The TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek has reached the business end of the season with the penultimate round of the championship at Sydney Motorsport Park this weekend, the series’ second visit to the circuit this year headlining the Round 5 of the Australian Motor Racing Series.

A strong 20 car field will take to the track as the series welcomes returning New South Wales-based drivers Michael Coulter, Aaron Tebb, Hayden Jackson and Barry Kelleher. 

After a clean sweep of the last event at Queensland Raceway, NAPA Auto Parts driver Jett Johnson holds a commanding lead of 124 points over IES Motorsport’s Graham Cheney and Nicholas Bates, with 440 points still up for grabs in the final two rounds.

This event doubles as Round 4 of the Southern Series and the final round of the Northern Series. The Northern Series has come down to a three-way fight for the title between Cheney, Mark Crutcher and Nick Lange, with Cheney holding the lead going into the round by 22 points over Crutcher.

Speedway legend Kelleher, 77, returns to the track following a hip-replacement surgery earlier this year and will resume his efforts in the Masters class, where he races against former sprintcar rival Mick Rowell.

New South Welshman Nicholas Bates leads the Masters class by 38 points over Crutcher, with the pair set to continue their battle this weekend.

The Masters class will also be hotly contested by the returning Dean Lindstrom, who claimed class honours on debut at Round 3 at The Bend in April.

After a stellar debut at Queensland Raceway to finish fourth outright, MVA Racing’s Brad Gartner returns for Round 5 and will be looking to close in on the likes of Johnson, Josh Haynes and Zach Loscialpo.

Pro class contenders Lee Stibbs and Masters competitors Warren Wadley, Anthony Tenkate, Peter Robinson, Mick Rowell, John Holinger and Paul Hadley complete the field for this weekend’s event.

The TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek will have four races at Sydney Motorsport Park, with the first three over 12 laps and a 15-lap finale. Track action kicks off on Friday for practice, before Qualifying on Saturday at 9:30am followed by a Top 10 Shootout.

Sunday’s action will be livestreamed on the TA2 Racing Australia and AMRS facebook pages.

QUOTES

Jett Johnson, driver #117 NAPA Auto Parts Ford Mustang

“Last time we were here I made quite a few mistakes while trying to learn the track. We went back and reviewed everything so I’ll be looking to tidy myself up a bit more this weekend. We’ve got a good starting point so I’m feeling pretty confident going into the weekend.

“I’ve got a decent lead in the championship at the moment so as long as I keep finishing races, it doesn’t have to be winning races, just finishing consistently in the top five and hopefully I can be in a position to win the championship.”

Barry Kelleher, driver #3 Ford Mustang

“We’ve been hard at it, we’ve got new tyres, new shocks and I’ve done some work on my driving as well.

“I’ve never had a coaching lesson before but I had Tim Brook come and look at my telemetry and pointed out I wasn’t pressing the brake pedal hard enough, because I’m 77 and had a hip replacement recently and your bones aren’t as strong when you get to my age, and these cars don’t have a booster so it’s a fairly heavy pedal. I’ve made some changes and hopefully that will help me slow down a bit better.

“I raced in the 80s, in 85 in the Grand National against Mick Rowell and then in Sprintcars. Funnily enough Mick would say ‘Barry Kelleher’s the guy I had the biggest accident of my life with’. We were at Parramatta down the back straight, I pulled down on him and he drove over my back wheels and hit the top of my roll cage and kept going up. We junked the chassis and I apologised, it was a racing incident but we both remember it!

“I’m finding it a bit hard after years and years of speedway to go road racing and you hit a brick wall with your lap times. I’m happy being out there, I’ve done a few Sports Sedan and Stock Car races this year in it, so I’m active, anything at Eastern Creek where I can race I’ll hop in it and go racing.

“They’re low-maintenance, wonderful cars and it’s getting pretty serious. There will be sheep stations on the line with Mick Rowell and I this weekend!”

