauer. Luke Oldfield took to the high line and started make his way forward, racing around Kristy Bonsey, then underneath Greer, before getting around Pholi. Pholi fought back for a couple of laps but Oldfield was too quick, the Q17 racer pulling slightly ahead of Pholi and joining the battle between Aprile and Sauer as they argued over the minor positions. Vanderreyden maintained second but was under immense and increasing pressure from McNamara and Aprile, the trio soon racing three-wide through turn three, with McNamara on the high side, Aprile running the gutter and Vanderreyden sandwiched between them. Vanderreyden led them out of turn four, with McNamara behind and Aprile now under fire from Oldfield. Aprile finally managed to get ahead of McNamara, only for the race to be brought under caution almost immediately for the spun cars of Sauer in turn three, and Pholi on the main straight. Whell led the restart from Vanderreyden, McNamara, Aprile and Oldfield. Aprile and Oldfield made short work of getting around McNamara, with Oldfield promptly getting underneath Aprile moments later, then around Vanderreyden half a lap after that. Still, there was little anyone could do to catch Dave Whell out in front, with Whell going on to take the win ahead of Luke Oldfield and Brent Aprile. Anthony Vanderreyden crossed the line in fourth and led Kristy Bonsey, Tim Farrell, Ryan McNamara, Steve Greer, Nelson Reddacliff, Mick Sauer and Jason King across the line. Mark Pholi did not finish the event.

Mitch Gowland was the pole sitter for the start of heat two, with Paul Rooks alongside, but it was Gowland who took control when the green flag flew. Peter Lack tried to race up the inside of both Dan Murray and Brett Minett as they raced through the opening corners but it was Murray who prevailed to secure third. Brent Kratzmann and Donny Schatz raced side-by-side into turn one, the pair attempting to get underneath Andrew Corbet, and while Corbet led them into turn two, it was Kratzmann who led the trio towards turn three. Schatz got past Corbet and challenged Kratzmann, only for Corbet to race back underneath Schatz half a lap later. For Corbet though it was short-lived, with Schatz immediately getting back underneath the Q78 racer and turning his attention back to Kratzmann, getting past the Q2 racer in just a few laps before quickly making his way past Minett as well. Kratzmann followed Schatz past Minett, with Corbet also in hot pursuit. Corbet got past Minett and Kratzmann, the trio now right on the tail of Murray, while Steven Johnson got past the inside of Minett just half a lap before he hit a rut in turn two and inverted the Q96 racer, bringing the race under caution. Johnson was not hurt in the crash but was unable to restart the event. Gowland led the restart from Lack and Schatz and while Gowland managed to hang on to the lead for another lap, Lack soon found his way into the race lead, with Schatz quickly displacing Gowland as well. Peter Lack went on to take the win ahead of Donny Schatz, with Mitch Gowland doing an incredible job to finish third. Dan Murray crossed the line in fourth, while Brent Kratzmann managed to get the better of both Andrew Corbet and Paul Rooks in the final three laps of the race to secure fifth. Andrew Corbet crossed the line in sixth and led Brett Minett, Paul Rooks, Phill Foster, Nathan Black, Kris Jennings and Libby Ellis across the line. Steven Johnson did not finish the event.

Heat three started with Allan Woods and Brock Dean from the front row, with Kevin Titman and Ben Hilder, driving the Q12 racer normally piloted by Tony Michell, from the second row. Woods got a brilliant start when the lights went green, immediately securing the lead, while Titman was quick to follow on the bottom to settle into second. Brodie Tulloch got up the inside of Hilder and started challenging Dean for third, while deeper in the field Mitchell Gee was relentless as he searched for a way past Anthony Lambert. Gee almost got the job done a couple of times, but Lambert fought back and refused to surrender the advantage, while ahead of them Andrew Scheuerle searched for a way past Ben Hilder. Scheuerle timed his run perfectly, getting underneath Hilder as they rounded turn one, before getting around Tulloch as they raced through turns three and four. In less than a half a lap Scheuerle had pulled several car lengths ahead of Tulloch and was beginning to close in on the back of Dean, while Gee continued to search for a way around Lambert, and the leaders, Woods and Titman, weaved their way through the back markers. Allan Woods got the win ahead of Kevin Titman and Brock Dean, with Andrew Scheuerle home in fourth. Brodie Tulloch was next across the line, leading Ben Hilder, Anthony Lambert, Mitchell Gee, Andrew Baumber, Sean Rose, Kevin Britten and Scott Genrich to the chequered flag.

