Hi-Tec Oils Camaro driver Brad Gartner has won Round 5 of the TFH Hire TA2 Muscle Car Series Framed by Hytek Steel Framing after a Sunday sweep of Races 2, 3 and 4 at Winton Motor Raceway.

Gartner took home all three races on Sunday ahead of Race 1 victor Josh Haynes to take the round win ahead of Haynes and Mark Bailey with a maiden round podium in the JAX Tyres & Auto Camaro.

Haynes lead the field away in Race 2 as Gartner challenged for the lead at Turn 3 on the opening lap but couldn’t make it stick. Gartner closed in again and made a decisive move into Turn 1 on Lap 3 and was never headed from there.

Wet weather master Hayden Jackson stormed his way through to the podium from 17th in a stunning drive through the pack.

It was a tough race for the TFH Racing crew as Des Collier had a spin at Turn 7 on Lap 1 while Josh Thomas spun at Turn 11 on Lap 5. West Aussie Brett Niall had a wild ride backwards through Turn 1 on Lap 6.

On Lap 7 John Holinger made contact with Graham Cheney which sent the PHD machine around at Turn 11 on Lap 7, with Holinger receiving a drive-through penalty as a result.

Gartner took the lead off the start in Race 3 as Haynes had to yield through Turns 1 & 2. Haynes regained the lead on Lap 2, holding on around the outside of Turn 10 to take the lead into the final two right handers at Turn 11.

Race 2 podium finisher Jackson suffered a puncture after contact with Jason Pryde and dropped to the back of the field, as Bailey moved up to third. Aaron Prosser got by Mark Crutcher through Turn 1 for fourth on Lap 2. 

The safety car was called on Lap 3 when Domain Ramsay blew an oil line after passing Robbie Farr at Turn 1. Ramsay spun into the tyres on the infield as Farr spun on Ramsay’s oil.

A lengthy clean up saw a five lap dash to the chequered flag. Gartner and Haynes continued to trade the lead before Gartner ultimately got in front at Turn 3 on the penultimate lap, with Mark Bailey scoring his maiden TA2 podium in third place.

Pryde ran wide at Turn 1 off the start of Race 4 but fortunately wasn’t collected on the rejoin.

Mark Crutcher spun at Turn 7 on lap 1 after contact with John Holinger. Holinger then spun off at Turn 5 on Lap 5, as Thomas did the same a lap later.

Cheney was on the comeback drive, sliding down the inside of Mark Bailey for fourth at Turn 3.

Haynes challenged Gartner early but Gartner managed the gap and held on for a 1.5 second win over Haynes and Aaron Prosser, who scored a maiden podium finish in only his second event.

A win yesterday and a trio of seconds for Haynes today has seen him extend his lead at the top of the championship to 82 points over Graham Cheney, with Gartner a further 25 points back.

With Cheney set to miss the final round with clashing commitments at the Gold Coast 500, the stage is set for a championship battle between Haynes and Gartner at the final round of the season at One Raceway on 25-27 October, headlining the final round of the Hi-Tec Super Series.

QUOTES

Brad Gartner, #22 Hi-Tec Oils Chevrolet Camaro

“I said to Tim Brook on the radio that we earned that one. 

“Yesterday we probably weren't that good and we knew we had to go to work and the wet gave me some good confidence and then the win this morning, it couldn't have gone better.

“I can't thank all my local sponsors enough. MED Electrical, T & S Tippers, Castec Rural Supplies, MP Auto and Air Conditioning, Southern Auto Body, Palm Family, Merrett Logging, everyone that helps me out, and George Gambino from Hi-Tec Oils for giving me this opportunity and I'm just glad we put it all together.”

Josh Haynes, #37 Herzog Steel Ford Mustang

“We had a really quick car at the start of the weekend, but come to the end of the weekend, Brad had that advantage. Well done to Brad. They had a quick car. We were pushing pretty hard at the end there. It was a great race and a great battle.

“I can't do it without any of my sponsors, so it means the world to me and the car wouldn't get out on track without my team at Waltec Motorsport. 

“We've still got a good lead and next one's the home round, so looking forward to it.” 

Mark Bailey, #12 JAX Tyres & Auto Chevrolet Camaro

“It was brilliant racing. So many tricky conditions over the weekend with all the wet weather. I couldn't keep up with the front two, but managed to get it back for a podium.

“Big thanks to JAX Tyres & Auto, The Stable and Broken Hearts Burger Club and especially Ash Seward Motorsport for giving me a great car.”

Herzog Steel Mustang driver Josh Haynes has widened his championship lead in the 2024 TFH Hire Muscle Car Series framed by HYTEK Steel Framing, following his Race 1 victory in Round 5 at Winton Motor Raceway at the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series.