SCHEDULE 2022 TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek Northern Series, Round 5 - Sydney Motorsport Park, Sept 30 - Oct 2 

Friday Practice 1 - 8:55am (20 minutes) Practice 2 - 10:35am (20 minutes) Practice 3 - 1:15pm (20 minutes) Practice 2 - 2:55pm (20 minutes)

Saturday Qualifying - 9:30am (20 minutes) Top 10 Shootout - 11:35am Race 1 - 2:17pm (12 laps)

Sunday Race 2 - 8:50am (12 laps) Race 3 - 11:20am (12 laps) Race 4 - 2:30pm (15 laps)

ENTRY LIST 2022 TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek Round 5 - Sydney Motorsport Park, Sept 30 - Oct 2

MASTERS, #3 Barry Kelleher (NSW), Ford Mustang MASTERS, #4 Mark Crutcher (NSW), Ford Mustang - Crutcher Developments MASTERS, #9 Warren Wadley (QLD), Ford Mustang - Wadley Property Group MASTERS, #10 Peter Robinson (QLD), Dodge Challenger - Wagner Corporation PRO, #11 Michael Coulter (NSW), Ford Mustang - Kobelco/Sydney Truck & Machinery MASTERS, #15 Michael Rowell (QLD), Ford Mustang - Pacific Petroleum/Carroll Tyres PRO, #17 Josh Haynes (NSW), Chevrolet Camaro - Elvin Group PRO, #21 Zach Loscialpo (NSW), Chevrolet Camaro - Tempest Solutions PRO, #22 Brad Gartner (SA), Ford Mustang - Castec Rural Supplies MASTERS, #23 John Holinger (VIC), Chevrolet Camaro - Holinger Racing MASTERS, #24 Nicholas Bates (NSW), Ford Mustang - Nicholas Bates Motorsport PRO, #28 Lee Stibbs (SA), Ford Mustang - MVA Racing/Arrow Car Sales MASTERS, #30 Dean Lindstrom (SA), Ford Mustang - TDP Mobile Services PRO, #48 Nick Lange, Chevrolet Camaro - Whitsundays Holiday Rentals MASTERS, #50 Paul Hadley (NSW), Chevrolet Camaro - Illawarra Engineering Services PRO, #51 Graham Cheney (NSW), Chevrolet Camaro - Illawarra Engineering Services MASTERS, #69 Anthony Tenkate (QLD), Ford Mustang - Tenkate Plant Hire PRO, #81 Hayden Jackson (NSW), Dodge Challenger - Team RSG PRO, #93 Aaron Tebb (NSW), Chevrolet Camaro - Waltec Motorsport PRO, #117 Jett Johnson (QLD), Ford Mustang - NAPA Auto Parts

17 year old Jett Johnson delivered a dominant lesson in set up and car control to win Round 4 of the TA2 Muscle CAR Series  - framed by HYTEK at Queensland Raceway today.  The reigning Northern Series champ won all four races over the weekend, despite coming under pressure from Josh Haynes in the Elvin Group Camaro. The two youngsters delivered a class performance trading the lead on at least three times in Sundays first race and running side by side for many laps.

A spin by James Simpson of the start at Turn One in this mornings race triggered a three car incident taking out John Holinger and Murray Kent,  Kent high sided the Fit Flask Camaro after coming together with Holinger trying to avoid the Simpsons 782 Motors Dodge. Beric Lynton had strong run to finish 11^th after starting rear of grid while Mark Crutcher spun at Turn 4 battling with rookie Brad Gartner. Gartner went on to finish 3^rd from Haynes and Johnson, who won by   5 seconds and claimed the fastest lap. Nick Lange in the Whitsundays Holidays Camaro had a stellar drive to 5^th

Race 3  also saw Johnson dominate on the green from Haynes, while Graham Cheney had a strong run to push Gartner back to 4^th, Dylan Thomas finished 5th in the CXC Mustang  and Mark Crutcher picked up the Hypercoils Hard Charger Award for passing 9 cars.

