Josh Haynes has taken out Round One of the 2024 TFH Hire Muscle Car Series - framed by
HYTEK Steel Framing after an incident packed final day of racing for the series opener at Sydney
Motorsport Park.

Supercar driver Todd Hazelwood got the jump for the lead on Waltec Motorsport driver Josh Haynes in Race 2 for the weekend, Haynes continued to apply the pressure to Hazelwood but as the race went on Haynes’s car was becoming loose in the rear giving Hazelwood the win.

Newcastle’s Tom Hayman pitted on lap 3 due to a gear selection issue, managing to cross the finish line 2 laps down.

Queensland’s Josh Thomas was the hard charger in Race 2, carving his way through the field to 10th by Lap 4, finishing the race in 8th after starting from rear of grid while Brad Gartner also had a stellar run from 16 th to 4 th .

Race 3 saw trouble for TFH driver Todd Hazelwood, after a diff yoke broke while leading, with Haynes going on to win the race 3. 5 seconds in front of CXC Racing driver Dylan Thomas and Gartner. Dream Racing Australia driver Hayden Jackson’s exhaust feel off on lap 2 forcing him to retire while Michael Coulter’s Ford Mustang broke a bolt off the steering arm on the last lap.

Hayman made up 14 spots finishing 4 th after starting rear of grid. Race Four was red flagged after a major incident with 10 laps down when Todd Hazelwood and Brad Gartner came together, which set off a chain reaction involving Mark Crutcher and Lee Stibbs at the final corner coming onto the Main straight. Mark Crutcher was taken to hospital for precautionary neck and spinal checks as a result of the heavy impact. Tom Hayman and Hayden Jackson both had incidents that led to a mid-race safety car. At the re-start Hazelwood, who had come from the back of the field, Brad Gartner and Haynes were involved in a three-way stoush for the lead with only 2 laps to go when Hazelwood made a move on Gartner, the two coming together, and setting up what was a very high-speed impact involving 4 cars that blocked the track and ended the race.

Haynes won the round from reigning champ Dylan Thomas and Graham Cheney, Queenslander
Connor Roberts finished 4 th outright on points on his TA2 debut, winning the Racetech Rookie of
the Round Award, Anthony Tenkate won the Circo Master Class from Paul Hadley and Domain
Ramsay, while Danny Reidy claimed the Wilwood Big Braker Award.

Round 2 of the 2024 TFH Hire Muscle Car Series framed by HYTEK Steel Framing heads to
Morgan Park in Queensland May 31- June 2.

QUOTES

Josh Haynes, #37 Herzog Steel Ford Mustang
“It was a really good start to the weekend, obviously it was a bit of a tough way to end with the red flag, hopefully Mark Crutcher is alright. The Herzog Steel Mustang was quick, we had some good battles and it was really good way to start off our 2024 racing season, hopefully we can continue this momentum through to Round 2 in Morgan Park." 

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.

A stout field of 20 TA2 cars will take to Sydney Motorsport Park under lights this weekend for Round 1 of the 2024 TFH Hire Muscle Car Series - framed by HYTEK Steel Framing. 

Supercar driver Todd Hazelwood is a last-minute addition to the entry list to back up Joshua Thomas in a two car TFH attack, with Hazelwood coming off a fine second place at last weekend’s Phillip Island National Trans AM round. While at this stage, it’s a one-off appearance for Hazelwood, Thomas will be doing the full 2024 TA2 Series, after competing in a few TA2 rounds last year and is set to be competitive in his #169 TFH Hire Ford Mustang that is prepped out of the Queensland team factory. 

The series will welcome a number of new drivers to the field for 2024, including speedway convert Domain Ramsay in the #71 C & H Trucking Chevrolet Camaro. Ramsay has never driven on a circuit before and drove the car for the first time at the Winton Launch Day. Queensland based speedway driver Danny Reidy will also make his TA2 debut this weekend in a Chev Camaro.

Former Toyota 86 runner Connor Roberts will join the field as a rookie in his #19 Arrow Transport Repairs Dodge Challenger. 

The competition this year is set to be fierce yet again with Josh Haynes, Hayden Jackson, reigning Northern Series champ Graham Cheney and Lee Stibbs all returning for this year. Stibbs and Jackson have joined Dream Racing for this year’s title attack.

