Murcott Means Business

By Jodie Bell

Murcott Means Business

Australian Sprintcar champion Dave Murcott carved his own groove all the way to the chequered flag last night at Supercheap Auto Archerfield Speedway. There were minimal passing opportunities but he piloted the Mainline DynoLog Dynamometers #A1 ‘around the outside’ to take the Preliminary Feature race win for the Queensland Title.

He admits it’s only the first night but it was a relief to turn things around and make it back on to the podium.

Three restarts diminished Murcott’s lead in the feature but there was no way he was letting it go.  Brent Aprile challenged early on, he capitalised after assuming Luke Oldfield’s position on the front row alongside Murcott when Oldfield pulled out with engine issues just prior to the green flag. 

Robbie Farr held firm in second but just didn’t have the package on the night to go wheel-to-wheel with Murcott. 

James McFadden came on strong toward the end advancing from his seventh place start to finish third, Andrew Scheuerle also moved up the grid to cross the line on fourth but the drive put in by Shaun Dobson was a blinder; he finished fifth after starting from 14^th. 

Luke Oldfield will hopefully sort out engine issues and make the start tonight but maybe not so for Brent Kratzmann who is in doubt for night 2; also with engine issues.

Another to have engine issues is Garry Brazier but he’s confident he’ll make the start tonight but maybe not so for Trevor Green; word is he’s withdrawn from the event.  

Luke Oldfield and the JB Automotive team won Quick Time (11.880 seconds) and were one of only two to run sub 12 seconds; Dave Murcott being the other. Heat wins went to Darren Jensen (x2), Scheuerle, Shaun Dobson (x2) and Sam Walsh.

The top ten heading into tonight’s final reads 1. Dave Murcott (137 points); 2. Robbie Farr (120); 3. Andrew Scheuerle (110); 4. James McFadden (108); 5. Luke Oldfield (102); 6. Bryan Mann (102); 7. Danny Reidy (99); 8. Shaun Dobson (98); 9. Mark Pholi (94); 10. Brent Aprile (92).

The top ten after night one of the Australian Compact Speedcar Title is 1. Robert Stewart (75); 2. Darren Vine (70); 3. Scott Stirling (65); 4. Wayne Corbett (63); 5. Gary Hudson (63); 6. Craig Hickey (49); 7. Dave Collins (47); 8. Barry Gibbes (44); 9. Nicholas Hudson (44) 10. Chris Paolini (44).  As the top five suggests, last night they were in a class of their own.

Archerfield Promoter John Kelly anticipated records would be broken this weekend and as it turns out, he was on the money; 4 records fell… and nearly a fifth. 

Robert Stewart broke the 1 lap record for Compact Speedcars in heat 9 (14.440 seconds) and the 8 lap record in heat 5 (1 minute 58.789 seconds). In the Modlites, Australian champion Jamie McHugh broke their 20 lap record (5 minutes 28.247 seconds) and his son Lachlan broke the 15 lap record in the SSA Juniors (4 minutes 42.469 seconds) and took the feature race win.  Shaun Dobson was only two-tenths of a second off breaking the 10 lap Sprintcar record in heat 3.

The Modlites staged their ANZAC Day International Challenge and in the feature race Jamie McHugh led flag to flag.  Terry Leerentveld wasn’t too far behind in second and Cliff Whitehill crossed the line in third.  Chris Ruane came from way down the start order to finish fourth and Luke Whitehill rounded out the top 5; Canadian racer Josh Sliter finished 7^th.  The Modlites make two appearances in May for the final two rounds of the chase in the WLS/DGR Driver to America Series.

Tonight’s racing will be intense as Sprintcars and Compact Speedcars crown their champions of their respective titles on the final night of competition.  The Open Sedans and the Formula 500’s are support divisions so join us trackside for all the action; it’ll be white hot. 

Main gate opens at 4pm, pit gate open at 3pm 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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