Sprintcars Queensland returned to Archerfield Speedway last night for our first race meeting of 2021, with young gun Callum Walker dominating most of the night and finally finding a way to dislodge Lachlan McHugh from the top step of the podium. Walker was near faultless all night, and after securing pole position for the main race was focussed, determined and unstoppable out in front. The Q33 racer shared the front row for the start of the main race with Lachlan McHugh and got an exceptional start when the green flag flew, getting his nose in front and leading McHugh and the rest of the twenty-car field through the opening corners of the thirty-five lap affair. While McHugh put up an initial challenge Walker soon pulled ahead, opening a small margin and skilfully navigating the lapped traffic. And it was the same on each subsequent restart, with McHugh occasionally challenging for control but unable to stop Walker as he raced to his maiden Sprintcar feature victory. McHugh crossed the line in second while a fierce and entertaining battle for third between Aaron Kelly and Jock Goodyer ended with Goodyer securing the final podium position, leaving Kelly in fourth with Mitchell Gee completing the top five.

Qualifying got underway with Lachlan McHugh topping the leader board, stopping the clock at 11.389 seconds, with Callum Walker a very close second, his 11.408 second lap just 0.019 seconds slower than McHugh. Jock Goodyer was third quickest at 11.448 seconds, while Ryan McNamara (11.494) and Mitchell Gee (11.612) rounded out the top five. Randy Morgan was sixth quickest (11.630) while Kevin Titman, who had mechanical woes earlier in the evening, seemed to have fixed the gremlins and clocked in an 11.644 second lap to secure seventh, just three thousandths of second quicker than Aaron Kelly in eighth. Dan Murray and Dylan Menz completed the top ten qualifiers, with Mitch Gowland and Darren Jensen separated by just 0.001 of a second and just missing out on a top ten result. The top thirty-one cars, in a field of thirty-six, were separated by less than one second. Cody Maroske and Luke Oldfield both missed their qualifying runs, and while Maroske was able to complete a single lap at the end of the session, Oldfield was unable to get the Q17 to start and failed to record a qualifying time, setting himself up for a tough night fighting back from the rear of the field.

Heat one hit the track with Brendon Claridge and Kristy Bonsey sharing the front row for the start, and while they raced two abreast for the first couple of corners it was Bonsey who soon took the lead, leaving Claridge in second while behind them Brent Kratzmann, with Kevin Titman on his tail, made his way around Andrew Wright and turned his attention to the front runners. Titman displaced Wright with Wright fading as Lachlan McHugh led a tough field of hard-chargers forward. McHugh got around Wright while from the very rear of the field Luke Oldfield had finally got the Q17 running and was set on making up lost ground. Oldfield slipped underneath Cody Maroske and Randy Morgan in quick succession, while at the front of the field Kratzmann had found his way ahead of Claridge and was challenging Bonsey for control of the race. Kratzmann raced underneath Bonsey and into the lead and while Bonsey tried to fight back, there was no stopping Kratzmann once he had the lead. Bonsey soon surrendered second to McHugh and found Titman and Oldfield, who both quickly got past Claridge, on her tail. Maroske soon joined the battle for the minor positions, catching the tail of Oldfield and Titman, with Oldfield searching relentlessly high and low for a way past Titman, only for Titman to deny him at every opportunity. It was a thrilling battle, with Bonsey withstanding the increasing pressure from behind. McHugh closed in on Kratzmann in the final few laps of the race, challenging hard for the lead, but it was Brent Kratzmann who got the win ahead of Lachlan McHugh and Kristy Bonsey. Kevin Titman managed to hang on to finish fourth ahead of Luke Oldfield, Cody Maroske, Andrew Wright, Darren Jensen, Brendon Claridge, Randy Morgan, Jai Stephenson and Sean Rose.

Andrew Corbet and Brock Dean led the field to green light conditions for heat two, with Corbet initially securing the lead in advance of Dean, only for Adam Butler and Lachlan Caunt to come together in turn one, leaving both Sam Blysma and Zack Howell with nowhere to go. Both Caunt and Butler were unable to continue the race, and sadly both cars had suffered enough damage to see neither return to the track for the rest of the night. Callum Walker also suffered a flat left rear tyre that ended his race before completing a lap. A full restart followed with Corbet again securing the lead ahead of Dean and Mitch Gowland, and while Gowland searched for a way underneath Dean, behind him Mitchell Gee and Aaron Kelly negotiated over mid-field positions, with Tim Farrell soon joining the fight, getting past Kelly and turning his attention to Gee. Corbet and Dean began to pull away from the field, with Dean capitalising when Corbet made an error in turn four, with Dean racing around the high side and into the race lead. Farrell had several bold but unsuccessful looks on the inside of Gee, with Aaron Kelly soon rejoining the battle and getting past Farrell in lapped traffic. Brock Dean went on to take the win ahead of Andrew Corbet and Mitch Gowland, with Mitchell Gee, Aaron Kelly, Tim Farrell, Sam Blysma and Zack Howell rounding out the finishers. Callum Walker, Lachlan Caunt and Adam Butler all failed to finish the event.

