Dual Title Duels Ignite Tomorrow Night

By Jodie Bell

Dual Title Duels Ignite Tomorrow Night

Supercheap Auto Archerfield Speedway is set to stage a dual status event over two nights this ANZAC weekend and it all locks into gear tomorrow night, Friday April 25. A star-studded field of 29 drivers will see a clash of the titans in the Queensland Sprintcar Title and the Compact Speedcars will stage their Australian Title; a quality field of 25 has nominated.   

Former Australian Sprintcar champion and defending Queensland champion Robbie Farr will be looking to back it up. Since the early 1970’s the Queensland title has been run and won and only two drivers have claimed back-to-back wins - Steve Brazier and John Kelly.

Kelly is now the Queensland Sprintcar Club President and Archerfield Speedway Promoter and he anticipates records may be broken this weekend. “With this many champions in the field, we may see the first 10 second lap.  The track is in good shape; we’ve added some new dirt to the surface so hopefully times will come down.  It’s this time of year as we enter the cooler months that records tend to get set,” he said.

Six-time Australian Sprintcar champion and three-time Queensland champion Garry Brazier has found some recent form, he finished second in the Easter Tri-City Shootout but its winner – James McFadden – will be hard to beat.  2013 Australian champion Mc Fadden is the youngest ever, to have won the Queensland title when he was just 21 years of age and in his last handful of appearances, seems to be unstoppable.

Current Australian champion Dave Murcott is very fast but has had no luck of late. His abilities have been hindered by untimely wrecks, where he’s ended up a casualty, but surely his luck will change as Murcott is capable of much more than his 10^th place finish in the Tri-City suggests.

Queensland Sprintcar Club Treasurer and Race Director Mark Wode said it’s pretty rare to have four Australian champions stay to race after Easter.  “It’s going to be a titanic battle between the young guy (Mc Fadden) and the experienced war horse (Brazier).  Brazier hasn’t has a good year so it’s great to see him find some form and we’re thrilled to have him here.”

Andrew Scheuerle is also a former Queensland title holder and just as he seemed set to clench another Club championship this season, he’s crash at Maryborough last Friday has cost him significantly.  Luke Oldfield has now moved to within striking distance of Scheuerle’s lead in the Club point’s standings and Oldfield’s pace saw him finish third in the Tri-City last weekend.  

Kevin Titman enjoyed a feature race wins last Friday night, he holds a firm third position in Queensland Club standings with Darren Jensen and Danny Reidy rounding out the top five.  2014 Scott Darley Memorial winner Trevor Green will be a dynamic addition to the field; he’s climbing into the #36 Titan Garages car for the Queensland Title assault and all will be racing for over $30,000 in prize money this weekend.

Defending Australian Compact Speedcar champion Darren Vine has battled it out this season with the likes of Audie Malt, Cameron Pesschier, Wayne Corbett, Rob Stewart and Scott Stirling; all are nominated and the racing should be electric.

The format for tomorrow night reads time trials, qualifying heats and a preliminary feature for the Sprintcars.  The Compact Speedcars will also run their qualifying heats and support divisions scheduled are the SSA Juniors and the Modlites – who will stage the ANZAC Day International Challenge; Canadian racer Josh Slitter joins the field including ex-pat Kiwi Michael Kendall and current Australian champion Jamie McHugh.

Saturdays night’s format will see the Sprintcars run their remaining qualifying heats, Dash/Shootout, B-Main and feature race while the Compact Speedcars will also run their remaining qualifying heats and the final.  The Open Sedans will support as well as the Formula 500’s who have an alluring $1000 for the winner on the night.

Pit gates open at 3pm, spectator gates open at 4pm and there will be early racing from approximately 5pm with the main program commencing at 6pm. Check www.brisbanespeedway.com.au for prices and facebook.com/archerfieldspeedway for updates.

Share this article