The final 15 lapper was a test of tyre management, and although Haynes was alongside Johnson again out of Turn 3,  he struggled to stay with Mustang in the later laps dropping to the rear of the field with a deflating tyre. Cheney moved into second, Gartner again impressed in third while Crutcher, Simpson and Lynton rounded out the top 6. Nicholas Bates also ran strong in the Master Class, but faded to 9^th on the chequered.

Johnson’s NAPA AUTO PARTS Mustang wrapped up the weekend from Cheney, who finished second overall with his best weekend yet for the IES Camaro team, with Haynes hanging on for 3^rd. NSW driver Mark Crutcher claimed the Circo Master Class from Nicholas Bates and Peter Robinson, while Brad Gartner won the Racetech Rookie of the Round and the Wilwood Big Braker Award for an impressive weekend in his first TA2 appearance.

Mick Rowell won the Bowden’s Own Best Presented award in the Pacific Petroleum Mustang.

Highlights from this round will go to air on 7Mate at 2pm Saturday Sept 3 with next round at Sydney Motorsport Park September 30 - Oct 2.

QUOTES

Jett Johnson, #17 NAPA Auto Parts Ford Mustang

“It was a tough weekend as Dad and Team Manager Paul Forgie were at Sandown, however Ben Leeds and the team did a great job in turning the car around between races so I couldn’t be happier with the result.  It was great battling with Josh and it was pretty intense at times but we had a lot of fun.”

Graham Cheney, #51 IES Motorsport Chevrolet Camaro

“We’ve been working away at this for some time, and it’s finally coming together. I have to thank Rhett, and Paul at IES for giving me the opportunity but we had a great weekend and to finish on the podium alongside some pretty special talent is fantastic.”

Brad Gartner, #22 SS Oysters Ford Mustang

“To jump out of a Hyundai Excel into a TA2 car is a big leap, however despite the hiccup we had being underweight in qualifying, the weekend has been superb. Thanks to Cam and everyone at TA2 and my team for helping to get us on the grid, and I would never have believed at the start of the weekend I would end up with a trophy.”

Jett Johnson in the NAPA Auto Parts Mustang delivered the trifecta at Queensland Raceway in Round Four of the TA2 Muscle Car Series - framed by HYTEK. 

The 17 year old was fastest in qualifying, won the top 10 shootout taking the PWR Pole Award and dominated the first of 4 races over the weekend by 1.2 seconds from Josh Haynes.

Mustang, Camaro and Dodge filled the first three grid positions with James Simpson’s 782 Motors Dodge only 1/10^{th o} of a second off Haynes Camaro and the Johnson Mustang after the shootout. Haynes and Johnson were separated by only 4/100ths of a second.  Graham Cheney’s IES Camaro, Dylan Thomas and Mark Crutcher all had strong runs, with Zac Loscialpo, Nick Lange, Murray Kent and Nicholas Bates rounding out the Top 10.

South Australia’s Brad Gartner in his rookie appearance was unlucky to fall short by 12 kilos on the post qualifying weigh in after setting the 8^th fastest time. Driving a brand new PBR spec Mustang, Gartner was impressive in his debut along with team mate Lee Stibbs.

Johnson grabbed the lead at Turn 1 and was never headed in the first race of the weekend, however Haynes in the Elvin Group Camaro pushed him hard early in the race. Simpson dropped back off the start, while Loscialpo made a move on Crutcher under brakes into Turn 1 with the reigning Southern Series champ dropping back to 7^th. Thomas also passed Crutcher under brakes into Turn 3 for 6^th later in the race while Stibbs and Gartner had a good mid field dice with Gartner coming from the back of the grid.

Dylan Thomas made a move on Loscialpo around the outside at Turn 6  mid race, the two coming together with Loscialpo spinning and dropping well back.  New Zealand V8 Ute champ and TA2 Asia series winner Paul Manuell had a consistent debut in Peter Robinson’s Wagner Corp Dodge finishing 11th, while Robbo himself debuted a stunning new look purple Challenger to finish 12^th. Melbourne’s John Holinger also had a career best TA2 result, finishing 9^th just ahead of Gartner.

