2024 TFH Hire TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek series leader Josh Haynes scored two wins on the first day of racing at the Hi-Tec Super Series at The Bend, cleaning up the Driver A race and the first race of the AC Delco Tag Team Enduro.

After scoring Kubota Pole yesterday. Tom Hayman lead away during the Driver A race, but encountered a gearbox issue and failed to finish, as Haynes came home ahead of Hi-Tec Oils Camaro driver Brad Gartner and PHD Motorsport’s Graham Cheney.

TFH Racing’s Josh Thomas received a drive-through penalty for contact with Hayden Jackson and Tyler Cheney at Turn 6.

Super 2 star and Erebus Academy driver Jarrod Hughes grabbed the win in Race 2 for the B Drivers, chasing down early race leader Tim Brook.

TCR star Jordan Cox held third ahead of Elliot Barbour, while WAU Academy driver and Super2 driver Zach Bates got fifth ahead of Supercars endurance driver Todd Hazelwood.

With the average results of Race 1 and 2 combined for the first AC Delco Tag Team Enduro, Haynes and Gartner lead the field away off the start. The leaders went four wide into Turn 1, before Zach Bates ran wide and rejoined at Turn 3. 

Contact between Haynes and Gartner started a chain reaction into Turn 2 and 3, as Gartner was turned and collected by Elliot Barbour, Nicholas Bates, Chase Hoy and Domain Ramsay.

The race was red flagged to clean the track and recover the cars, with a nine lap race to the flag.

Brett Niall was turned at Turn 1 on the restart by Dean Lindstrom.

After his DNF in Race 1, Tom Hayman charged through from 21st to 2nd, as Haynes took the win, with TFH Racing’s Josh Thomas scoring his first TA2 podium in third alongside Todd Hazelwood.

The TFH Hire TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek returns to Shell V-Power Motorsport Park for Races 4, 5 and 6 of the AC Delco Tag Team Enduro, live on SBS, Fox Sports and Kayo.

QUOTES

Josh Haynes, #37 Herzog Steel Ford Mustang

“There was a fair bit of rough and tumble there, but the Hertzog Steel Mustang was really quick.

“First of all, just want to say sorry to whoever was involved in that crash, you don't like to see that. 

“It was a really good race. We just wanted to focus on getting our head down and trying to build a gap, which we did, had a nice pit stop and then came out and I saw Tommy Hayman. I knew he would have been coming because he had some better tyres onboard.

“Really happy, the team's done an awesome job and looking forward to tomorrow.” 

Tom Hayman, #30 Di Prinzio Concreting Ford Mustang

“What a race. I definitely didn't think we'd end up here at the start of the race but the boys did an amazing job in the pit stop, obviously never done a pit stop before. That was an absolutely awesome race, caught Josh at the end, didn't quite get there, but yeah, it was awesome. 

“It'll be interesting going in tomorrow. Not sure where we'll start, but obviously the car's really quick, so I'm sure we'll be able to fight from wherever we are.”

Todd Hazelwood, #169 TFH Hire Ford Mustang 

“That first lap was pretty wild, I'm not gonna lie. I got really lucky being around the outside for the first three corners.

“I managed to get a really good jump, got a good reaction on the lights there in going to turn 1. I think we were like 4 or 5 wide at one point, so just had to go brave, go tough around the outside. I had two wheels in the dirt trying to avoid all the chaos and I think it was Gartner that was up the inside of me and I was sort of three wide and felt a hit and then looked in the mirror and saw chaos. 

“Never nice to see cars all damaged, but I guess from our point of view at TFH Racing, we're super stoked. Back on the podium, we've had a really tough couple of days and to now bounce back, we made a heap of changes, we sorted out the engine and here we are on the podium.

Josh Thomas, #169 TFH Hire Ford Mustang

“It was awesome. The car was definitely a lot different to the majority of the weekend we've had so far. It's been pretty terrible for us, but obviously having Toddy go out first helped out, and I almost actually sold it on the first corner on the out lap, almost went in the gravel because I got excited, but managed to stick together and hold out young Tyler Cheney, who I also got to say he's unbelievable.,16 and he was on my tail.”

“Thanks to Todd and thanks to the team, really looking forward to tomorrow.”

