Luke Oldfield dominated Round Six of the East Cost Logistics Sprintcar Series at Ausdeck Patios and Roofing Archerfield Speedway last night, from locking in the quickest qualifying time, coming from the back of his heats to claim a second and a win, leading the points going into the dash only to invert the entire eight-car field for the start before coming home in second and, eventually, getting the win in the A-Main, he was certainly a class above the rest last night and there was little anyone could do to slow him down. Kevin Titman led the early stages of the A-Main before surrendering the lead to Oldfield a few laps in, while Lachlan McHugh started working his way forward. It was however hard to ignore the battle unfolding between Mitchell Gee and Brent Aprile as they fought over, at that stage, third and fourth. Right on the tail of Titman, until Titman unceremoniously exited the race around half way through, Gee and Aprile raced mostly two abreast, and while Aprile sometimes emerged in front, Gee always came back hard on the bottom unwilling to surrender. They were both absolutely relentless, determined and fearless, and while there were a few close calls, they also gave each other plenty of racing room. Lachlan McHugh, who came from back in tenth, joined them late in the race but it was Mitchell Gee who secured second. Lachlan McHugh snared third from Aprile in the final few laps of the race with Brent Aprile finishing fourth. Andrew Scheuerle rounded out the top five. The race was however marred by a massive crash three laps in when Steve Greer and Paul Rooks came together on the back straight, resulting in a huge crash that also involved Anthony Vanderreyden. Fortunately all drivers walked away.

The format for last night saw our drivers qualifying within their heat groups, with Brent Aprile, Brent Kratzmann and Luke Oldfield topping their respective groups for qualifying. Oldfield was the quickest of the lot, stopping the clock at 11.605 seconds, while Mitchell Gee was second quickest overall with an 11.633, while the 11.730 recorded by Brent Kratzmann was enough to be third fastest overall. Steve Greer stopped the clock at 11.839 seconds and was the last car to break into the eleven-second bracket, while Lachlan McHugh was fifth quickest overall with a 12.001 second lap.

Heat one started with Andrew Corbet from pole position, in place of Clem Hoffmans who elected to start rear of the field, with Kris Jennings alongside. The leading pair raced side-by-side into turn one but it was Corbet on the bottom who took control of the race leaving Jennings in second. Behind them Andrew Scheuerle got the better of Ryan McNamara and while McNamara boldly tried to race back around the outside, Scheuerle was already chasing down Jennings. Brock Dean started looking for a way past McNamara while Kevin Titman took to the high line in a spectacular run on the topside, racing beautifully around Dean and McNamara in less than a lap. Scheuerle spent a number of laps looking for a way underneath Jennings, with Titman closing in fast, before slipping underneath the immaculately presented Q81 racer of Jennings as they rounded turn one. Jennings fought back valiantly but was soon forced back on the defensive as Titman closed the gap and began challenging for third. Behind them a fierce battle was raging between Brock Dean, Ryan McNamara and Brent Aprile, but out in front there was no stopping Andrew Corbet as he took the win ahead of Andrew Scheuerle and Kevin Titman. Kris Jennings came home in fourth and led Brock Dean, Ryan McNamara, Brent Aprile, Sean Rose, Clem Hoffmans and Libby Ellis home. Adam Butler had mechanical problems that prevented him from completing even one lap of the heat.