Johnson set the fastest lap on lap 5 with a 1.12.9, Josh Haynes finishing a strong second from Simpson, Cheney, Crutcher, Nicholas Bates and Queenslander Murray Kent.

Race 2 will be live streamed through the AMRS and TA2 Facebook sites from 10am tomorrow morning  and replayed on 7Mate Saturday September 3 at 2 pm. Race 3 will be 12 midday and Race 4 at 2.40pm.

QUOTES

Jett Johnson, #117 NAPA Auto Parts Ford Mustang

“We got away well off the start and I was able to control the pace from there.  Josh pushed me hard quite early and was always within a second or so, I just had to concentrate on not making any mistakes to bring the NAPA Auto Parts Mustang home and maximise the points haul.  The only have to drop one race and it dramatically affects your championship so it was good to start the weekend off with a solid performance in all sessions.”

The TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek will heat up this weekend as the series commences the second half of its season with Round 4 at Queensland Raceway this weekend, headlining the Australian Motor Racing Series event.

A strong 20 car field will take to the track as the series welcomes an overseas guest driver this weekend in the form of Paul Manuell from New Zealand. Manuell is a two-time NZ V8 Ute Racing champion and the 2019 TA2 Asia Champion, and in 2020 was appointed as the importer for the growing New Zealand TA2 Series.

Manuell will steer a Dodge Challenger owned by Australian TA2 series founder Peter Robinson.

A new South Australian team will make its debut this weekend, with MVA Racing fielding two cars for South Australian drivers Brad Gartner and Lee Stibbs. Both Gartner and Stibbs are graduating from the popular entry-level Hyundai Excel class, with 18-year old Gartner having previous success in dirt karts, junior sedans and late model speedway cars.

Jett Johnson headlines the field and will be looking to consolidate his 65-point lead in the standings over Zach Loscialpo.

Round 2 winner Josh Haynes will be looking for a return of form after a challenging weekend at Winton as he works to return to the top 10 in the standings.

Pro class contenders James Simpson, Murray Kent, Dylan Thomas, Graham Cheney and Nick Lange also return to the grid this weekend.

Nicholas Bates and Mark Crutcher will continue their battle in the Circo Masters Class where Bates leads by 39 points. Manuell, Robinson, Beric Lynton, Mick Rowell, Jason Hassett, John Holinger, Paul Hadley and Warren Wadley complete the Masters contenders this weekend.

The TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek will have four 15-lap races this weekend. Track action kicks off on Friday for general practice, before Qualifying on Saturday at 10:35am followed by a Top 10 Shootout.

Sunday’s action will be livestreamed on the TA2 Racing Australia and AMRS facebook pages.

QUOTES

Brad Gartner, driver #22 Ford Mustang - SS Oysters/Mikes Beef Jerky

“We met Lee [Stibbs] through the Excel racing and he mentioned to me where he wanted to go with his racing and he mentioned TA2 and we were very keen for an opportunity to run in a team, so with Michael Vidau from MVA Racing and Lee as my team mate we’re keen to get started in TA2 Racing.

“We bought Chris Pappas’ old Mustang and I haven’t actually driven it yet, just watched a whole lot of videos on YouTube and social media to get the gist of it, so this weekend will be my first time out.

“They are such a high horse-powered car, left hand drive, h-pattern gearbox, it will be quite different to anything else I’ve driven before but I’m up for the challenge.

“It will also be my first time at Queensland Raceway,and first time in a professional team, so it will be quite a jump up from the Excel, that’s for sure!

“I always loved the cars, they’re loud, their big, they look like a real Mustang, Camaro and Dodge, they look like a Supercar and that’s obviously quite an attraction for a young kid wanting to go to the top.” 

“Lee and I went to the Tailem Bend round earlier this year and we met Pete, Dayna and the crew from TA2 and they were very welcoming and it looked like a great category to be a part of, so we can’t wait to hit the track this weekend.”