Mustang driver Tom Hayman delivered a master  qualifying class  in impressive company  to take the Kubota pole award and $1000 cash for this weekend’s  Rd 4 of the TFH Muscle Car Series - framed by HYTEK Steel Framing at The Bend Motorsport Park.

Setting a time of 1.54.7, Hayman out gunned series leader Josh Haynes and Brad Gartner, while impressive performances also came from 16 tear old Tyler Cheney who out pointed his father Graham in his first TA2 drive for the PHD Motorsport Camaro Team

Qualifying was split into two sessions, with the series drivers rolling out first, followed by the co-drivers. Each will have their own Saturday sprint race,  followed by a two driver 20 lap feature race in the  afternoon live on SBS and Fox Sports/Kayo.

Jarrod Hughes was the best in the co-driver’s session from Tim Brook, sharing Gartners Hi-Tec Oils Camaro, Jordan Cox in the Crutcher Developments Mustang, Elliot Barbour and Todd Hazelwood in the TFH Mustangs they’ll share with Des Collier and Josh Thomas respectively.

Other strong performances came from Sam Bates, sharing the drive with father Nicholas and out qualifying his cousin Supercar driver Zach Bates.

Perth young gun Chase Hoy also did well in the Camaro he’s sharing with John Holinger, finishing 9^th fastest in his session.

Race One for regular series competitors will start at 9.55 Saturday morning, followed by another 10-lap sprint for co-drivers’ early afternoon.

Leg one ACDelco Tag Team Enduro weekend  will start at 4.10 pm and feature a compulsory pit stop and driver change. With a 25 lap finale Sunday afternoon for $20,000 cash and $5000 worth of ACDelco Power Tools.

Round Four of the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series will be live streamed from 9.50 on Speedcafe and the Hi- Tec Oils YouTube channel  with the live free to air telecast commencing from 12.30 pm.

QUOTES
Tom Hayman, #30 Di Prinzio Concreting Ford Mustang 

“It was awesome to get the Kubota Pole PositionAward today at The Bend. Obviously we have had a few issues today with the car throughout the practice sessions, but it was awesome to be able to get the car hooked up for qualifying and put down that ripper lap. I am really looking forward to getting out their and racing tomorrow”

A stacked field of 23 cars will join the field this weekend for Round 4 of the TFH Hire Muscle Car Series - framed by HYTEK Steel Framing August 30 - September 1 at Tailem Bend, headlining the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series. 

The prize pool includes a winner take all $20,000 cash bonus from HYTEK and TFH for the highest cumulative point scoring two driver combo over all 6 races, plus a bonus $5,000 worth of ACDelco Power Tools for the outright ACDelco Tag Team enduro winners of the 25-lap finale Sunday afternoon.

High profile drivers for this weekend’s Hi-Tec Oils Super Series event include dual National Trans Am Champ Nathan Herne, partnering with current series TA2 leader Josh Haynes, Erebus Supercar enduro driver Todd Hazelwood teaming up with Josh Thomas in the TFH Hire Ford Mustang and Camaro Trans Am racer Elliot Barbour pairing up with Des Collier in the second TFH Hire Mustang. 

The PHD Racing Camaro of Graham Cheney, currently sitting second overall after a consistent three rounds, will have Super 2 driver Zach Bates co- driving while Graham’s son Tyler will make his TA2 debut with Jarrod Hughes as co-driver.  Bates cousin Sam will also join the field, partnering with last years Circo Master Class winner father Nicholas Bates.

Paul Hadley in the second PHD Racing Camaro will have Hugh McAlister on board, while Mustang driver Greg Keam has opted for Kubota Racing’s Matt Mackelden.

South Australian Brad Gartner has signed on driver coach Tim Brook, who partnered Dylan Thomas to victory in last years King of the North round in Darwin, Gartner sits 3^rd in the overall points and will have strong local support from the family farming community of Penola in the Hi-Tec Oils Camaro.

Aussie racing car driver Scott Andriske will team up with Brandon Madden in the #57 Harvey’s Towing ex Gartner Mustang, while TCR driver Jordan Cox will be pairing again with Mark Crutcher in the #4 Crutcher Developments Ford Mustang after a storming drive to win the final enduro race in Darwin last year.

Some new faces will join the field this weekend at Tailem Bend. Twenty-year-old Western Australia TA2 driver Chase Hoy will be joining the field in the #23 Holinger Engineering Chevrolet Camaro with John Holinger, while Queenslander Aaron Prosser has recently purchased the Ford Mustang Jett Johnson drove to championship victory in 2022.