Haynes scored his third Kubota Pole Award of the year, from Gartner and TFH Racing’s Josh Thomas. Thomas scored his best qualifying effort in third. Mark Bailey and Aaron Prosser also delivered impressive shootout performances in fourth and fifth, Prosser in only his second TA2 event.

Haynes lead the field away into turn one from Gartner and Thomas, while Graham Cheney moved up three spots to eighth. 

Mark Bailey, Aaron Prosser and Mark Crutcher found themselves in a feisty mudpack battle. Prosser attempted to make a pass under brakes at Turn 3 when he spun out on the exit, ultimately finishing in 18th place.

Gartner closed in on Haynes in the final stages of the race but ultimately, Haynes took the win from Gartner, with Thomas 15 seconds behind in a solid third position. 

Steve Wilson in the #3 Wilson Auto Sports Chevrolet Camaro pulled off on lap two with a driveline issue, while Hayden Jackson dropped down the order stuck in gear.

The TFH Hire TA2 Muscle Car Series Framed by Hytek Steel Framing returns for Races 2, 3 and 4 tomorrow at Winton Motor Raceway. All the action is live on SBS On Demand, Fox and Kayo. 

QUOTES

Josh Haynes, #37 Herzog Steel Ford Mustang

“Really good first day in the Herzog Steel Mustang. Qualified first and then pushed that through to the shootout. The car feels good. 

“We got a really good start in the first race. I put the head down, built a nice gap and then was struggling with a bit of a vibration in the car and then a bit of the setup.

“It was a good battle at the end there with Brad. Well done to him. Good to put on a show for the crowd, so hopefully we come back tomorrow and put on another good show.”

Brad Gartner, #22 Hi-Tec Oils Chevrolet Camaro

“Really good race. I think the first four laps was just probably a bit on me. The car's really good, we know that. We were just saying with the team, the car doesn't automatically get better halfway around the track, so we're really good in the middle sector. First and last need cleaning up, but the race car's really fast, so can't wait for tomorrow. 

“I think the car didn't really go off. Josh and I did really good lap times. Josh was the same, so it seems fine at the moment.

“I think just getting the first four laps, getting on top of that myself as a driver and we’ll keep pushing on.”

The TFH Hire Muscle Car Series framed by HYTEK Steel Framing has reached the pointy end of the season with the penultimate round of the championship kicking off at Winton Motor Raceway this weekend headlining Round 5 of the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series. 

A strong field will take to the track this welcoming Speedway legend Robbie Farr who will join forces with Brad Gartner in a two-car Hi-Tec Oils backed effort.

Josh Thomas and Des Collier will lead the TFH Hire Ford Mustang team, Josh delivered a strong performance during the last round at the The Bend, finishing third in race three alongside his co-driver, Todd Hazelwood.

Veteran Steve Coulter, father of Michael Coulter, will take the wheel of the #11 Turps Tippers Ford Mustang, while Trans Am competitor Mark Bailey makes his return to the grid for the first time since Queensland Raceway, driving the #12 Jax Tyres and Auto Chevrolet Camaro. TA2 King of the West Champion Brett Niall and Jason Pryde will make the journey from Perth and will join the grid for the weekend. 

Melbourne racer John Holinger will rejoin the field this weekend in the #23 Holinger Engineering Chevrolet Camaro, following a strong performance at The Bend Motorsport Park alongside 20-year-old West Aussie driver Chase Hoy. 

Regular series competitors Graham Cheney, Paul Hadley, Hayden Jackson, Domain Ramsay, Steve Wilson, Danny Reidy and Aaron Prosser will all return for the Winton event, Ramsay and Reidy adding to the strong speedway contingent already represented by Robbie Farr and Jason Pryde.

Championship leader Josh Haynes, driving the #37 Herzog Steel Mustang, aims to maintain his title momentum at Winton Raceway, with 240 points on the line throughout the weekend.

The Circo Master Class is gearing up for an exciting battle, as Mark Crutcher in the #4 Crutcher Developments Ford Mustang holds a slender 69-point lead over PHD Motorsports driver Paul Hadley who has been consistent all year. 

The TFH Hire Muscle Car Series framed by HYTEK Steel Framing will have four races across the weekend at Winton.  On track action kicks off on Friday for practice, before Qualifying on Saturday at 10.10 am followed by a Top 10 Shootout at 1.10 pm , televised live.

Fans can catch all of Saturday and Sunday’s action live streamed on the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series Facebook and Youtube Page and telecast  live on SBS, Fox Sports and Kayo Sports. 

QUOTES

Josh Haynes, #37 Herzog Steel Ford Mustang 

“I am really excited to be heading back to Winton this weekend. We obviously had a really good round at The Bend from a drivers championship perspective, we bagged a heap of points coming into the final two rounds.”