After a tough 2023 season, South Australian farmer Brad Gartner will be driving a brand-new Chevrolet Camaro for Hi-Tec Super Series promoter George Gambino. The #22 Camaro will be backed by the Oil Company for the year and will be maintained by Ben Leeds at PBR Distributions in Queensland. 

Last year’s series runner up Josh Haynes will join Waltec Motorsport alongside Kyle Gurton for 2024.  Haynes showed off a fresh new livery at the 2024 Winton Launch Day with a new major partner Herzog Steel backing Haynes for the season. After the recent sale of Gurton’s Mustang, Aaron Tebb from Waltec Motorsport is yet to announce which car the former series race winner will hop into this weekend.

Newcastle’s Tom Hayman will also join TA2 for the full series assault in the Ford Mustang he drove to second outright behind Jordan Cox during the TA2 Muscle Car round at Sydney Motorsport Park last year. The 19 year old has shown great class behind the wheel and will be a real serious threat for the title this year.

Western Sydney’s Michael Coulter has recently purchased the ex-Hugh McAllister Ford Mustang and revealed a brand-new pink and black livery with Turps Tippers backing the team for the 2024 season, replacing the Camaro he raced to second outright in the 20 lap Darwin King of the North feature race last year with father Steve.

Speedway veteran, 76 year old Barry Kelleher, Anthony Tenkate, Paul Hadley, Mark Crutcher, and Greg Keam will all return under lights at Sydney Motorsport Park, while newly crowned series champ Dylan Thomas will also be back in the CXC Mustang carrying the Number One on the side.

The TFH Hire Muscle Car Series - framed by HYTEK Steel Framing will have four races across the weekend. Friday evening  will see qualifying live on SBS Free to Air under lights followed by Race On,  while Saturday will feature races under lights and televised live on free to air on SBS Viceland, Fox Sports and Kayo Sports. 

QUOTES

Todd Hazelwood, #111 TFH Hire Ford Mustang 

"It was a golden opportunity for me to do some extra race laps and obviously being committed to Erebus Motorsport at the beginning of the year I had originally planed to go to Taupo this weekend, so going to Sydney wasn’t originally on my radar but its been a quick change of events and I am really keen to get stuck into it with the TFH Racing Team, as well as supporting Josh Thomas who will also be racing there this weekend. 

It has been a real fun and exciting category to be apart of, I have been enjoying it. It has been a while since I have driven a different style of race car outside of Supercars for some years now so it has definitely been a new challenge and the team at TFH Racing have been super welcoming and inviting.

Tom Hayman, #30 Di Prinzio Concreting Ford Mustang

“I’m really excited to be jumping back in our TA2 car at Sydney, we had a really good round there last year and i’m really excited to able to race in the TA2 series again. It’s going to be an awesome couple of days with the night racing returning again, these cars are awesome to watch under lights and i can’t wait to be racing against some fast guys coming into the series” 

Connor Roberts, #19 Arrow Transport Repairs

“These TA2 cars are completely different then what I have driven in the past. We have had our eyes on the TA2 Muscle Car Series for a while, the close competition and family was what drew us to buying a car. 

I have only had 5 test days in the Dodge Challenger, and I have been learning heaps about the car every time. I am keen for Round 1 at Sydney Motorsport Park this weekend, the competition will be fierce." 

ENTRY LIST

#1 Dylan Thomas, CXC Racing, Ford Mustang

#2 Kyle Gurton, Nuveau Group, Ford Mustang

#4 Mark Crutcher, Crutcher Developments, Ford Mustang

#5 Danny Reidy, Reidy Racing, Chevrolet Camaro 

#10 Peter Robinson, B-Styled, Dodge Challenger

#11 Michael Coulter, Turps Tippers, AIM Motorsport, Ford Mustang

#19 Connor Roberts, Arrow Transport Repairs, Dodge Challenger 

#22 Brad Gartner, Hi-Tec Oils, Chevrolet Camaro

#30 Tom Hayman, Di Prinzio Concreting Ford Mustang

#31 Barry Kelleher, Ford Mustang, Kelleher Motorsport 

#37 Josh Haynes, Herzog Steel, Ford Mustang

#50 Paul Hadley, IES Motorsport, Chevrolet Camaro

#51 Graham Cheney, IES Motorsport, Chevrolet Camaro

#66 Lee Stibbs, Arrow Financial Services, Chevrolet Camaro

#69 Anthony Tenkate, Tenkate Plant Hire, Ford Mustang

#71 Domain Ramsay, C&H Trucking, Chevrolet Camaro

#73 Steve Wilson, Wilson Auto Racing, Chevrolet Camaro 

#81 Hayden Jackson, Maitland Glass and Windscreen Services, Dodge Challenger 

#111 Todd Hazelwood, TFH Hire Services, Ford Mustang

#169 Josh Thomas, TFH Hire Services, Ford Mustang 

SCHEDULE 

Friday

Practice 1 - 1:15pm (20 mins)