Randy Morgan started heat two from pole position with Anthony Vanderreyden alongside and Kristy Bonsey and Allan Woods right behind. Morgan got a brilliant start when the lights went green, quickly securing the lead and leaving Vanderreyden, Bonsey and Woods to negotiate over second. Bonsey had a big look on the inside of Vanderreyden as they raced towards turn one, only for Woods to shoot through between them to take second for himself. Vanderreyden managed to stay ahead of Bonsey, leaving Bonsey to try and find a way through, while further back in the field Brent Kratzmann ran the top side before switching to the bottom to get underneath Dan Murray and chase after Lachlan McHugh and Anthony Lambert. McHugh was relentless as he put all kinds of pressure on Lambert, all the while Kratzmann stayed close behind, searching for a way through, and, in front of them, Bonsey was tirelessly searching high and low for a way past Vanderreyden. Bonsey has shown much growth and maturity in her race-craft in recent weeks, and it is fascinating to watch as she sets her focus on getting past her rivals. Unfortunately a moment between Bonsey and McHugh, as McHugh slide underneath the Q42 racer, left Brent Kratzmann with nowhere to go, the Q2 racer ending up stranded in turn four and bringing the race under caution. Anthony Lambert and Bryan Zelinski were also involved. Randy Morgan led the restart and immediately started to pull away from the field, opening a margin of a little over three seconds in just three laps, comfortably taking the win ahead of Allan Woods, Anthony Vanderreyden and Lachlan McHugh. Kristy Bonsey finished fifth ahead of Dan Murray, while Brent Kratzmann managed to weave his way back to seventh in just three laps. Anthony Lambert, Nicholas Whell, Bryan Zelinski and Scott Johnston rounded out the finishers.

Mitch Gowland and Mark Pholi shared the front row for the start of heat three, and while they raced wheel-to-wheel into the first corner, and Gowland managed to get his nose in front briefly, Pholi was too quick on the top side and quickly secured the race lead. Pholi immediately started opening a significant lead while Steven Johnson found his way underneath Gowland and into second. Gowland faded as Darren Jensen raced around the top and Luke Oldfield dove underneath, with Jensen and Oldfield having an absolutely epic battle as they searched for a way past Johnson. Jensen took to the high line and, after a few laps, made his way around Johnson in the Q96 racer, with Oldfield quick to follow, while behind them Mitchell Gee and Steve Greer had their own rather intense battle raging. Gee moved ahead of Greer as they rounded turn four and set his sights on Johnson, spending just two laps chasing down the orange and black #96 racer and making his way through on the bottom. Mark Pholi got the win ahead of Luke Oldfield and Darren Jensen, with Mitchell Gee home in fourth, leading Steven Johnson, Steve Greer, Mitch Gowland, Paul Rooks, Andrew Baumber and Justin Snellman across the line.

Heat four saw Ryan McNamara elevated to the front row when ongoing mechanical problems saw Adam Butler start towards the back of the field. Kris Jennings shared the front row with McNamara but it was McNamara who secured the lead when they took the green. Jennings held down second briefly but Brent Aprile came charging through, racing underneath Jennings with just half a lap completed, and moved into second, setting his sights on McNamara, while Andrew Scheuerle did not hesitate when a small opening appeared on the inside of Andrew Corbet. Scheuerle quickly raced underneath Corbet as they rounded turn four, then Jennings as they headed towards turn one, before having a massive look underneath Aprile as they navigated their way through turn one. A caution moments later for the spun car of Sean Rose momentarily halted proceedings, with Ryan McNamara to lead them away when the race resumed. Aprile chased McNamara, while mid-field Kevin Titman was working the high line in spectacular fashion, trying to get around both Brock Dean and Kris Jennings, who had moments ago surrendered his position to Andrew Corbet. Unfortunately for McNamara he spun the Q88 racer moments later entering turn four and brought the race back under caution, handing control to Aprile. Aprile led the restart from Scheuerle, Jennings and Corbet, and while Titman again took to the high line to try to find a way a past Dean, a moment entering turn two saw Titman drop back several positions. Dean came to a stop a couple of laps later and brought the race to another stop, with Aprile and Scheuerle to lead them back underway. Kevin Titman, Ryan McNamara and Brock Dean all made forward progress once the race resumed, and while Scheuerle was able to close in on Aprile and the race lead as they got closer to the chequered flag, there was little anyone could do to stop Brent Aprile taking the win ahead of Andrew Scheuerle and Andrew Corbet. Kris Jennings held on to finish fourth ahead of Kevin Titman, Adam Butler, Ryan McNamara, Brock Dean, Clem Hoffmans, Sean Rose and Libby Ellis.

