A host of national racing stars will join a 21-strong field set to take on Queensland Raceway this weekend, 28-30 June, for Round 3 of the TFH Hire TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by HYTEK Steel Framing.

Last time out saw Brad Gartner clean sweep Round 2 at Morgan Park in the Hi-Tec Oils Camaro, while Josh Haynes hung on to the series lead after a puncture produced a tough weekend in the Herzog Steel Mustang to be level on points with Graham Cheney.

The grid has been strengthened by the return of debut round winner and Super 2 young-gun Jarrod Hughes. Hughes will steer a third car out of the PHD Motorsport stable alongside category stalwart Paul Hadley and equal series leader Graham Cheney.

Also joining the grid for his TA2 debut this weekend is current Aussie Racing Cars runner-up Brandon Madden in the Riskie Racing Ford Mustang. Madden is a two-time state Holden HQ Champion and scored a race win on debut at Queensland Raceway in the Aussie Racing Cars in 2023.

Dodge Challenger racers Connor Roberts and Hayden Jackson return after strong rounds at Morgan Park. Trans-Am drivers Tom Hayman, Mark Bailey and John Holinger join the grid this weekend to gain some extra miles, while TFH Racing return with a two-car effort for Josh Thomas and Des Collier, stepping up from Aussie Racing Cars and Formula RX8.

The Circo Masters Class will be hotly contested with Round 1 winner Anthony Tenkate back in action against Mark Crutcher, and after filling in for Elliot Barbour as Driving Standards Observer at Morgan Park, 2017 series champion Russell Wright will make a welcome return to the TA2 grid.

After a solid debut at Morgan Park, former Super Ute racer Steve Wilson is back in action at Queensland Raceway, alongside speedway converts Danny Reidy, Domain Ramsay and West Aussie Jason Pryde.

The format for the weekend will see three practice sessions on Friday. Qualifying will feature a split 15-minute session for the Bottom 50% and Top 50% of the field on combined practice times. Races 1 and 2 will take place on Saturday over 12 laps. Sunday’s action will see Race 3 over 12 laps before an 18-lap finale.

All the action from Round 3 can be viewed live on SBS Viceland, Fox Sports and Kayo. Check local guides for further details.

QUOTES

Josh Haynes, #37 Herzog Steel Ford Mustang

“Morgan Park was a tough round for us as a team, we still took home a lot of positives and came away with the championship lead. Unfortunately 2 tyre punctures let us down, we showed some great speed, the car had a lot of pace and we are really looking forward to taking all that into Queensland Raceway this weekend. 

Queensland Raceway is going to be unreal, there is obviously a lot more cars this weekend with great competition especially with it being some people’s home track. I am really looking forward to showing what we have got, we are going to come back stronger than ever, rub some panels and have some fun.”

Jarrod Hughes, #118 American Muscle Trucks/ Alpha Omega Chevrolet Camaro

“Paul Hadley, Graham Cheney and the rest of the PHD Motorsport team have been kind enough to support me in getting a drive in the TA2 Muscle Car at Queensland Raceway. When they put the opportunity forward to me I thought there is no way we can’t do that and with it being a local round for me it was a bit of a no brainer. We have a lot of local support jumping on board for the weekend and I am really looking forward to getting stuck into it. 

Obviously after the success we had at Calder Park last year my approach is pretty high, I have had a pretty good year so far in the Super 2 and GT4 series so I am going into Queensland Raceway with the ambition to try and win. This is the first time I have driven the Chevrolet Camaro, so Friday is going to be a pretty big day for us to try and get used to the car and making sure we have it in the right window for qualifying Saturday morning.” 