Practice 2 - 3:33pm (20 mins)

Qualifying - 6:10pm (20 mins)

Race 1 - 9:00pm (12 laps)

Saturday

Race 2 - 3:38pm (15 laps)

Race 3 - 6:19pm (8 laps)

Race 4 - 8:54pm (12 laps)

BROADCAST DETAILS

Friday 

Live stream: Hi-Tec Oils, TA2 Racing Australia and Speedcafe Facebook Pages: 3pm-5:30pm

Live TV: SBS, Fox Sports, Kayo Sports: 6pm - 9:30pm 

Saturday 

Live stream: Hi-Tec Oils, TA2 Racing Australia and Speedcafe Facebook Pages: 1pm-5:30pm

Live TV: SBS Viceland, Fox Sports, Kayo Sports: 6pm - 9:30pm

The South Aussie will enjoy significant support from Hi-Tec not only as the backer of the Camaro but ownership of the car as well through Hi-Tec owner and founder George Gambino.

Tim Brook, who engineered Dylan Thomas to the title last season, will run Gartner's car this year.

“The TA2 series is going from strength to strength, and it just works for our brand and our commitment to motorsport to further invest in the Camaro,” said Gambino.

“Brad is a talented young guy that fits our brand. The opportunity to link with Brad and with support from TA2 Australia makes a great addition to our Hi-Tec Oils team that already includes our Hi-Tec Oils drift team.

“I can't wait to see the Camaro in action under lights at Sydney!”

Series manager Stephen Whyte added: “In another show of commitment to our series, George has made further investment.

“It will be impressive to see the Hi-Tec Oils car out there on track at Round 1 of the 2024 Hi-Tec Oils Super Series.

“This is the first of many rounds incorporating the Hi-Tec Oils Drift Allstars. The Super Series Team just can't thank George and the Hi-Tec Oils team enough for their ongoing support.”

The TA2 season kicks off at Sydney Motorsport Park this weekend.

The TFH Hire Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek has welcomed Kubota Australia as the new partner for the Pole Position Award in 2024, with each winner to receive an increased financial reward.

At each of the six rounds this season, the fastest driver from qualifying will now earn the Kubota Pole Award, with an $1000 cash prize, doubled from the previous $500 figure.

The Kubota Pole Award will first be awarded at the series’ season opener under lights at Sydney Motorsport Park, headlining the first round of the 2024 Hi-Tec Oils Super Series.

Kubota Australia were previously the major backer of Matt MacKelden’s Kubota Racing Ford Mustang, and with MacKelden moving on from the class this year, he facilitated to ensure Kubota maintained a presence in the series and supported the drivers who give it their all out on track.

The TFH Hire Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek kicks off this Friday at Sydney Motorsport Park, with live primetime coverage on SBS on Friday and Saturday Night, April 19-20, simulcast on Fox Sports and Kayo.

QUOTES

Malcolm Owens, Kubota Australia General Manager - Sales

"Kubota Australia is proud to continue our involvement in the Muscle Car Series as the partner of the Kubota Pole Award in 2024. 

“We loved supporting Matt MacKelden in the series the past few years, and this opportunity to remain involved in this way is an honour to support the talented drivers who work so hard behind the scenes to put their best foot forward on track. 

“Not only that, the expanded free-to-air television deal featuring both days of action on SBS as well as Fox and Kayo is outstanding and we’re excited to be involved in the growth of the series.

“The Kubota Pole Award represents our dedication to the series and we look forward to celebrating the series’ fastest qualifiers throughout the season.”

Craig Denyer, TA2 Muscle Car Series Manager

"We are thrilled to welcome Kubota Australia as the partner for the Pole Position Award in 2024. 

“This increased financial reward adds an extra layer of excitement to our qualifying sessions, and we're confident it will further elevate the competition within the series.”

“We can’t wait to hit the track this weekend with a talented field of drivers gridding up for the season opener, with the Kubota Pole Award sure to be hotly contested this year.