Gartner on top at wet Morgan Park

Hi-Tec Oils Camaro driver Brad Gartner converted his maiden TA2 pole to a lights-to-flag win in treacherous conditions in Race 1 of Round 2 of the TFH Hire TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek Steel Framing at Morgan Park Raceway.

Qualifying in the morning was dry, before the heavens opened for the Kubota Super Six Shootout at 1pm. Gartner, an experienced speedway driver, mastered the wet weather to back up his provisional pole and score his maiden Kubota TA2 Pole Award.

Jett Johnson, subbing for Michael Coulter in the #11 Turps Tippers Mustang, went out fourth fastest in the Super Six Shootout, but a gearbox issue meant he couldn’t finish his lap and failed to take the start in Race 1.

In torrential rain at Morgan Park, the field ventured out behind the safety car for three laps before the race started with a safety car restart.

Gartner and Haynes leapt away from the front, as the pair battled for the opening laps. However, Haynes came unstuck on Lap 7 when he spun off the track at the Turn 8 sweeper and dropped back to third.

Haynes caught back up to second placed Hayden Jackson, before getting by Jackson on the final lap.

Gartner took a 17  second win from Haynes and Jackson, who dedicated his third place finish to his Grandfather who passed away last week.

PHD Motorsport’s Graham Cheney and Mark Crutcher completed the top five while Sprintcar convert Domain Ramsay spun on Lap 9 but still came home in a personal best of sixth.

The TFH Hire TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek Steel Framing is back on track tomorrow for Races 2, 3  and 4 at 10:35am, 1:10pm and 4:25pm. All the action can be viewed live on SBS, Fox Sports and Kayo, check your local guides for further details.

QUOTES

Brad Gartner, #22 Hi-Tec Oils Chevrolet Camaro

“It was hard to miss Josh when he goes in your mirrors, but he was doing an unreal job to even just stay there all race.

“I was really trying to keep mistake free, but him being right there was really hard. It was a good battle, we were both clean, just unfortunate, but we've done a good job and the Hi Tech Oils Camaro is a jet.

“It was was extremely wet, much wetter than the Super Six, but we're about six seconds faster a lap. So you just, I mean, we only got one lap to find the grip levels earlier today and that gave us an indication of what it was going to be like during the race, but it was great to hang on in those conditions and kick the weekend off with pole and a win.”

Josh Haynes, #37 Herzog Steel Ford Mustang

“I'm actually pretty stoked to bring that back in second. The Herzog Steel Mustang was a weapon. Congratulations first of all to Brad, he's worked so hard, so good job to him, he did very, very well then.

“We were quick, I had the pace on him pretty well everywhere, but you come down the back into the sweeper there and I honestly cannot see a thing, so most laps it was hanging on and then I just went that little bit too hard, grabbed a puddle and then grabbed the white line and I was just a passenger.

“We know we have the pace, that just makes me much more confident in the wet, so I'm really happy with that and we know we've got a quick car for tomorrow, so looking forward to it.

Hayden Jackson, #81 Maitland Glass & Windscreens Dodge Challenger

“I had a red hot crack. It was a shame there was a bit of lap traffic in there, but that's motorsport at the end of the day, it was awesome fun to have a go with Josh.

“It was a bit of a quiet race apart from that. Great to get third for the team and that goes to Grandpa. I lost him on Wednesday, so it really goes out to him.”