Kristy Bonsey and Brock Dean shared the front row for the start of heat four, with Bonsey leading the way when the lights went green. While Bonsey was quick to secure the lead, Allan Woods raced around the topside of Dean in an unsuccessful attempt to secure second, and, deeper in the field, Kevin Titman and Luck Oldfield tried to race either side of Anthony Vanderreyden, with Luke Oldfield on their tail. Titman, Vanderreyden and Lack raced three-wide through turn four but it was Lack on the high side who led them out of the corner. Titman switched to the top-side to try and get around Vanderreyden, but opened the door just enough for Luke Oldfield to slip through as they made their way through turn two. Oldfield got underneath Titman before getting around Vanderreyden half a lap later, while Titman moved back to the bottom to get underneath Vanderreyden as they came through turn four. Oldfield got past Lack, with Titman following a lap later but with the white flag in the air all eyes were on the leading trio. Dean challenged Bonsey on the high side but a small error from Bonsey left the door open on the bottom and Woods did not hesitate. With just half a lap to run Woods raced up the inside of both Dean and Bonsey to take control and steal the win. Allan Woods got the win ahead of Kristy Bonsey, with Oldfield charging around the topside of Dean as they raced towards the chequered flag. Dean and Oldfield crossed the line side-by-side but it was Luke Oldfield who snared third by just 0.089 seconds. Brock Dean finished fourth ahead of Kevin Titman, Peter Lack, Mitchell Gee, Anthony Vanderreyden, Paul Rooks, Scott Genrich, Jason King and Sean Rose.

Heat five started with Ryan McNamara and Mick Sauer from the front row, with Dave Whell and Brett Minett right behind. McNamara and Sauer raced wheel-to-wheel into turn one, but it was Sauer on the top-side who prevailed and secured the lead. Minett raced underneath Whell as they negotiated over the minor positions, with Anthony Lambert looking to follow him through. Lambert and Whell entered turn three side-by-side, only for Andrew Corbet to dive between them as they rounded the corner. Corbet emerged in front of both Lambert and Whell and had Minett in his sights when the race was brought under caution for the spun car of Nathan Black. Sauer led the restart from McNamara and Minett while Schatz quickly made his way past Lambert. Corbet challenged Minett for third but a small mistake in turn two saw Corbet move slightly up track, saw Schatz forced to take evasive action and left Lambert nowhere to go. Lambert collided with the back of Schatz and inverted the Q90 racer. Lambert was unscathed in the incident, and even restarted the race, though pulled out of the event after completing just a couple of laps. Sauer, McNamara and Minett led the restart, with Schatz getting underneath Corbet less than one lap after the race resumed while Brent Kratzmann simultaneously got the better of Whell. Schatz charged around the outside of Minett but the race was brought under caution once more, this time for Nathan Black who had stopped on the bottom of turn two, while Libby Ellis pulled to the infield with front end damage and Kevin Britten also exited the race. Sauer again led the restart and while Schatz tried to run around Minett, Minett got underneath McNamara to take second. Schatz followed half a lap later, relegating McNamara another position further back, while behind him Kratzmann got around Corbet. Another caution soon followed, this time for the spun car of Brett Minett in turn three, with Sauer to again lead the restart. This time though Sauer had Schatz on his tail and it wasn’t long before Schatz made his move. Sauer fought hard but there was little he could do, with Donny Schatz ultimately taking control of the race and going on to get the win. Mick Sauer finished second while Brent Kratzmann crossed the line in third. Ryan McNamara came home a very impressive fourth and led Dave Whell, Tim Farrell, Andrew Corbet, Brett Minett and Kris Jennings across the line. Kevin Britten, Nathan Black, Libby Ellis and Anthony Lambert all failed to finish the event.

Heat six started with Mark Pholi from pole position and Mitch Gowland alongside. Gowland was quickest of the pair on the start and, despite the best efforts of Pholi, led the field through the first corner. Pholi settled into second while Ben Hilder raced around Dan Murray to secure third, while deeper in the field Brent Aprile and Andrew Scheuerle began searching for a way to the front. At the rear of the field Phill Foster, Nelson Reddacliff and Clem Hoffmans had a great battle for the minor positions, for several laps, but it was the mid-field action that proved most entertaining. Scheuerle eventually got the better of Aprile and set his sights on Brodie Tulloch, the pair having a great battle for a number of laps before Scheuerle finally made his way through on the bottom. Mitch Gowland went on to take the win ahead of Ben Hilder and Dan Murray, with Andrew Scheuerle home in fourth. Brodie Tulloch was fifth across the line while Brent Aprile was credited with sixth ahead of Steve Greer and Mark Pholi. Nelson Reddacliff finished ninth and led Phill Foster and Clem Hoffmans home, while Andrew Baumber did not finish the event.