“The Herzog Steel Mustang has always been really quick around Winton and we are really looking forward to it. I just have to do my thing, stay out of trouble and as well as bagging points across the whole weekend that will put ourselves in a good position heading into Wakefield Park.” 

ENTRY LIST

#3 Steve Wilson, Wilson Auto Sport, Chevrolet Camaro

#4 Mark Crutcher, Crutcher Developments, Ford Mustang 

#5 Danny Reidy, Reidy Racing, Chevrolet Camaro 

#7 Robbie Farr, Hi-Tec Oils, Chevrolet Camaro 

#11 Steve Coulter, Turps Tippers, Ford Mustang

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

#14 Jason Pryde, JPM Motorsport, Chevrolet Camaro

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

#23 John Holinger, Holinger Engineering, Chevrolet Camaro

#37 Josh Haynes, Herzog Steel, Ford Mustang

#42 Cam Sendall, PBR Distributions, Ford Mustang

#50 Paul Hadley, PHD Motorsport, Chevrolet Camaro

#51 Graham Cheney, PHD Motorsport, Chevrolet Camaro

#54 Brett Niall, STR / Tribridge Holdings, Chevrolet Camaro

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

#81 Hayden Jackson, MGW / Team RSG, Dodge Challenger

#91 Aaron Prosser, Security of Supply Group, Ford Mustang

#111 Des Collier, TFH Hire, Ford Mustang 

#169 Joshua Thomas, TFH Hire, Ford Mustang 

SCHEDULE

FRIDAY 

Practice 1 - 20 mins

Practice 2 - 20 mins

Practice 3 - 20 mins

SATURDAY 

Qualifying 10:10AM - 20 mins

Top 10 Shootout - 1:10pm

Race 1 - 3:30PM (10 laps)

SUNDAY 

Race 2 -10:05AM (10 laps)

Race 3 - 1:10PM (12 laps)

Race 4 - 3:35PM (12 laps)
 

FREE TO AIR

October 5: 1300 to 1700 AEST: SBS / Viceland

October 6: 1300 to 1700 AEST: SBS / Viceland
 

SUBSCRIPTION
October 5: 1300 to 1700 AEST: Kayo / Fox Sports / Sky NZ

October 6: 1300 to 1700 AEST: Kayo / Fox Sports / Sky NZ
 

STREAMING

October 5: 1030 to 1700: Super Series / Speedcafe

October 6: 1030 to 1700: Super Series / Speedcafe

The TFH Hire Muscle Car Series framed by HYTEK Steel Framing has reached the business end of the season, with the penultimate round of the championship at Winton Motor Raceway on October 4-6, headlining Round 5 of the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series. 

Australian speedway legend Robbie Farr will make his TA2 Muscle Car Series debut in the #7 Hi-Tec Oils Chevrolet Camaro, joining forces with Brad Gartner in a two-car Hi-Tec Oils backed effort.

The former Australian Sprint-car champion, World Series Sprint-car Champion and Warnambool Speedway Classic winner has been preparing for his TA2 debut with a series of test days with Gartner by his side, and is excited for his first taste of bitumen following a successful career on the dirt.

Gartner, who sits third in the title fight, 115 points off leader Josh Haynes, is determined to bounce back at Winton after a challenging weekend at The Bend Motorsport Park, caught on the wrong end of various incidents.

As the series approaches its climax, Josh Haynes in the Herzog Steel Ford Mustang leads the championship by 54 points over PHD Motorsports driver Graham Cheney and Gartner, with over 480 points up for grabs over the final two rounds.

Mark Crutcher in the #4 Crutcher Developments Ford Mustang holds a commanding lead in the Circo Master Class Championship, with a 69-point advantage over Paul Hadley in the PHD Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro and rookie Domain Ramsay. 

Fans can catch Round 5 of the TFH Hire Muscle Car Series framed by HYTEK Steel Framing kicks off October 4-6. You can catch all of Saturday and Sunday’s action live streamed on the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series Facebook and Youtube Page and live on SBS, Fox Sports and Kayo Sports. 

QUOTES

Robbie Farr, #7 Hi-Tec Oils Chevrolet Camaro 

“My teammate Brad Garner has been helping me get used to driving these TA2 cars. He is obviously a front runner in the series and he has been great to have around that can give me all the correct advice I need in and out of the car.”

"I grew up racing go-karts in my teens before transitioning to sprint-cars which I did for 35 odd years. When the whole TA2 Series started I always knew I wanted to have a drive one day and when the opportunity came about, I couldn’t say no. They are a V8, tough looking car, they move around on the tyre and get sideways. I thought to myself that’s it if I am going to do any more racing TA2 is what I want to do. I am really looking forward to the challenge at Winton next weekend.”

