From Archerfield Speedway
Brisbane, AU — (February 16, 2014) — It only happens once a year, and last night was the night. The twin-feature race format came into play for round 9 of the KRE Race Engines Series at Supercheap Auto Archerfield Speedway. On a racy track, Andrew Scheuerle bagged the points to once again to take the Ausdeck Patios and Roofing #25 up to the top spot on the podium. The team improved on their average qualifying time to take a heat win, followed by a second then a third in the two features.
“It’s good to come back and get the rust knocked off. At the end of the day we’re here to get points for the series and we’ve done that. We’ve just extended our point’s lead even more now in what’s happened with Titan and their change of drivers so we just need to keep doing what we’re doing and get through to the end of the year and hopefully go to the banquet and pick up first place again,” he said.
Outright second in points was a satisfying result after a big week in Kevin Titman’s Camp following a big roll-over in Toowoomba last weekend. The John Titman Racing #59 was stripped back to a bare frame, Brad Hilder fixed it then the crew (Bobby and Jason) rebuilt the car in a night-and-a-half; Kevin thanked them and his family for their support. “We really found something with the car at Warrnambool and since then we’ve been pretty fast; it’s a good result after a lot of hard work.”
Danny Reidy finished third on points but after winning Feature #1 he struggled to advance from inverted 10th in the Feature #2. He has switched to a Maxim chassis for the first time and seems happy with that decision. “Bit disappointing in the second run, left the driver behind at the start and just couldn’t really find the car (set-up). We should have been a couple of spots better off after the last restart. The Maxim has been alright; it’s a pretty universal car, easier to work with than the J&J.”
Our new Australian Sprintcar champion has had better nights at the office; Dave Murcott happened to be in the wrong spot at the right time on more than one occasion. He was taken out in his first heat and in the second Feature race but managed to win his other heat (H5) and finish fourth in the first of the twin feature races.
Luke Oldfield clocked fastest in time trials with 11.783 seconds and only four others joined him in the sub-12 second bracket. Luke started from the front row of Feature #1 but spun out while in the lead, he made it back up to tenth at the chequered flag which turned out in his favour. Eventual race winner, Danny Reidy (who convincingly led flag to flag) drew the number 10 marble which effectively inverted the top ten for the start of the second feature race. Kevin Titman made an inside pass to take second place from Scheuerle in the closing laps of the first feature and that’s how the podium played out.
In the Feature Race #2, starting from the front row once again, Luke made another attempt at victory lane. He encountered lapped traffic with 14-to-go but on the next lap, the first caution light blinked as Scott Bogucki hit the wall out of turn two sending the Titan Garages #36 infield. The next yellow came as #75 Darren Jensen did the same out of turn 4 but with only a flat front left, his crew sprinted to the pits to return in time and change the flat within the two minutes allowed; applause sounded from the crowd as Jensen restarted the race. The final yellow light came on due to contact between Mark Pholi, Dave Murcott and Terry Bracken; all three out of contention. In a three-lap sprint to the finish Oldfield got it right the second time around and was the first to cross the line ahead of Scheuerle and Peter Lack; not to mention #67 Paul Morris who had travelled from the B-Main to finish fourth – the night going in his favour.
Remaining heat wins went to Allan Woods, Ben Hilder, Cap Henry and Danny Reidy and in the B-Main it was Paul Morris, Cap Henry, Brad Ayres and Steven Johnson who managed to transfer to the rear of the A-Main.
In the support divisions #33 Mitchell Gowland drove his Wingless Sprint across the finish line just centimetres ahead of #David Eggins with #N2 Robert Mazzer further behind to round out the podium. The usual suspects were at the pointy end of results in the Formula 500’s, #Q1 Nathan Pronger was strong on the night but it was #22 Cody Maroske who took the early lead in the feature race and held on for the win, #5 Kayden Iverson finished in second place and #42 Michael Pronger was third. By race end the infield resembled a car park with six of the 15 cars resulting with a DNF.
So too with the Compact Speedcars, half the field DNF’d. After a couple of attempts to complete the first two laps (of 20) #99 Cameron Pesschier spun while in the lead, handing it to #11 Robert Stewart who went on to take the win ahead of #10 Wayne Corbett and #8 Dave Swan. Stewart was a force to be reckoned with as was #47 Scott Stirling and #6 Steve Smith but for the latter two, it was not to be their night. The Brisbane Sedans produced a fight to the finish, #36 Ron Young won the battle in the feature and in the Stock Car division #19 Shane French was also triumphant.
Next week the Midget Cars return and David Clark lead’s the charge in the popular V8 Dirt Modifieds. There’ll also be Lightning Sprints, DMA Modlites, the Open Sedans and FordvHoldenvSigma. Check www.brisbanespeedway and facebook/archerfieldspeedway for tickets and times.