Seven cars lined up for the start of the eight-lap C-Main event, with Steven Johnson from pole position. Johnson took control of the race the moment the lights went green, with Sean Rose, who had shared the front row with Johnson, settling into second ahead of Scott Genrich. Genrich displaced Rose with just a lap and a half completed, but no one had anything for Johnson out in front. Steven Johnson went on to take the win, with Scott Genrich home in second and Sean Rose third across the line. All three secured transfers to the B-Main. Clem Hoffmans crossed the line in fourth ahead of Jason King, Nathan Black and Libby Ellis.

Donny Schatz led the points chase heading into the Dash event, but inverted the top four starters in the pre-dash draw. Brent Kratzmann and Andrew Scheuerle shared the front row for the start, with Kratzmann getting the jump and leading the field through the opening corners. Scheuerle was left to try and defend his position from a hard-charging Luke Oldfield, but Oldfield secured second with just half a lap completed. While Oldfield set his sights on Kratzmann, Brent Aprile had a brief and unsuccessful look underneath Schatz, only for Schatz to race ahead on the high line and not only maintain the advantage over Aprile, but get around the outside of Scheuerle to take over third. While Aprile and Scheuerle fought over the minor places, Schatz began to close in on Oldfield and Kratzmann, and while Oldfield briefly challenged Kratzmann for the lead, Kratzmann pulled ahead and left Oldfield to defend his position from Schatz. Brent Kratzmann went on to take the win and earn pole position for the start of the A-Main, predictably declining the opportunity to take up the BK Trading Challenge of inverting the top fourteen starters. Luke Oldfield crossed the line second in the Dash event, with Donny Schatz third ahead of Brent Aprile, Andrew Scheuerle, Peter Lack, Brodie Tulloch and Mitchell Gee.

Fifteen cars made it trackside for the start of the B-Main, with Dan Murray from pole potion leading the way when then the green flag flew. McNamara had a brilliant run around the top-side as they rounded the first two corners, advancing into second with just half a lap completed. Mick Sauer settled into third ahead of Dave Whell and Brock Dean, while deeper in the field Nelson Reddacliff made his way past Andrew Baumber and Steven Johnson, and was searching for a way underneath Kris Jennings when the race was brought under caution. Several cars had come together in turn two and while all were able to keep moving the race caution had already been thrown and Mick Sauer was sent rear of the field as primary cause. Murray led the restart from McNamara and Whell, with Dean holding down the final transfer position with Kristy Bonsey and Brett Minett on his tail. Tim Farrell challenged Minett for position, while deeper in the field Reddacliff got past both Kris Jennings and Anthony Vanderreyden as they rounded turns three and four. Jennings followed Reddacliff past Vanderreyden, while closer to the front of the field Bonsey was challenging Dean for a spot in the A-Main. A caution soon after for the spun car of McNamara in turn two bunched the rest of the field up, with Murray to again lead the restart from Whell, Dean, Bonsey and Minett with nine laps still to run. Whell initially challenged Murray for the lead but all eyes were soon on Brett Minett as he sailed around the top-side, racing his way around Bonsey and turning his attention to Dean. Just half a lap after getting around Bonsey, Minett raced around Dean and into third, before getting around Whell after another half lap and moving with incredible momentum into second. Minett set his sights on Murray and the race lead, and, after just a couple of laps, raced spectacularly around the Q44 racer to take control of the race. Brock Dean got around Murray on the back straight with two and half laps left to run, but there was no catching Brett Minett as he raced to victory ahead of Brock Dean and Dan Murray. Dave Whell secured fourth and the final transfer to the A-Main, while Kristy Bonsey crossed the line in fifth. Scott Genrich finished sixth ahead of Tim Farrell and Nelson Reddacliff, with Kris Jennings, Mick Sauer, Sean Rose and Ryan McNamara rounding out the finishers. Anthony Vanderreyden and Andrew Baumber came together with less than half a lap left to run, resulting in Baumber inverting the NQ2 racer and neither driver crossing the line. Steven Johnson also failed to finish the eight-lap journey.

Eighteen cars lined up for the start of the thirty-five lap main event last night, with locals Brent Kratzmann and Luke Oldfield sharing the front row ahead of Donny Schatz and Brent Aprile. Kratzmann got the jump on the start and led the field into turn one, moving to the high line once he got ahead of Oldfield. Schatz from position three immediately charged through, challenging Kratzmann for control of the race and while Kratzmann valiantly fought back hard on the top side, racing wheel-to-wheel with Schatz for the first lap, it was Schatz who settled into the lead. Kratzmann continued to challenge Schatz, relentlessly chasing Schatz on the high line, the pair opening a sizable margin on Oldfield and the rest of the rivals behind, but a caution a few laps in that involved Peter Lack and Brent Aprile saw the margin evaporate.