Anthony Lambert and Kristy Bonsey shared the front row for the start of heat five, with Lambert getting the better start and quickly securing the race lead, while Randy Morgan raced exquisitely around the outside of both Anthony Vanderreyden and Kristy Bonsey to secure second with only half a lap completed. Brent Kratzmann and Lachlan McHugh tried to race either side of Dan Murray, but it was McHugh on the top-side who got the job done, simultaneously racing around Murray and underneath Allan Woods before turning his attention to Vanderreyden. Murray managed to get underneath Woods, with Kratzmann attempting to follow half a lap later. Woods fought back on the high line though, and contact between Woods and Kratzmann as they exited turn two soon followed, with Kratzmann initially loosing several car lengths on Woods. But Kratzmann was on a mission and rapidly closed back in on Woods before the race was brought under caution for the spun car of Scott Johnston in turn one. Lambert led the restart from Morgan and Bonsey, with McHugh again searching for a way past Vanderreyden, and Woods and Kratzmann resuming their battle for the minor places. Kratzmann got underneath Woods and started searching for a way past Murray, while Woods fought back, searching high and low for a way back past Kratzmann. McHugh eventually made his way underneath Vanderreyden, while Woods made his way around the outside of Kratzmann and was attempting to get past Murray as well when Bonsey spun the Q42 racer in turn three and brought the race under caution. Lambert again led the restart from Morgan and Vanderreyden and while Lambert and Morgan were untroubled in the lead, the battle for the minor places was nothing short of fierce. Woods raced around the outside of Murray, while Kratzmann tried to get underneath, with Woods then carrying significant momentum on the high side as he tried to race around Vanderreyden as they approached the chequered flag. Contact between the right rear of the Vanderreyden and the left front of Woods as they approached the finish saw Vanderreyden loop the Q72 racer, going backwards across the line. Anthony Lambert got the win ahead of Randy Morgan with Vanderreyden holding onto third despite the unconventional way he greeted the chequered flag. Allan Woods finished fourth ahead of Dan Murray, Brent Kratzmann, Nicholas Whell, Lachlan McHugh, Scott Johnston, Bryan Zelinski and Kristy Bonsey.

Mitch Gowland sat on pole for the start of heat six, and, along with Paul Rooks, led the field to the green. Gowland got the jump on the start and quickly secured the race lead, while Steven Johnson attempted to race up the inside of Rooks as they raced through the opening corner. Rooks held on to second, leaving Johnson with Darren Jensen on his tail, only for Johnson to slip straight underneath Rooks as they entered turn four and move, briefly into second. Rooks fired straight back, getting back underneath Johnson before they hit turn one and while Johnson had a couple of looks underneath Rooks in the following few laps, Rooks refused to surrender. Luke Oldfield was making impressive progress from the rear of the field, catching Jensen in only a couple of laps, the pair picking up their battle from the earlier heat as they searched for a way past Johnson. Oldfield got underneath Jensen and started working the top side and searching for the right opportunity to get around Johnson. Jensen, with Mitchell Gee on his tail, chased Johnson but couldn’t get the job done, with Gee getting underneath Jensen as they approached the chequered flag. Gowland was largely untroubled out in front but Oldfield was fierce, focused and determined, making his way into the lead on the final lap of the race and relegating Gowland to second. Luke Oldfield got the win, after starting from position eight, ahead of Mitch Gowland, Paul Rooks, Steven Johnson, Mitchell Gee, Darren Jensen, Mark Pholi, Steve Greer, Andrew Baumber and Justin Snellman.

