Title Time at Archerfield This Weekend
More than 30 Sprintcar drivers from four states will gather at Ausdeck Patios Archerfield Speedway this weekend to contest the 2016/2017 Hungry Jack’s Queensland Sprintcar Championship. To be decided over two nights of competition on Saturday (April 23) and Sunday (April 24) evenings, the title showdown will bring a star-studded field together in a battle for a $5000 first prize and the honour of being crowned state champion.
Leading the interstate contingent looking to take the trophy out of the sunshine state are two former national championship winners in Dave Murcott and Robbie Farr. Both Murcott and Farr have enjoyed considerable success at Archerfield throughout their careers, they both possess a never-say-die attitude in their quest for victory and the fact that they are both racing for Queensland-based team owners will make only serve as extra motivation to secure a Queensland Championship trophy. Interestingly, Murcott is yet to win a Queensland Championship, while Farr has won the event on five occasions and remains the defending champion following the cancellation of last season’s event. The problem facing both men though is the fact that there are another 30+ drivers equally determined to take the title, ensuring that should either of them prevail, a hard-earned victory it most certainly will be.
The man who deserves to carry the mantle of pre-race favourite in recognition of his six feature race wins at Archerfield so far this season is Andrew Scheuerle. After a whirlwind start to the season that produced five wins on the trot, Scheuerle followed up with a series of strong results to clinch the Supercheap Auto Championship before scoring his sixth feature race win during round two of the East Coast Logistics Crispy Memorial Series on April 9, a perfect precursor to his championship campaign.
Luke Oldfield has consistently been the fastest car on track in recent weeks, clocking the fastest lap in qualifying on several occasions. At the April 9 event, Oldfield again set fast time and emerged as top qualifier after the heats before finishing third in the feature race. Defending track champion Bryan Mann is another who has been in very good form of late, while Kevin Titman, Darren Jensen, Mitchell Gee, Peter Lack, Brandon Rawlings and Paul Morris have all featured on the podium so far this season and are expected to be championship contenders.
In what will be a huge weekend of racing, the Australian Modlite Championship will also be decided. Current titleholder Terry Leerentveld has been unbeatable in feature race competition at Archerfield so far this season and it is going to take a mighty effort to upstage the defending champion come Sunday night’s championship final. So, who is most likely to step up and lower Leerentveld’s colours in the biggest race of their season? Scott Lehfeldt, Aaron Prosser, Luke Whitehill, Sean Butcher and Aaron Seton seem the most likely candidates to fight it out for the minor placings and seize any opportunity that might present should Leerentveld strike trouble at any stage throughout the weekend.
Saturday night’s program will also feature Formula 500’s, Compact Speedcars and Wingless Sprints, while Sunday night will include racing from Lightning Sprints and Formula 500 Juniors PLUS Monster Trucks and a fireworks extravaganza as part of a huge night of family entertainment.
Gates open at 4.00pm on both nights (although online ticketholders will be admitted from 3.30pm on Sunday), with early racing from 4.45pm. Sprintcars will hit the track at 6.00pm, with adult tickets just $28.00 for Saturday and $30.00 for Sunday. For more information about any event at Ausdeck Patios Archerfield Speedway, or to purchase online tickets, visit www.brisbanespeedway.com.au or stay tuned to Archerfield Speedway on Facebook for news and updates in the lead-up to each race meeting.
Hungry Jack’s Queensland Sprintcar Championship nominations: Allan Woods, Andrew Marks, Andrew Scheuerle, Anthony Lambert, Anthony Vanderreyden, Ben Hilder, Brad Ayers, Brandon Rawlings, Brent Aprile, Brent Kratzmann, Bryan Mann, Callum Walker, Clem Hoffmans, Darren Jensen, Dave Fanning, Dave Murcott, David Whell, Jake Tranter, James Grady, Kevin Titman, Kristy Bonsey, Luke Oldfield, Mark Pholi, Mitchell Gee, Paul Morris, Paul Rooks, Peter Lack, Peter Milnes, Richard Morgan, Rob Hamilton, Robbie Farr, Scott Doyle, Steve Greer, Steven Johnson
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Can Smee Net Another Fifty Win?
By Jodie Bell
Can Smee Net Another Fifty Win?
The 2014 American Tires & Racing Services (ATRS) 50 Lapper at Supercheap Auto Archerfield Speedway this Saturday night will be epic. It’s the fifth running of the event and again, it’s allured a high calibre field. Ex Australian Midget champion Nathan Smee showed he has the goods after winning the 50 Lapper in Sydney recently; from the back of the field mind you.
Prior to Smee’s 2014 Australian Championship defence at Archerfield in January (where he finished fourth) the Sydney based driver was undefeated in his last three appearances at the track. Defending ATRS champion Adam Clarke won’t be racing but there are 25 other contenders that will attempt to go the distance.
Brock Maskovich knows what it takes to finish such events; he finished third to Michael Pickens and Bryan Clauson in the World POWRi Midget Championship 50 Lapper in New Zealand earlier this year and came second in the World 40 Lap Derby – to Clauson, Smee finished third. He has made the podium 11 times this season with 3 wins; some strong results this year – his racing career now 12 years in the making.
Maskovich will leave his Auckland base to come and drive the Keith McAllen owned car that Adam Clarke drove to victory in this year’s Australian Midget championship.
During the off season Maskovich will fly to America and join Bryan Clauson Racing as part of Bryan’s ‘Driven Driver Development Team’ which includes racing all five nights of Indy Midget Week.
Michael Kendall was last year’s ATRS 50 Runner Up and has the speed this season. The five-time New Zealand midget champion had had plenty of podium finishes this year and recently added the Queensland Midget Title to his list of career achievements.
Kendall is just one of four ex-pat Kiwis racing this weekend - Gavin Websle, Kaz Fahey and Andy Hassan also call Australia home now and the trio will head north from New South Wales.
Clarke may be absent but West Australian contenders Dayne Kingshot and Lee Redmond will make every effort to take the title back across the Nullarbor.
This year’s POWRi SSS winner Brett Thomas has a strong chance. After round 9 of Polar Ice Series at Archerfield a fortnight ago, Thomas is coming second in the point’s standings. Michael Harders is in third, he’s found another car to run this weekend whilst his new car is still in the workshop. Anthony Chaffey and Matt Greenwood are also strong contenders, both are in the top ten after round 9.
There’ll be fast racing within the support divisions - AMCA’s, 360 Sprints, Mcrosprints, Lightning Sprints, Stock Cars and the popular FordvHoldenvSigma. 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.
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