Heat three started with Daniel Cassidy from pole position alongside Brad Ayers, with Cassidy getting the jump on the start and settling into the lead ahead of Ayers while Andrew Baumber and Allan Woods negotiated over third. Jock Goodyer and Ryan McNamara both started working their way forward from the rear of the field, quickly displacing both Dan Murray and Dylan Menz, while Woods got the better of Baumber to settle in third and Ayers found a way past Cassidy to take control of the race. Baumber came under enormous pressure from both McNamara and Goodyer, and while he was able to hold them off for a couple of laps there was no stopping the duo as they raced towards the front of the field. Brad Ayers got the win when the chequered flag flew, with Daniel Cassidy second ahead of Allan Woods, with light rain falling over the venue for the final few laps. Ryan McNamara finished fourth and led Jock Goodyer, Andrew Baumber, Terry Kelly, Dylan Menz, Dan Murray, David Donegan, Erin Vanderreyden and Libby Ellis across the line.

A short rain delay followed before heat four hit the track with Terry Kelly and Daniel Cassidy to lead the field to green light conditions. Kristy Bonsey had a massive look up the inside from position three on the start, but it was Terry Kelly who took the lead before Cassidy raced around the high side and took control of the race. Terry Kelly settled into second while Allan Woods, Dylan Menz and Brent Kratzmann all raced around Bonsey and started chasing down the leaders, all with Lachlan McHugh closing in fast from towards the tail of the field. McHugh made his way around Kratzmann and was looking around the top side of Woods when the race was brought under caution for the spun car of Erin Vanderreyden in turn four. Cassidy led the restart from Terry Kelly and Dylan Menz, with both Menz and Terry Kelly quickly under enormous pressure from Woods and McHugh. Menz got underneath Terry Kelly, with McHugh, Woods and Kratzmann all following in quick succession, with Woods having a bold look underneath McHugh and challenging for position while also looking to get underneath Menz. Woods searched high and low for a way past Menz, while McHugh seized an opportunity and slipped through on the inside of Woods before getting underneath Menz moments later. Woods raced around the top side of Menz, leaving the Q46 racer with Kratzmann on his tail, only for Kratzmann to slip through a couple of laps later and set out after those in front. Terry Kelly and Aaron Kelly negotiated over minor positions mid field while Menz had a moment in turn two that saw him drop back a handful of positions. Daniel Cassidy got the win, untroubled out in front, with Lachlan McHugh second ahead of Brent Kratzmann, Allan Woods, Kristy Bonsey, Aaron Kelly, Brendon Claridge, Terry Kelly, Dylan Menz, Libby Ellis and Erin Vanderreyden.

Heat five started with Tim Farrell and Andrew Corbet sharing the front row for the start, with the pair racing side-by-side through the opening corners. Farrell slammed the wall coming out of turn two before slowing to a stop high on the track in turn four and bringing the race under caution. Farrell was unable to continue the race. A full restart followed with Andrew Baumber now from pole position with the leading pair again racing side-by-side through the opening corners, with Corbet this time securing the advantage. Baumber sat in second ahead of Brock Dean, while the battle for fourth began to heat up with a tight three-way battle between Mitch Gowland, Dan Murray and Kevin Titman. Gowland initially hung on to the advantage but it was not long before Titman raced past both Murray and Gowland, while Jock Goodyer and Luke Oldfield started to make their way forward from the rear of the field. Oldfield got around Murray and underneath Goodyer in quick succession and turned his attention to Gowland, racing around the Q32 racer a few laps later and setting out after Dean. Gowland was left to try to defend his position from a determined Goodyer, while closer to the front Oldfield made his way past Dean and challenged Baumber before slipping into third later in the race. Ahead of them though Kevin Titman had made his way to second and closed in on the back of race leader Corbet, challenging him for the lead with fierce determination and unyielding charge on the high line with the white flag in the air. While the pair nearly came to grief on the back straight Titman had timed his run to perfection, racing around Corbet with half a lap left to run. Kevin Titman went on to take the win ahead of Andrew Corbet and Luke Oldfield, with Jock Goodyer fourth home, leading Andrew Baumber, Brock Dean, Mitch Gowland, Dan Murray, David Donegan and Sean Rose past the chequered flag. Tim Farrell did not finish the race.