Luke Oldfield led the points heading into the Dash event, but a pre-dash pill draw saw him invert the entire top eight field for the six lap dash. Randy Morgan started from pole position with Allan Woods alongside and Kevin Titman and Andrew Corbet from the second row. Morgan got the jump on the start and led the way through turn one, with Woods charging hard on the top-side. Woods switched to the bottom to get underneath Morgan as they entered turn three, while Mitchell Gee and Andrew Scheuerle made their way underneath Andrew Corbet. Titman got the better of Morgan and set his sights on Woods, while from the rear of the field Oldfield committed to the high line and started making his way forward. Titman raced underneath Woods to take control of the race, while Oldfield raced around Scheuerle and set his sights on Gee and Morgan. Working the top side to perfection Oldfield made it look easy as he got around Gee and Morgan in quick succession, spending less than a lap advancing two positions, and then turned his attention to Woods. Oldfield spent a couple of laps chasing Woods before timing his run on the top-side beautifully, racing around the outside of Woods as they rounded the final corner of the race. Kevin Titman got the win, earning pole position for the start of the main race, with Luke Oldfield home in an impressive second ahead of Allan Woods, Mitchell Gee, Randy Morgan, Andrew Scheuerle, Brent Aprile and Andrew Corbet.

Eighteen cars took to the track for the B-Main, with only the top four able to transfer to the main race. Anthony Vanderreyden, who only missed an automatic start in the A-Main based on time trial results, started from pole position with Paul Rooks alongside. Vanderreyden and Rooks raced side-by-side through turn one with Vanderreyden emerging in front, only for the race to be brought under caution when Ryan McNamara spun the Q88 racer in turn two. A full restart followed with Vanderreyden getting the better start this time and leading them through turn one, while Rooks surrendered second to a hard-charging Mark Pholi. Steve Greer got the better of Kris Jennings before challenging Darren Jensen for position with both Greer and Jensen getting underneath Rooks in turn one moments later. Kristy Bonsey, already on a mission to get into the top four and earn a transfer, quickly made her way under Rooks, while the race was brought under caution once more a lap later when Bryan Zelinski spun the NQ71 racer in turn three. Vanderreyden led the restart from Pholi and Greer while Darren Jensen sat in fourth but with a determined Bonsey, already up from ninth in just three laps, on his tail. Bonsey immediately put the pressure on, persistent and relentless on the bottom, eventually getting her nose in front of Jensen just as Jensen cut down a right rear tyre and slowed on the high line before pulling out of the event. Kris Jennings looped the Q81 racer in turn four to bring the race back under caution, while Bryan Zelinski, who had lost a muffler in turn three, was relegated to the infield. Vanderreyden led the restart from Pholi, Greer and Bonsey and while Vanderreyden controlled the race, Greer was quick to dive underneath Pholi and set out after the leader. Scott Johnston, in his first night back after some time on the side-lines, inverted the Q73 racer in turn one and brought the race to a stop. Fortunately Scott walked away from the wreck. Vanderreyden again led the restart, this time with Greer in second in advance of Pholi with Bonsey holding on to fourth despite a determined challenge from Paul Rooks. Bonsey made her way past Pholi, with Rooks and Mitch Gowland following in quick succession before Pholi slowed dramatically and pulled on the infield. Unfortunately Adam Butler, who finally seemed to have sorted the mechanical issues in the Q10 racer, clipped the back of the slowing car of Pholi and looped his own car to a stop, bringing the race under another caution. Vanderreyden again led the restart only this time Greer stepped up the pressure, challenging spectacularly on the high side as he tried to find a way into the race lead. Greer was relentless on the top, and while Bonsey closed in late in the race, there was little either of them could do to beat Vanderreyden. Anthony Vanderreyden got the win ahead of Steve Greer and Kristy Bonsey, with Paul Rooks securing the final transfer to the back of the A-Main. Mitch Gowland crossed the line in fifth, and would use his East Coast Logistics Series provisional to start the main race from position nineteen, while Andrew Baumber finished sixth in the B-Main. Ryan McNamara crossed the line in seventh and led Clem Hoffmans, Nicholas Whell, Sean Rose, Kris Jennings and Libby Ellis across the line. Mark Pholi, Adam Butler, Justin Snellman, Darren Jensen, Scott Johnston and Bryan Zelinski all failed to finish the event.