SCHEDULE

Friday 

Practice 1 - 9:50am (20 minutes) 

Practice 2 - 12:55pm (20 minutes)

Practice 3 - 4:00pm (20 minutes)

Saturday 

Qualifying bottom 50% - 10:45am (15 minutes) 

Qualifying top 50% - 11:05am (15 minutes) 

Race 1 - 1:15pm (12 laps)

Race 2 - 3:37pm (12 laps)

Sunday 

Race 3 - 1:15pm (12 laps)

Race 4 - 3:48pm (18 laps)

ENTRY LIST

#3 Steve Wilson, Chevolet Camaro, Wilson Autosports 

#4 Mark Crutcher, Ford Mustang, Crutcher Developments 

#5 Danny Reidy, Chevrolet Camaro, Palm Deserts Alice Springs 

#12 Mark Bailey, Chevrolet Camaro, Jax Tyres and Auto

#14 Jason Pryde, Chevrolet Camaro, JPM

#19 Connor Roberts, Dodge Challenger, Arrow Transport Repairs

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

#23 John Holinger, Chevrolet Camaro, Holinger Racing 

#30 Tom Hayman, Ford Mustang, Di Prinzio Concreting 

#37 Josh Haynes, Ford Mustang, Herzog Steel

#50 Paul Hadley, Chevrolet Camaro, PHD Motorsport 

#51 Graham Cheney, Chevrolet Camaro, PHD Motorsport

#55 Russell Wright, Ford Mustang, Crew Commercial Real Estate 

#57 Brandon Madden, Ford Mustang, Riskie Racing 

#63 Describe Collier, Ford Mustang, TFH Hire Racing 

#69 Anthony Tenkate, Ford Mustang, Tenkate Plant Hire 

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

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

#118 Jarrod Hughes, Chevrolet Camaro, PHD Motorsport 

#169 Joshua Thomas, Ford Mustang, TFH Hire Racing 

BROADCAST

Live Stream Saturday & Sunday 10:30am - 1pm 

Hi-Tec Oils Super Series, TA2 Australia and Speedcafe Facebook Pages 

Television Saturday and Sunday 1pm-5pm 

SBS Viceland, Sky Sports, Fox Sports and Kayo Sports 

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.”

Round 2 of the 2024 TFH Hire Muscle Car Series framed by HYTEK Steel Framing is set to return to Morgan Park Raceway May 31^st to June 2.

After a thrilling Round 1 in Sydney, Herzog Steel Ford Mustang driver Josh Haynes heads into Round 2 leading the championship 43 points in front of Paul Hadley Developments Motorsport driver Graham Cheney who sits 30 points ahead of rookie driver, Connor Roberts in the Arrow Transport Repairs Dodge Challenger. 

Both Mark Crutcher and Brad Gartner are fit and well and will return for Morgan Park after their cars were both heavily damaged after an incident in Race 4 at Sydney Motorsport Park. 

Queensland driver Steve Wilson will join the list of rookies in the field this weekend in the ex-Nick Lange Chevrolet Camaro, and will drive it for the first time this weekend at Morgan Park.

Hayden Jackson had a tough run in Sydney with mechanical dramas, but is looking for better luck this weekend, returning with Dream Racing Australia in the #81 Maitland Glass and Windscreens Dodge Challenger.

Speedway star Danny Reidy will be back in the #5 Chevrolet Camaro, after a solid start to his first season in the TA2 Muscle Car Series. Reidy came home with the Wilwood Big Braker Award after Round 1 and is looking to continue the strong performance this weekend. 

Paul Hadley driver of the #50 Paul Hadley Developments had a strong run at Sydney coming away with 5th in the championship and 2nd in the Circo Master Class. 

Western Sydney’s Michael Coulter in the Turps Tippers Mustang will return and speedway star Domain Ramsay will round out the field for the weekend, following a successful first round at Sydney Motorsport Park claiming 3rd in the Circo Master Class.

The weekend schedule will kick-off with 4 practice sessions on Friday. A 15 minute qualifying session will be held Saturday morning at 11:45am which will set the grid for Race 1 on Saturday afternoon. Race 2 on Sunday morning will be live streamed via the TA2 Racing Australia and Hi-Tec Oils Super Series Facebook pages at 10:30am before Race 3 and 4 will be included as part of the live TV broadcast on SBS Viceland, Fox Sports and Kayo Sports. 

QUOTES

Josh Haynes, #37 Herzog Steel Ford Mustang

Josh Haynes, #37 Herzog Steel Ford Mustang
"Obviously we have had an awesome start to the year with Round 1 at Sydney Motorsport Park back in April. It was awesome to have a big name like Todd Hazelwood there and not only for myself be close to him but also beating him in qualifying and 3 of the 4 races. 

