Josh Haynes wins the first race of the 2024 TFH Hire Muscle Car Series

Josh Haynes has scored the first win of the 2024 TFH Hire Muscle Car Series - framed by HYTEK Steel Framing at Sydney Motorsport Park under lights. The #37 Herzog Steel Ford Mustang driver converted pole position to take the chequered flag 2.8 seconds ahead of Supercar driver Todd Hazelwood in the #111 TFH Hire Services Ford Mustang followed by young gun Tom Hayman’s Mustang.

Hazelwood’s TFH teammate Josh Thomas was a non-starter after engine failure in practice while Greg Keam also had a diff issue and didn’t take the race start.

Haynes jumped well, while Gartner, Cheney, Stibbs and Hayman toughed it out over the first 2 corners, however Gartner in the Hi-Tec Oils Camara went off at turn 3 on lap 1 with power steering failure.

Rookie Connor Roberts started the race in 11 th and was having a strong run until a tyre deflated forcing him into pit lane.

Mark Crutcher was the hard charger moving up to 6th behind 2023 championship winner Dylan Thomas while IES Camaro driver Paul Hadley and Anthony Tenkate had a great battle on lap 4.

Speedway driver Domain Ramsay, having his first taste of TA2, had a wild spin at Turn One mid race, while rookie Danny Reidy made some strong moves to pass Hadley and Tenkate only to be re-passed by Tenkate a lap later.

Haynes eased out to a comfortable margin by the end of the 12 laps, winning from Hazelwood, Hayman, Lee Stibbs in the Arrow Car Sales Mustang, reigning champ Dylan Thomas, with Crutcher, Cheney, Jackson, Coulter and Tenkate rounding out the ten.

The TFH Hire Muscle Car Series - framed by HYTEK Steel Framing will return to Sydney Motorsport Park on Saturday for the final three races.

Race 2 will be live streamed on the TA2 Racing Australia, Hi-Tec Oils and Speedcafe Facebook Pages, Race 3 and 4 will be live and free to air on SBS Viceland, Fox Sports and Kayo Sports from 6pm. 

QUOTES

Josh Haynes, #37 Herzog Steel Ford Mustang
“ I had a good start, I was obviously really nervous having Todd Hazelwood who is a big name next to me bit I made sure I got a clean start held it together at turn 2, came out of there cleanly and then put my head down to try and build a bit of a gap so it was really good.