Heat six hit the track with Cody Maroske and Andrew Wright sharing the front row. Maroske got the jump with Wright settling into second but the race was promptly brought under caution when Brad Ayers spun the Q4 racer in turn two. A full restart followed with Maroske again securing the lead in advance of Wright, with Randy Morgan initially third but soon succumbing to the challenge of Darren Jensen on the high line. Morgan soon found Callum Walker on his tail, the pair having great battle for several laps, with Morgan ultimately maintaining the advantage. Cody Maroske went on to take the win and earn some much-needed points, with Andrew Wright second ahead of Darren Jensen and Randy Morgan. Callum Walker come home in fifth and led Mitchell Gee, Ryan McNamara, Jai Stephenson, Brad Ayers, Sam Blysma and Zack Howell home.

The top eight shootout started with Mitchell Gee, Brent Kratzmann, Aaron Kelly and Callum Walker taking to the track for the Bronze Shootout. Unfortunately for Kratzmann contact with the wall in turn three saw him tip the Q2 racer over and out of contention, the car not returning to the track for the rest of the night. Callum Walker eventually won the Bronze shootout ahead of Mitchell Gee, with Aaron Kelly eliminated from the event along with Brent Kratzmann.

Jock Goodyer and Ryan McNamara joined Callum Walker and Mitchell Gee on track for the Silver Shootout, with Callum Walker again securing the top spot, stopping the clock at 12.961 seconds and was the only car to get into the twelve-second bracket. Ryan McNamara would advance with Walker to the Gold Shootout, while Jock Goodyer was eliminated from the event. Mitchell Gee was black flagged before the event started.

Lachlan McHugh and Kevin Titman joined Callum Walker and Ryan McNamara on track for the Gold Shootout and the chance to earn pole position for the start of the main race. Callum Walker again locked in the quickest lap, stopping the clock at 13.179 seconds, with Lachlan McHugh second and set to share the front row with Walker for the feature event. Ryan McNamara was third quickest while Kevin Titman ended up fourth after he looped the Q59 racer in turn four bringing the event under caution and being relegated to the infield.

Nineteen cars lined up for the fifteen-lap B-Main event with Brock Dean and Dan Murray leading them to the green light. Cody Maroske started from position four with Luke Oldfield way back in position fourteen, the sheer number of cars he passed in his heats having little effect on his points haul after his inability to record a time in qualifying. Dean got the jump when the lights went green and quickly secured the race lead, with Maroske quickly making his way around Murray and into second, while deep in the field Oldfield began to move forward, weaving his way through the field and advancing from fourteenth to sixth in just five laps. A lap later the race was brought to a stop when Brendon Claridge and Sam Blysma came together in turn four, with Claridge inverting the Q47 racer out of the race. Dean led the restart from Maroske and Murray with Kristy Bonsey holding on to the fourth spot and the final transfer to the A-Main. Oldfield looked underneath Brad Ayers before racing around the top side and into fifth, swiftly turning his attention to Bonsey, looking to go around the high side of Bonsey as Bonsey raced around Dan Murray, the trio thee-abreast as they negotiated over third. Bonsey soon pulled ahead, with Oldfield all over the back of the Q42 racer, only for the race to be brought under caution soon after for Zack Howell and Erin Vanderreyden who had spun to a stop in turn three. With eleven laps still to run it was again Dean who led the restart from Maroske with Bonsey in third ahead of Oldfield. Oldfield had an unsuccessful look underneath Bonsey, while Bonsey surged and began to challenge Maroske for second, the trio thrilling the crowd with some exceptional and close racing. Oldfield committed to the high side and got around Bonsey, while Maroske was relentless as he challenged Dean on the low line, fighting for the race lead. Maroske and Dean raced wheel-to-wheel for several laps before Maroske took control of the race, and while Dean stayed close by and occasionally challenged Maroske in an effort to regain his position, all the while Oldfield closed in behind. Oldfield was magnificent on the top side and while it took a number of laps to catch the leaders, once he did he charged on the top side, displacing Dean and turned his focus to Maroske. Not content to settle for second, even in a B-Main, Oldfield was fierce and held nothing back, he and Maroske racing as if for the lead in the any feature event already contested by the pair this year. With lapped traffic in play Oldfield timed his run around the top side to absolutely perfection, charging around Maroske as they rounded the final corner and drag-racing him to the line. Luke Oldfield got the win with Cody Maroske second ahead of Brock Dean and Kristy Bonsey. Brad Ayers finished fifth ahead of Jai Stephenson, Dan Murray, Tim Farrell, Dylan Menz, David Donegan, Erin Vanderreyden, Sean Rose and Zack Howell. Libby Ellis, Terry Kelly, Sam Blysma, Brendon Claridge, Andrew Baumber and Andrew Wright all failed to finish the event.

