SPRINTCARS, SUPER SEDANS AND A SPEEDCAR STATE TITLE

Feature photo: Sprintcar rising talent Harry Stewart… Photo by Chris Metcalf.

 Archerfield Speedway Media Release

 As if the opening night of the season wasn’t exciting enough, this Saturday night (November 19) promises to be even more spectacular with a packed program featuring round two of the East Coast Logistics Sprintcar Track Championship and round four of the McCosker Super Sedan Series, along with the Queensland Compact Speedcar Championship and round two of the Formula 500 Crete 4 U Series.  With Open Sedans also on the program, 100 competitor nominations have been received, setting the scene for an explosive night of dirt track entertainment.

 Whilst it was no surprise to see defending champion Luke Oldfield race away to win the opening round of the ECL Track Championship two weeks ago, there were a few standout performances in the series opener to suggest that Oldfield cannot expect any future successes to come so easily. In particular, Jy Corbet was impressive in his charge from 13th to finish third in the feature, albeit in somewhat controversial circumstances courtesy of a last-corner incident.

If Corbet can temper his exuberance and emerge from the heats somewhere near the front of the grid in the feature race, he will most certainly take the challenge to Oldfield.  Likewise, fellow young guns Taylor Prosser and Ryan Newton will be somewhere in the mix if they can avoid trouble, something neither was able to accomplish in the series opener.

After cutting the quickest lap in qualifying to announce himself as the man to beat, Prosser ultimately failed to start the feature race, riding out a savage heat race crash. Newton, meanwhile, was running strongly inside the top three in the feature race, only to find himself unable to avoid a stricken tailender, which saw him relegated to the sidelines as Oldfield raced unchallenged to the chequer.

With a flat tyre denying Aaron Kelly any opportunity to feature prominently in the opening round results, it was Kevin Titman who emerged as the best of the rest to finish in second spot. Both Kelly and Titman are amongst the starters again this weekend, as are the likes of Brent Kratzmann, Randy Morgan and newcomer Harry Stewart, whose opening round effort to secure a place in the Boss Hogg’s Dash belied his lack of experience and showcased his obvious talents.

Having dominated the Development Series round at the season opener, Josh Fort should be brimming with confidence despite the step up in class, while Lightning Sprint convert Tyler Stralow will just be hoping to cut some laps after his series debut failed to materialise when the Motorguard Motorsport #95 refused to fire.

Drivers from four states are amongst the entries for round four of the McCosker Super Sedan Series, which has been dominated thus far by national champion Matt Pascoe. Despite the strength of the field at each round and the distinct differences between the three host venues, Pascoe has been unstoppable in winning all three feature races and, given his record of success at Archerfield, he is a firm favourite to make it four on the trot.

However, the 26-car field does include three other national championship winners in Darren Kane, Steve Jordan and Victoria’s Michael Nicola, along with several other inter-state visitors and an impressive array of emerging tin top talent. The most-travelled in the field is Tasmania’s Adam Beechey, who has made the long haul north with the intention of upstaging Australia’s best, while the likes of Tania Smith, Tyson Moon and some speedy third-generation siblings in Hayden and Zac Brims will represent New South Wales.  

Another couple of young guns looking to cast off the shadow of the illustrious father and forge their own path to success are Zac and Brad Pascoe, both of whom have already proven themselves to be genuine contenders, while the likes of Sean Black, Mitchell Gee, Justin Randall, Michael Larsen and Trent Wilson are also proven front runners who have been unable to quell the Pascoe juggernaut so far in the series.

Harry Doyle is the last driver to defeat Matt Pascoe in a feature race, having chased down both Pascoe and Jordan to win the North Queensland Championship in Cairns and the Rockhampton-based racer is in the field tonight, joining fellow Junior Sedan graduate JJ Hamilton in making their Archerfield debut.