It has certainly been a massive change for us joining Waltec Motorsport this year, obviously dad and I have worked so hard in the garage every year and that’s disappeared so it’s definitely been a weird thing but a really good thing for us as well and we appreciate and enjoy the weekend a little bit more while we are there. 

I am really excited to go to Morgan Park, I love the track. Last year I really enjoyed it there and came home with a win. Some people think the track is really tight but obviously in these big TA2 cars a-lot of tracks are tight."

SCHEDULE

FRIDAY
8:55am Practice 1
11:00am Practice 2
1:30pm Practice 3
3:35pm Practice 4

SATURDAY
11:45am Qualifying
4:30pm Race 1

SUNDAY
10:55am Race 2
1:10pm Race 3
4:25pm Race 4

ENTRY LIST

#3 Steven Wilson, Wilson Auto Racing Chevrolet Camaro

#4 Mark Crutcher, Crutcher Developments Ford Mustang

#5 Danny Reidy, Reidy Racing Chevrolet Camaro

#11 Michael Coulter, Turps Tippers Ford Mustang

#19 Connor Roberts, Arrow Transport Repairs Dodge Challenger

#22 Brad Gartner, Hi-Tec Oils Chevrolet Camaro

#37 Josh Haynes, Herzog Steel Ford Mustang

#50 Paul Hadley, PHD Chevrolet Camaro

#51 Graham Cheney, PHD Chevrolet Camaro

#71 Domain Ramsay, C&H Trucking Chevrolet Camaro

#81 Hayden Jackson, Maitland Glass and Windscreens Dodge Challenger 

BROADCAST

1pm-5pm
Saturday: Fox Sports, Kayo Sports and SBS Viceland 

Live Stream 10:20am-10:40pm

1pm-5pm
Sunday: Fox Sports, Kayo Sports and SBS Viceland

Live Stream 10:30am - 12:35pm

Veteran racer Peter “Kaos”  Ward wrapped up the NZ TA2 Muscle Car title with a solid performance during last weekends final round at Hampton Downs.  Driving the Ward Demolition Camaro, the former NZ V8 Ute champ qualified on pole position and secured enough points over the weekend to edge out last years Champ Andrew Turner for the series win.

Brett Rudd having his last TA2 drive before hanging up the helmet was a surprise winner in the final race, coming from the back of the grid over the weekend after missing the earlier sessions due to the sudden death of his father. Ward, Turner and Rudd all finished the season on the podium.

Ward is no stranger to the sport, having a raced in a variety of classes and been a keen supporter of drivers such as Shane Van Gisbergen over the years.  He recently Captained the NZ TA2 team against the Australian representatives during the recent TA2 Trans-Tasman Challenge at Ruapuna Christchurch and Highlands Park in February.  He won the 2022 NZ V8 Ute series then moved into NZ Muscle Cars before purchasing the PBR Spec TA2 Muscle Car.

Turner’s Nautech Mustang qualified 2^nd to Ward, and after an incident in Race 1 finished 6^th,   5^th in Race 2 and 4^th in Race 3 to be declared runner up to Ward at the final round for the season.

Rudd is also a former V8 Ute competitor, having raced in Australia at Mt Panorama representing New Zealand during the V8 Ute years, finishing second overall in the NZ V8 Ute series in 2013/2014  before graduating to the TA2 NZ series last year.

Interest in TA2 New Zealand has been growing steadily, with more cars now available for sale already in the country at Paul Manuell’s Eastern Automotive Performance Centre.

Plans are underway for a return NZ vs AUS TA2 Trans-Tasman Challenge as part of future event planning on both sides of the ditch.

QUOTES

NZ TA2 Category Manager Gary Lathrope

“Each year, the TA2 series steps up a level and Wardy is a worthy champion in a very competitive field which included Brent Collins, Ben Stewart, Steve Ros, Brianna and John Roberts plus others. He is a great ambassador for motorsport in New Zealand and with Jake Stoneman engineering the Camaro,  a very competitive force on track. Congratulations to Andrew Turner and Brett Rudd, again solid performances to end up on the podium.  We are in the process of planning the 24/25 calendar and expect our TA2 numbers to continue to grow in the off season as   the series continues to impress fans and teams alike as a real V8 crowd pleasing category.”