Twenty cars hit the track for the thirty-five lap A-Main event, with Callum Walker and Lachlan McHugh leading the field to the green flag. Walker and McHugh raced side-by-side into the first corner but it was Walker who emerged in front and took control of the race. McHugh of course challenged for the lead but could not quite get the job done and was forced to settle for second while the rest of the field fought over the minor places. Kevin Titman and Ryan McNamara argued over third and fourth, while Luke Oldfield started charging through from the rear of the field. While Titman secured the advantage over McNamara, McNamara was soon forced on the defensive as both Aaron Kelly and Jock Goodyer started challenging him for position, with Mitchell Gee right on their tail. Allan Woods and Luke Oldfield raced either side of Darren Jensen, with the race soon brought under caution after Kevin Titman made heavy contact with the wall in turn three and exited the race.

With only four laps completed it was Callum Walker who led the restart from Lachlan McHugh and Aaron Kelly, with Luke Oldfield already up to position ten. McHugh challenged Walker on the start but Walker quickly pulled slightly ahead, creating a small but comfortable margin, while Ryan McNamara and Jock Goodyer resumed negotiations with Aaron Kelly over third. Kelly meanwhile had several bold looks on the inside of McHugh in an effort to advance to second, as the battle between Goodyer, McNamara and Mitchell Gee really started to heat up. Oldfield made his way around Daniel Cassidy before turning his attention to Mitch Gowland and Randy Morgan, who themselves were embroiled in a close battle for positions just outside the top five. As Gowland and Morgan raced two-wide, Oldfield tried to run straight between them, only for Gowland to emerge in front of Oldfield and Morgan. Oldfield got the better of Gowland, with McNamara next on his list of rivals, though Gowland was not done and fought back hard on the bottom. Walker began weaving his way through lapped traffic, making it all look ever so easy, while McHugh sat in second and Aaron Kelly and Jock Goodyer looked like they were having an absolute ball as they fought over third. Oldfield and McNamara exchanged places back and forth several times but the race was soon brought to a stop though when Darren Jensen got a little too sideways in turn four, leaving Andrew Corbet nowhere to go, the resulting contact between the pair ending with Jensen inverting the Q75 racer. Neither Jensen nor Corbet were able to restart the event.

Callum Walker led the restart from Lachlan McHugh and Aaron Kelly with seventeen laps still to run. When the race resumed so too did the battle between Kelly and Goodyer, with Luke Oldfield up to an impressive sixth. While Oldfield challenged Mitchell Gee for fifth, he also came under immense pressure from Mitch Gowland, who was having a spectacular run in the Q32 racer. As Oldfield again tried to race around Gee the race was brought to another stop, this time for Brad Ayers who was stranded on the track in turn one.

With fifteen laps still to run it was again Callum Walker to lead them to the green flag, with Lachlan McHugh, Jock Goodyer and Aaron Kelly close behind. Luke Oldfield got around Mitchell Gee and into fifth, turning his attention to the battle between Goodyer and Kelly, only for Oldfield to end up in the turn four fence and bring the race to another stop. Determined as ever Oldfield restarted at the rear of the field with fourteen laps to run and a lot of cars in front, again.

Callum Walker led the restart from Lachlan McHugh, Jock Goodyer and Aaron Kelly, with Luke Oldfield quickly starting to surge forward from the rear once more. Cody Maroske had a slower progression through the field than Oldfield had, but no less significant, the Q5 racer chasing down Allan Woods before racing around the Q28 racer and beginning an entertaining battle with Mitch Gowland well inside the top ten. Kelly and Goodyer continued to battle for third for the rest of the race, with Goodyer occasionally having a look for a way past McHugh. Callum Walker eventually went on to take a hard-fought, well-deserved and somewhat over-due win, his first in Sprintcars, with Lachlan McHugh forced to settle for second. Jock Goodyer managed to snare third and round out the podium, with Aaron Kelly and Mitchell Gee completing the top five. Cody Maroske finished sixth ahead of Allan Woods, Mitch Gowland and Ryan McNamara, with Luke Oldfield climbing his way back to a very impressive tenth by the fall of the chequered flag. Daniel Cassidy, Brock Dean, Tim Farrell and Randy Morgan rounded out the finishers, while Kristy Bonsey, Brad Ayers, Dylan Menz, Darren Jensen, Andrew Corbet and Kevin Titman all failed to finish the event.

Sprintcars Queensland head to Hi-Tec Oils Toowoomba Speedway TONIGHT, Saturday 02 January 2021, for night one of the Sprintcar State’s Series QLD/NSW Super Sevens Sprintcar Series where Callum Walker will be keen to get back-to-back victories, Lachlan McHugh will be looking to get back onto the top podium step, and Luke Oldfield will still be seeking his first win of the season. Not to mention the rest of the 39-car field too. It is going to a MASSIVE night of Sprintcar racing so get yourself trackside in Toowoomba tonight, or, for a small fee, tune in live via speedwayaustralia.tv to catch all the action and cheer on your favourite.