SCHEDULE 2022 TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek Northern Series, Round 2 - Queensland Raceway, June 25-26

Friday General Practice

Saturday Qualifying - 10:35am (15 minutes) Top 10 Shootout - 12:10pm Race 1 - 3:15pm (15 laps)

Sunday Race 2 - 10:10am (15 laps) Race 3 - 12:00pm (15 laps) Race 4 - 2:40pm (15 laps)

ENTRY LIST 2022 TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek Round 4 - Queensland Raceway, 19-21 August

MASTERS, #4 Mark Crutcher (NSW), Ford Mustang - Crutcher Developments MASTERS, #9 Warren Wadley (QLD), Ford Mustang - Wadley Property Group MASTERS, #10 Peter Robinson (QLD), Dodge Challenger - Wagner Corporation MASTERS, #15 Michael Rowell (QLD), Ford Mustang - Pacific Petroleum/Carroll Tyres PRO, #21 Zach Loscialpo (NSW), Chevrolet Camaro - Tempest Solutions PRO, #22 Brad Gartner (SA), Ford Mustang - SS Oysters/Mikes Beef Jerky MASTERS, #23 John Holinger (VIC), Chevrolet Camaro - Holinger Racing MASTERS, #24 Nicholas Bates (NSW), Ford Mustang - Nicholas Bates Motorsport MASTERS, #26 Jason Hassett (VIC), Chevrolet Camaro - Hass Racing PRO, #28 Lee Stibbs (SA), Ford Mustang - MVA Racing/Arrow Car Sales PRO, #37 Josh Haynes (NSW), Chevrolet Camaro - Elvin Group PRO, #48 Nick Lange, Chevrolet Camaro - Whitsundays Holiday Rentals MASTERS, #50 Paul Hadley (NSW), Chevrolet Camaro - Illawarra Engineering Services PRO, #51 Graham Cheney (NSW), Chevrolet Camaro - Illawarra Engineering Services PRO, #68 Dylan Thomas (NSW), Ford Mustang - CXC Racing MASTERS, #74 Murray Kent (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Fit Flask/Retro Motorsport MASTERS, #101 Paul Manuell (NZ), Dodge Challenger - Wagner Corp PRO, #117 Jett Johnson (QLD), Ford Mustang - NAPA Auto Parts MASTERS, #123 Beric Lynton, Ford Mustang - Bruce Lynton BM Service PRO, #782 James Simpson (QLD), Dodge Challenger - Seven82 Motors

The first standalone TA2 event in Western Australia will take place this weekend at Wanneroo Raceway for the first of two rounds for the Access Linemarking Equipment King of the West title.

The Access Linemarking Equipment King of the West Series will be fought over two back-to-back events at Wanneroo Raceway and Collie Motorplex, with 12 TA2 cars set to lineup for the dual weekend contest.

The TA2 Muscle Car Series features low-cost, V8-powered Ford Mustangs, Chevrolet Camaros and Dodge Challengers in a same-specification formula, ensuring a level playing field across the board for great racing.

New South Welshman Mark Crutcher and Queenslanders Peter Robinson and Rob Leonard have made the trek across to Western Australia to take on the local racers, with the highest point scorer of the combined events to be crowned the King of the West.

The Western Australian contingent features Super3 racer Garry Hills in an ex Nathan Herne Dodge Challenger, as well as endurance racer Brett Niall in a Chevrolet Camaro. National Series racer Brock Boley will lineup for the King of the West title in a two-car Team Boley Racing Camaro outfit alongside his father Brad.

The grid is dominated by nine Chevrolet Camaros including Sprintcar racer Jason Pryde, Historic Touring Car racer Clinton Rayner and Sports Sedan racer Ron Moller, while Greg Freeman and Glen Melling complete the field.

The TA2 Western Series will be managed locally by Peter George who has targeted a 15-car grid for a standalone series to begin in 2023, with the Western Series acquiring their own parts trailer to cater for the growing cohort of cars in the West.

Queenslander Rob Leonard jumped at the opportunity to tick off a couple of his ‘Bucket List’ race tracks, and has upped his support of the category with national company Access Linemarking Equipment coming on board to back the first King of the West series.