The field to contest the Queensland Compact Speedcar Championship is the best in both in quality and quantity that we have seen for many seasons, with several drivers converging from interstate to take part, including the current national champ in Justin Paull and fellow Victorians Louis Rodriguez and Trevor Perry.

Almost unbeatable in local competition, Matt O’Neill will no doubt relish the opportunity to take on the visiting contingent which includes a trio from New South Wales (Ben Fairfax, Cheyne Williams, Andrew Coppock) and the ACT’s Shaun Robinson. A return to the ranks from Rob Stewart will certainly boost local chances, with Dave Collins, Trent Usher and Richard Treanor also expected to feature in championship calculations.

After a bit of a lull last season, the Formula 500 fraternity have bounced back in a big way for their opening appearance of the season, with a 17-strong field entered for round two of the Crete 4 U Series.

Heading the line-up are the top two finishers from the opening round in Brady Argles and and the current Queensland titleholder in Tomas Partington, along with four-time national champ Liam Williams and  Kaydon Iverson from Townsville. Amanda Chaffey, Brock Thornton, Boyd Chaffey and Lightning Sprint convert Wayne Jukes, all of whom currently sit inside the top ten in the series standings, are also amongst the entries.

Gates open at 2.00pm, with spectator entry for online ticket-holders from 3.00pm. General admission tickets will be on sale from 4.00pm, with early racing from 4.35pm. The main program, which will also feature a solid field of Open Sedans in their first outing for the season, is scheduled for a 5.45pm start.

East Coast Logistics Sprintcar Track Championship round two nominations: Aaron Kelly, Adam Butler, Andrew Baumber, Brad Ayers, Brad Keiler, Brent Kratzmann, Dan Murray, Daniel Bridge, Daniel Helmore, Erin Vanderreyden, Harry Stewart, Jack Bell, James Matthews, Josh Fort, Jy Corbet, Karl Hoffmans, Kevin Titman, Libby Ellis, Luke Manttan, Luke Oldfield, Mitch Gowland, Randy Morgan, Ryan Newton, Taylor Prosser, Tony Bridge, Trent Vardy, Tyler Stralow

McCosker Super Sedan Series round four nominations: Adam Beechey, Barry Craft, Bob McCosker, Brad Pascoe, Colin Kaine, Daniel Taylor, Darren Kane, Harry Doyle, Hayden Brims, JJ Hamilton, Justin Randall, Lee Noon, Matt Pascoe, Michael Larsen, Michael Nicola, Michael Taylor, Mitchell Gee, Sam Hughes, Sean Black, Steve Jordan, Tania Smith, Trent Wilson, Ty Pascoe, Tyson Moon, Zac Brims, Zac Pascoe

Queensland Compact Speedcar Championship nominations: Andrew Coppock, Andrew Parkes, Andrew Rooke, Arren Heeley, Ben Fairfax, Brock Byrne, Byron Schmoll, Cheyne Williams, Dave Collins, Gavin McDowell, Jeremy Ennever, Justin Paull, Louis Rodriguez, Luke Williams, Matt O’Neill, Mick Hunter, Mitchell Rooke, Richard Treanor, Rob Stewart, Shaun Robinson, Trent Usher, Trevor Perry

Crete 4 U Formula 500 Series round two nominations: Amanda Chaffey, Bailey Leeson, Brady Argles, Brock Thornton, Bryce McGregor, Boyd Chaffey, Cooper Howe, Dekota Gay, Jarred Boys, Kaydon Iverson, Liam Williams, Mark Farmer, Nathan Reeks, Noah Ball, Ronnie Barber, Thomas Partington, Wayne Jukes

Open Sedan nominations: Andrew Craft, Colin Morris, Dylan Craft, Gary Kivela, Haiden Grantz, Harry Gillis, Jamie Olsen, Jayden Hartley, Les Eisenmenger, Merv Price, Robin Bains, Ronnie Young, Scott Aitkens, Shaun Donnelly, Tim Swart, Travis Maher, Troy Price, Wayne Kirkman

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

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