Brad Gartner, #22 Hi-Tec Oils Chevrolet Camaro 

“Obviously we had a tough round at The Bend being involved in a lot of incidents. Tim Brook is a great driver coach and has helped me stay positive out of it all as we re-set ourselves for Winton next weekend. I am really looking forward to getting into it.”

“Having Robbie Farr as my teammate going into the last two rounds is pretty cool. He brings a lot of attention to the team in a positive way. When I was younger I  grew up watching him in sprint-cars so it’s really cool to have him join the team. I have been doing some driver coaching with Robbie to get him set for the weekend, being his first time in a TA2 car and he is doing really well. I can’t wait to watch him get into it.”

Super 2 rookie Jarrod Hughes and 16-year old Tyler Cheney have taken out the AC Delco Tag Team Enduro and Round 4 of the TFH Hire TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek Steel Framing at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park for the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series.

After winning the first race for B Drivers yesterday, Hughes went back-to-back in his solo race this morning. Tim Brook, co-driving with Brad Gartner, took the lead on the opening lap, with TFH Racing’s Todd Hazelwood following through a lap later.

Hazelwood got by Brook for the lead on Lap 2, before Brook dropped back to seventh in the closing laps.

Hughes chased down Hazelwood and took the lead with a lap to go, as smoke appeared from the front left corner of the TFH Racing Mustang, as team mate Elliot Barbour came through for second ahead of Jordan Cox.

Championship contenders Haynes and Gartner lead the field away in Race 2, as Gartner lead through the opening lap. Haynes got the lead back at Turn 1 on Lap 3 and continued on to a four second win from Gartner and Tom Hayman who charged from the back of the pack to third.

An unfolding drama during the day saw Haynes penalised five seconds for a driving infringement in Race 3 on Jordan Cox, as Hayman’s last-to-second effort in Race 3 resulting in a last-to-first drive, earning him the Hyperco Hard Charger Award for the drive.

Hayman lead the field away in Race 6, as the race was reduced to a 17-lap encounter following a lengthy red flag in a support category earlier in the day.

Drama struck when Brook spun the Hi-Tec Oils Camaro at Turn 7 on Lap 1, and was collected by Hugh McAlister, Hayden Jackson and Russell Wright, bringing out the safety car.

Hayman pulled a gap at the front of the field, pitted with two laps to go and scored a two-second win from the pairing of Tyler Cheney and Jarrod Hughes and Josh Haynes.

Tyler Cheney and Hughes won the round overall from Tyler’s father Graham Cheney and Super2 star Zach Bates, with Mark Crutcher and Jordan Cox completing a PHD Motorsport podium lockout.

16-year old Tyler’s efforts saw him earn the RaceTech Rookie of the Round for his stunning series debut and a nice Father’s Day moment for the Cheney family.

Haynes continues to lead the championship from Cheney, ahead of Round 5 at Winton Motor Raceway on 4-6 October, headlining the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series.

QUOTES

Jarrod Hughes, #118  All American Muscle Trucks Chevrolet Camaro

“It was a bit wild. I couldn't believe it. We were watching the timesheets when Tyler went out, and we were like, 'we got the wrong bike in the car, He's absolutely flying!’ But no, it's been an absolutely unreal weekend.

“Can't thank the PHD team and the rest of my guys enough for doing all this, and Tyler for doing an absolutely awesome job for his first weekend in a TA2 car, we’re absolutely stoked. 

Zach Bates, #51 PHD Motorsport Chevrolet Camaro

“I think it was shorter than we were all expecting, but nonetheless, it was a fun weekend. Congratulations to the 118 car. They they did a good job all weekend. So we put some different boots on it then and it it was a whole lot better.

“I can't thank Graham and Paul and everyone from the team for giving me this opportunity to come and drive. I feel very stoked to be able to come do these kind of things. It was a fun weekend.”

Graham Cheney, #51 PHD Motorsport Chevrolet Camaro

“If you're going to get beaten by anyone, it's good to have my young bloke do it at the age of 16. It's unreal.”

Mark Crutcher, #4 Crutcher Developments Ford Mustang

“It was a big couple of days. The car held up, the team, can’t thank Paul Hadley enough, he’s the one that brought this team together. First, second and third for the team is just enormous. Thanks to Coxy, obviously got one of the best drivers in the country with me.”

Jordan Cox, #4 Crutcher Developments Ford Mustang

“What a great weekend. Super happy for the PHD team. So it's one, two, three. They've put a lot to get the team together. You run a four car team, it's a decent operation. It's disappointing to see the boss, Paul Hadley, have an incident in that one and we get to share the spoils.  It is what it is, but, thanks to Crutch again for letting me drive his yellow rocket."