Qld Sprintcar Championship; Past Winners And Contenders
Author : Archerfield Speedway
When drivers and teams roll into Supercheap Auto Archerfield Speedway this Saturday afternoon to make their final preparations for the running of the 2012 Qld Sprintcar Championship, many eyes will be on past winners such as James McFadden and Andrew Scheuerle however the field is littered with serious contenders who are chasing a maiden Title victory of their own and when you look through the nominations list for the event, it shapes up as one of the most open in recent memory.
James McFadden is an obvious choice amongst many punters and is coming off a career year that has seen him dominate the World Series Sprintcars Championship and cement himself as one of the very best Sprintcar drivers in Australia today. James however will be in an unfamiliar, albeit very good Supercheap Auto/Paul Morris Motorsport Sprintcar car this weekend and it will be a measure of his ability to rack up a second Qld Title in four years. James is up for the challenge.
Of the Archerfield regulars to have won the Qld Sprintcar Championship over the past dozen years or so, Andrew Scheuerle's name stands out as he has also raced his way to multiple Comp Cams, Qld Speedway Spares and KRE Race Engines Sprintcars Series Titles during this period. The driver of the #25 Ausdeck Patios And Roofing car is regularly at the pointy end of the field at Archerfield and has two wins in this event, the last one coming in 2007.
Todd Wanless also has two Qld Sprintcar Titles to his name and as a team, the ABC operation has three with their last victory in the Qld Title coming in 2008 when Pete Thorley put in an outstanding drive on the Archerfield highline to claim his maiden Title in the 410 class. If basing success on victories alone, then it's fair to say the ABC team have had a below par performance this season compared to the high standards they have set themselves and achieved in the past. However, another Title win for Wanless on Saturday night would straighten that anomaly out and sometimes in sport, those that appear to be down a little bounce back with the biggest of victories.
So apart from these previous Champions, who are some of the serious contenders for this year's Championship? As the host of this year's Title, Supercheap Auto Archerfield Speedway is the home track for the majority of the field and the season-long KRE Race Engines Sprintcar Track Championship being staged at the venue will be a key indicator of form.
Bryan Mann is the current Series leader has produced some strong results which have taken him to the top of the standings. Despite being winless at Archerfield so far this season, Mann has multiple top five finishes to his credit and two Fast Time Awards so there's no question the speed is there. As the winner of the 2011 Australian Sprintcar Open at the venue, Mann knows his way to the chequers in the big events. Could this be Bryan's night to remember?
If you have been to a Sprintcar race in Qld this season, then you will have been impressed by young gun David "Blingy" Muir. He's fast and entertaining to watch - some may say a little daring - and he knows how to get around the 1/4 mile track in Brisbane almost as quick as anyone else in the history books. His five victories against all-comers this season, four of which have been at Archerfield, is the best of any Qld driver this season. If he is to get a major Championship win anytime soon, then Saturday night represents the best chance of his young career. Find a bookie and put some money on him.
The three nights of the Tri-City Shootout over Easter came down to a matter of mere points between Cameron Gessner and Danny Reidy for the overall win and the coveted Crispy Memorial Trophy. The record books will ultimately show Gessner as the winner, what they won't show is how close Reidy came to a victory of his own before a flat tyre robbed him of the chance in the final race of the weekend. Gessner is a Qld'er who now lives in WA, Reidy is from Alice Springs and has called Qld home for some time. Both have lots of experience, both have been on the road and raced in major events around the country yet neither have won a Qld Sprintcar Title. However, both are more than capable of changing that statistic on Saturday night.
When they are on their game, the likes of Darren Jensen, Peter Lack and Kevin Titman are as fast as anybody at Archerfield and represent three more contenders for the Title. Jensen and Lack have KRE Feature wins to their name already this season, Titman has four top five finishes and sits sixth in points just behind Steven White. Jensen has been particularly fast on the highline of late, let's hope John Kelly has the track nice and wide again this week.
As a one night show, the race format calls for Time Trials off the infield followed by three rounds of ten lap Heat races and a Top Eight Shootout to determine the front six rows of the A-Main with the final six place qualifiers transferring from the B-Main. Twenty-seven drivers will vie for eighteen spots in the thirty-five lap Championship race, only one can win and be crowned the 2012 Qld Sprintcar Champion.
Online ticketing for Saturday night's Championship event is available through the Speedway's website at brisbanespeedway.com.au with Adults just $27.00, kids 5-12 years $8.00 and Family Passes exceptional value at only $65.00. Gates open from 4:00pm, early racing from 4:15pm with the main programme from 6:00pm following the National Anthem.
Qld Sprintcar Championship - Updated Nominations:
Allan Woods, Andrew Scheuerle (*2005/2007), Anthony Lambert, Ben Hilder, Brent Kratzmann, Brett Thomas, Bryan Mann, Cameron Gessner, Dan Murray, Danny Reidy, Darren Jensen, David Muir, Gary Finglas, James McFadden (*2009), Jamie McDonald (NZ), Kevin Titman, Luke Oldfield, Matthew Butler, Melissa Boyes, Paul Rooks, Peter Lack, Rob Muscat, Ronnie Barber, Steven Johnson, Steven Rowell, Steven White, Todd Wanless (*1996/1999).
* Past Winner.
Event Information:
Date: Saturday, April 21, 2012
Venue: Supercheap Auto Archerfield Speedway
Location: 63 Colebard Street West, Archerfield Qld
Adults: $27.00
Pensioners & Students (with Photo ID): $22.00
Teens: 13 - 15 yrs: $15.00, Children: 5 - 12 yrs: $8.00
Family Passes: $65.00 (2 adults + 2 children 12 yrs or under)
General admission gates open 4:00pm, early racing from 4:15pm, main programme from 6:00pm.
Parking is available at the track for $3.00. Racing finishes by 10.30pm.
Programmed events include: Qld Sprintcar Championship, Late Models, Qld Compact Speedcar Championship, Modlites, Stockcars, Ford v Holden Sedans, Outlaw Sedans.
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