A star-studded field of nineteen took to the track for the thirty-lap A-Main, with Kevin Titman and Luke Oldfield sharing the front row. Titman got the jump on the start and led the field through the opening corners, opening a small margin on Oldfield in second and a larger margin on Mitchell Gee who was holding down third. Brent Aprile was on his way forward, and in just a lap and a half had got the better of Andrew Corbet, Randy Morgan and Andrew Scheuerle and was challenging Allan Woods for fourth. Lachlan McHugh was also charging through the field, but three laps in contact between Steve Greer and Paul Rooks as they raced down the back straight resulted in a massive crash for both drivers, with Anthony Vanderreyden also involved. Fortunately all three drivers were able to walk away though none were able to restart the race.

Kevin Titman led the restart but with just one more lap under green Luke Oldfield made his move and took control of the race, leaving Titman in second while Mitchell Gee and Brent Aprile started a battle that would captivate the crowd for the rest of the race. Behind them Andrew Scheuerle made his way underneath Allan Woods, while Brent Kratzmann tried to keep Lachlan McHugh behind him. While Kratzmann and McHugh were keeping themselves busy Randy Morgan boldly took to the high line in an attempt to race around them both, only for McHugh to finally get underneath Kratzmann as they raced down the main straight. Morgan remained committed on the top, but clipped the wall coming out of turn two as he tried to race around the outside of Kratzmann. Morgan lost a little ground, and gave Andrew Corbet the chance to challenge him for position, while closer to the front of the field Gee and Aprile were relentless and unyielding as they fought over the minor places and searched for a way past Kevin Titman. Aprile made his way in front of Gee, only for Gee to regain the spot a couple of laps later, the pair putting on a brilliant show while still giving each other racing room. Oldfield was nearly half a lap in front of the battle for second, already weaving his way through the back markers, but it was that battle for the minor places that was hard to ignore. Gee managed to have the advantage over Aprile and pulled slightly ahead, enough to really challenge Titman for second. The Q36 racer committed to the bottom, with Titman on the top-side as they raced side-by-side into turn one. Unfortunately for Titman his race came to an abrupt end when he somewhat gently inverted the Q59 racer in the turn one wall. Brent Kratzmann had a very flat right rear tyre and he and his crew were afforded two minutes in order to change the tyre. Feverish work on the infield saw the Q2 crew change the tyre and rejoin the race at the rear of the field, giving Kratzmann the chance, with fourteen laps remaining, to try and make up some lost ground.

Luke Oldfield led the restart from Mitchell Gee and Brent Aprile, with Lachlan McHugh in fourth. Aprile again took to the high line the moment the lights went green, challenging Gee for second, the pair spending several laps side-by-side until the race was brought back under caution when Dan Murray and Brock Dean came together in turn four, with Dean parking the front end of the Q8 racer on top of the front end of the Q44 of Murray. Both were able to restart the race.

Luke Oldfield again led the restart, with Gee and Aprile resuming their battle and Kratzmann on a mission from the back of the field. Gee eventually managed to pull ahead of Aprile, leaving Aprile in the clutches of Lachlan McHugh, with McHugh looking on the inside of Aprile and Aprile persistent on the high line. Kratzmann made his way past Kristy Bonsey and started challenging Andrew Corbet, while Allan Woods and Anthony Lambert argued over mid-field positions. Corbet raced underneath Woods in turn two, only for Woods to return serve as they entered turn three, while Bonsey raced her way back underneath Kratzmann before challenging Corbet for ninth. Luke Oldfield went on to take the win with Mitchell Gee home in second and Lachlan McHugh rounding out the podium in third. Brent Aprile finished fourth and led Andrew Scheuerle, Randy Morgan, Anthony Lambert, Allan Woods, Andrew Corbet, Kristy Bonsey, Brent Kratzmann, Brock Dean and Mitch Gowland across the line. Dan Murray, Kevin Titman, Steve Greer, Paul Rooks, Anthony Vanderreyden and Steven Johnson all failed to finish the event.

That was our last run at Ausdeck Patios and Roofing Archerfield Speedway before Christmas and the arrival of Donny Schatz, but we do have one more BIG show – Ultimate Pink Night at Hi-Tec Oils Speedway in Toowoomba next Saturday night, 15 December 2018. Come and join us for another HUGE night of Sprintcar racing, and help raise some funds for breast cancer research as well. See you trackside!