BIG FIELD FOR BRISBANE SPRINTCAR SERIES OPENER

Feature Photo: Jy Corbet in action at Archerfield….Photo by: Chris Metcalf

Archerfield Speedway Media Release

 With the first attempt to get the 2022/2023 Archerfield Speedway season underway last month having succumbed to the will of Mother Nature, this Saturday night (November 5) will see more than 40 Sprintcars converge on the Brisbane circuit to launch what will most likely be the final season of racing at the history-rich venue. 

Whilst the washout of the scheduled season-opener was a major disappointment for all concerned, the delayed start to the season has proven a blessing in disguise, with the extra few weeks of preparation time ensuring a stacked field of Sprintcars for what is shaping as a huge night of open wheel action.

Heading an entry list for the opening round of the East Coast Logistics Sprintcar Track Championship that comprises competitors from three states is defending track titleholder Luke Oldfield. 

The Gold Coast-based ace completely dominated the 2021/2022 ECL series with a remarkable run that included six wins and eleven podium finishes from 14 rounds and, whilst the likes of former track champ Aaron Kelly and experienced campaigners such as Brent Kratzmann and Kevin Titman are again expected to feature prominently in the results at each round, last season saw the rise of several young talents who now loom large amongst biggest obstacles in Oldfield’s bid for back-to-back championships.

Having all secured podium results in ECL feature races last season, Jy Corbet, Ryan Newton and Taylor Prosser will carry the weight of expectation into this new season as they seek to deliver the consistency needed to issue a serious challenge for the championship. Although Newton is the only member of this trio who has thus far secured a feature race win, there is no doubt that the others are on the cusp of emulating that effort and doing so in the first event of the season will certainly send a message to Oldfield and the rest of the old guard.

Adam Butler is another who seems on the cusp of a feature race success and Randy Morgan brings some strong form into the weekend, having secured a top-five finish at Eastern Creek last weekend. The inclusion of Victoria’s Jack Bell and Sydney gun Michael Saller in the field lifts the level of competition even further, ensuring that neither Oldfield nor any of the locals can afford to adopt a conservative approach if they hope to find themselves in victory lane.

The field also includes a couple drivers taking their first tentative steps in the Sprintcar ranks with Cody O’Connell (Wingless Sprints) and Tyler Stralow (Lightning Sprints) following Compact Speedcar standout Harry Stewart in making the transition into the big league. However, perhaps the most interesting nomination is that of Tony Bridge, a former Queensland Sprintcar Championship winner who has spent more than 15 years on the sidelines and is returning to competition in a two-car operation alongside son Daniel, who is amongst the biggest field ever assembled for a round of the Petzyo Development Series.

Bridge Jnr will be one of 16 drivers chasing Development Series success, with a quartet of Formula 500 flyers in Nathan Pronger, Adrian Josefski, Carlo Moiola and Noah Ball also making their series debut. In fact, with more than half the field competing at Archerfield in a Sprintcar for the very first time, Libby Ellis will carry the weight of expectation that comes with being the most experienced runner in the field.

Whilst Midget nominations are somewhat below what could reasonably be expected, it is a positive sign that the entry list includes several competitors making the switch from other categories, namely Boyd Chaffey (Formula 500s), Nelson Reddacliff (Sprintcars) and Tim Devine (Compact Speedcars). As two of the most dominant drivers at Archerfield over the last few seasons, Michael Kendall and Darren Vine are the obvious standouts in the small field, with Cal Whatmore making a welcome return to competition, having recovered from the injuries sustained in a frightening crash last season. 

As always, Wingless Sprints are out in force with more than 20 cars set to do battle in round four of the Wildink Club Championship, with Maryborough-based brothers Brody and Scott Thomsen trekking south to take on a local contingent that includes regular front runners in Andrew Robinson, Jamie Usher, Lance Dawson, Stuart Jefferies and Tim Harris, with Toowoomba’s Nicholas Whell and NSW’s Parker Eveleigh also amongst the entries.

Lightning Sprints will also feature on the program, with a field headed by the man who dominated last season in Andy Kimm,. Gates open at 2.00pm, with spectator entry for online ticketholders from 3.00pm. General admission tickets will be on sale from 4.00pm, with early racing from 5.00pm and the main program, which includes a huge fireworks show, is scheduled for a 6.00pm start.

East Coast Logistics Sprintcar Track Championship round one nominations: Aaron Kelly, Adam Butler, Andrew Baumber, Brad Ayers, Brad Keiler, Brent Kratzmann, Cody O’Connell, Erin Vanderreyden, Harry Stewart, Jack Bell, James Matthews, Jayden Peacock, Jy Corbet, Karl Hoffmans, Kevin Titman, Luke Oldfield, Mark Pholi, Michael Saller, Mitch Gowland, Peter Campbell, Randy Morgan, Ryan Newton, Taylor Prosser, Tony Bridge, Trent Vardy, Tyler Stralow

Petzyo Sprintcar Development Series round one nominations: Adrian Josefski, Cameron King, Carlo Moiola, Daniel Bridge, Harry Dixon, Jared Desmares, Jeremy Gaudry, Josh Fort, Kye Jensen, Libby Ellis, Luke Manttan, Nathan Pronger, Noah Ball, Ron Hendrickson, Steve Bateman, Thomas Clarendon-Blair

Midget nominations:  Boyd Chaffey, Brad Dawson, Brodie Tulloch, Cal Whatmore, Chris Moor, Darren Vine, Michael Kendall, Nelson Reddacliff, Scott Doyle, Scott Jeynes, Tim Devine, Tom Clauss

Wildink Wingless Sprint Club Championship round four nominations: Andrew Robinson, Anthony Joyce, Brody Thomsen, Chris Catchpole, David Sansby, James Barton, James Grady, Jamie Usher, Jayden O’Toole, Jeremy Burt, Josh Bartlett, Lance Dawson, Matthew Brown, Mitchell Allan, Nicholas Whell, Parker Eveleigh, Scott Thomsen, Stuart Jefferies, Tim Harris, Tom Robertson, Zeth Cox

Lightning Sprint nominations: Andy Kimm, Darren Baldwin, Harley Graham, Jac Carnell, James Elliott, Jim Gollagher, Jim Kennedy, Luke Graham, Michael Gollagher, Scott Genrich, Scott Jukes  

 For further information and event updates, please stay tuned to Facebook or the track website at www.brisbanespeedway.com.au