The TA2 field will share the grid with the WA Sports Sedan Series for two races on Saturday, followed by three standalone races on Sunday. The second King of the West event at Collie Motorplex the week after will also feature standalone races for the TA2 Western Series.

Cars will first hit the track for practice on Friday, followed by Qualifying and Racing on Saturday and Sunday.

Post-produced highlights of the event will feature on the TA2 Muscle Car Series YouTube channel and in the package for the post-event coverage of the next round of the TA2 Muscle Car Series from Queensland Raceway on free-to-air channel 7Mate.

QUOTES

Peter George, TA2 Western Australia State Manager

“There’s been a lot of build up to get to this moment. The competitors were wondering if it was ever going to happen after the last couple of years but we committed to it and we’re ready to put the series on show this weekend. 

“We had a couple of outings at Wanneroo last year when we only had a couple of cars, now the numbers are building up a bit and we’ve had six cars out on track, and now we’ll have double that for the King of the West events.

“We see it as being an exciting national category that we can be a part of locally. We’re working towards having our own grid in Western Australia next year. We’re targeting 15 cars for the start of next season and then into the 20s soon after and hopefully to the point where we have 40 cars here in seperate divisions.

“We’ve had tremendous support from Peter Robinson and Cameron Sendall from PBR, they’re bringing over the spare parts trailer for us so we will have a bigger build up of parts inventory, and having that as a physical presence at the track will also draw attention to what we’re doing as a category that’s going places.

“The serviceability, reliability and ease of maintenance of these cars is a big plus among our competitors and we have quite a number people on the sidelines coming out this weekend who are looking to get into it. 

Rob Leonard, Director - Access Linemarking Equipment, Driver - #66 Access Line Marking Equipment Chevrolet Camaro

“We’re very happy to be onboard for the Access Line Marking Equipment King of the West TA2 events in Western Australia.

“It’s a good opportunity for us to be involved from a business perspective as we do have a lot of customers all over Australia, including Western Australia.

“One of the things about getting into TA2 was the opportunity to race at tracks I wouldn’t be able to normally, and Wanneroo was definitely one on my bucket list, so to do this trip this year and then race Collie a week later which in the last couple of years has been extended and upgraded, so that’s two I can tick of which is fantastic.

“It might be a bit embarrassing as I’m getting help from some of the guys in WA but we certainly want to stick it to the West Aussies that’s for sure, I’ve got to be careful we don’t go too hard as we’ve got a commitment for someone to buy the car over there as I’ve got a new one coming a little bit later in the year.

“It’s a fantastic category, the best in Australian motorsport and we are absolutely over the moon that we can be involved as a competitor level and now helping get the WA Series off the ground and help them out a bit, so we’re excited from that point of view and to raise the profile of the company in Western Australia.”

Entry List

2022 Access Linemarking Equipment King of the West TA2 Series

Round 1 - Wanneroo Raceway, July 23-24

#4 Mark Crutcher (NSW) - Ford Mustang, Crutcher Developments

#10 Peter Robinson (QLD) - Dodge Challenger, Wagner Corporation

#14 Jason Pryde (WA) - Chevrolet Camaro - Industor Industrial Solutions

#15 Greg Freeman (WA) - Chevrolet Camaro, Axis Hire/GT Fabrication

#29 Garry Hills (WA) - Dodge Challenger - GHR

#33 Brock Boley (WA) - Chevrolet Camaro, Team Boley Racing

#54 Brett Niall (WA) - Chevrolet Camaro, STR/Tribridge Holdings

#55 Brad Boley (WA) - Chevrolet Camaro, Team Boley Racing

#65 Glen Melling (WA) - Chevrolet Camaro, Jasmat Steel Fabrication

#66 Robert Leonard (QLD) - Chevrolet Camaro, Access Linemarking Equipment

#77 Ron Moller (WA) - Chevrolet Camaro, AMS Racing

#98 Clinton Rayner (WA) - Chevrolet Camaro