Donny Schatz led the restart from Brent Kratzmann and Luke Oldfield, with Andrew Scheuerle sitting in second ahead of Allan Woods and Brodie Tulloch. Schatz immediately started opening what would become a very significant lead, while Oldfield dove underneath Kratzmann and into second as they rounded turn one. Kratzmann quickly returned serve as they came out of turn two and powered down the back straight, the Q2 racer getting back past on the inside of Oldfield to regain second. Scheuerle stayed close behind, occasionally having a look underneath Oldfield, while Woods surrendered positions to Brodie Tulloch, Andrew Corbet and Ben Hilder. Woods, determined to make up lost ground, was all over the back of Hilder and Corbet, who were racing two abreast while Woods searched for a way under, around or between them. Brett Minett carried some momentum from his impressive B-Main run into the A-Main and was making steady progress through the field, while Mitchell Gee and Kevin Titman raced side-by-side as they negotiated over mid-field positions. Schatz began expertly weaving his way through the back markers, but all eyes were on Kratzmann and Oldfield as they continued their epic battle for second and third. Oldfield got through underneath Kratzmann as they exited turn two and raced down the back straight, only for Kratzmann to immediately fire straight back, diving underneath Oldfield as they rounded turn three. Oldfield persisted on the bottom, occasionally getting his nose in front, but Kratzmann was exceptionally quick on the top-side and always managed to maintain the advantage. The pair raced side-by-side, lap-after-lap, giving each other just enough racing room, most of the time, to keep things entertaining. Oldfield got his nose in front in lapped traffic, but Kratzmann raced back around the top, refusing to surrender, while Scheuerle waited a car length or two behind, ready to make a move. Lapped traffic saw Oldfield again briefly secure the advantage heading into turn one, but Kratzmann again fought back tirelessly on the top side, while behind them Andrew Corbet and Brodie Tulloch negotiated over mid-field positions. Oldfield got underneath Kratzmann again as they raced through turn one, only for Kratzmann to dive back underneath Oldfield as they rounded turn two, with Oldfield getting his nose back in front through turns three and four before Kratzmann got back around the top. Schatz closed in on the back of Allan Woods and Andrew Scheuerle, who were embroiled in their own intense battle for fourth and fifth at the time, looking to put the pair a lap down, while Oldfield once more got the better of Kratzmann only for Kratzmann charge back on the high line. The pair came together as they raced towards turn one, both lucky to avoid a more serious incident, and raced side-by-side for the next lap until the race was brought under caution for the spun car of Steve Greer in turn two.

Donny Schatz led the restart from Brent Kratzmann and Luke Oldfield with six laps left to run. While Schatz immediately pulled away, Kratzmann and Oldfield resumed their battle as if there had been no stoppage, with Oldfield diving underneath Kratzmann as they raced through turns one and two, only for Kratzmann to prevail once more on the high line. Oldfield was relentless, looking underneath Kratzmann at every opportunity, but Kratzmann simply refused to surrender. The pair exchanged positions several more times over the final few laps of the race while behind them Mitchell Gee got the better of Andrew Scheuerle, and Andrew Corbet found a way past Brodie Tulloch. Donny Schatz got the win, a little over three seconds ahead of Brent Kratzmann who did a truly magnificent job to cross the line in second. Luke Oldfield certainly help nothing back as he challenged Kratzmann all the way to the chequered flag but was ultimately forced to settle for third with Allan Woods fighting back to finish an impressive fourth ahead of Mitchell Gee. Andrew Scheuerle finished sixth ahead of Andrew Corbet and Brodie Tulloch, with Peter Lack home in ninth and Brett Minett having a phenomenal drive from the B-Main to finish tenth in the main race. Kevin Titman, Ben Hilder, Brock Dean, Mitch Gowland, Dan Murray, Steve Greer and Dave Whell rounded out the finishers, with Brent Aprile the only driver unable to finish the race.

The best bit? These superstars are set to return to Ausdeck Patios and Roofing Archerfield Speedway this Saturday night, 29 December 2018, to do it all again. Can Donny get win number two of his 2018-2019 Australian trip or will one of the local boys get the job done? Brent Kratzmann and Luke Oldfield are both in incredible form at the moment and both will be looking to climb a little higher on the podium, while you can never discount Mitchell Gee, Andrew Scheuerle, Brent Aprile, Peter Lack or Allan Woods as potential winners, not to mention a host of others that could get a win for themselves. Come on out to Ausdeck Patios and Roofing Archerfield Speedway this Saturday night, 29 December 2018, and see it all for yourself!