TA2 rookie Steve Wilson is racing with the experienced Nick Lange in the Tefol Wilson Auto Camaro, while veterans Anthony Tenkate and Russell Wright will partner up in the Tenkate Hire superbly presented Mustang with a combined age higher than the top three drivers added together! Perth’s Brett Niall will also cross the Nullabor with enduro partner Clint Harvey.

Tom Hayman, Danny Reidy, Hayden Jackson, Domain Ramsay, Jason Pryde, Dean Lindstrom, and Michael Coulter will be taking on this weekend’s event as a solo driver. These  drivers will have to complete a mandatory pit stop and tyre change to the same minimum pit stop time as teams doing a driver change. 

Six races will be held across the weekend with each driver having a separate qualifying session and ten lap sprint races before combining for two longer races on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. 

The TFH Hire Muscle Car Series framed by HYTEK Steel Framing kicks off this weekend August 30 - September 1. 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 from 12:30pm Eastern time. 

QUOTES

Nathan Herne, #37 Herzog Steel Ford Mustang

“Josh Haynes and I talk a fair bit away from the track and the two-driver event came about, he gave me a buzz and asked if I wanted to do it with him. I was already going to be at The Bend working with Domain Ramsay, Greg Keam and Michael Coulter helping them on their cars so it worked out well to bring along my suit and helmet and cut some laps while I’m there.

Last year I did the two-driver event with Paul Manuell up in Darwin and I enjoyed every minute of it, we even came close to getting a win. Obviously Peter Robinson let Paul and I drive his Dodge Challenger for the weekend, and it had more battle scars than a military vehicle by the end of the weekend. I am looking forward to working with the whole Waltec team as well as Josh and being back in a team environment. What better way to do an enduro with the guy who is leading the championship.” 

Elliot Barbour, #63 TFH Hire Ford Mustang 

“Matt Black the Team Principal from TFH Racing gave me the call, they were looking for a short list of drivers. They spoke to some people from TA2 Racing, and obviously with the laps I have been doing in those cars in the other series it worked out well. I had to check with the TA2 team to see if I could get out of my DSO duties which they were gracious enough to let me put that to the side for the weekend so I could go and have some fun behind the wheel. 

Getting to race with the TFH team is going to be really cool. In the other series I’m on my own program, so driving in a bigger team with some more resources and have teammates like Des Collier, Todd Hazelwood and Josh Thomas. It is going to be a packed field this weekend with heaps of tough competition so I am really looking forward to going out there and racing hard with everyone.”

ENTRY LIST

#3 Steve Wilson, Nick Lange, Tefol Wilson Auto Racing, Chevrolet Camaro 

#4 Mark Crutcher, Jordan Cox, Crutcher Developments, Ford Mustang 

#5 Danny Reidy, Desert Palms Alice Springs, Chevrolet Camaro

#11 Michael Coulter, Turps Tippers, Ford Mustang

#13 Greg Keam, Matthew MacKelden, DeBeer’s Refinish, Ford Mustang 

#14 Jason Pryde, JP Motorsport, Chevrolet Camaro 

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

#23 John Holinger, Chase Hoy, John Holinger Engineering, Chevrolet Camaro

#24 Nicholas Bates, Sam Bates, Very Clean, Ford Mustang 

#30 Tom Hayman, Di Prinzio Concreting, Ford Mustang 

#39 Dean Lindstrom, TDP Mobile Services, Ford Mustang 

#37 Josh Haynes, Nathan Herne, Herzog Steel, Ford Mustang

#50 Paul Hadley, Hugh McAlister, PHD Motorsport, Chevrolet Camaro 

#51 Graham Cheney, Zach Bates, PHD Motorsport, Chevrolet Camaro 

#57 Brandon Madden, Scott Andriske, Harvey’s Towing, Ford Mustang

#63 Des Collier, Elliot Barbour, TFH Hire, Ford Mustang 

#69 Anthony Tenkate, Russell Wright, Tenkate Plant Hire, Ford Mustang 

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

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

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

#118 Tyler Cheney, Jarrod Hughes, PHD Motorsport, Chevrolet Camaro 

#169 Joshua Thomas, Todd Hazelwood, TFH Hire, Ford Mustang 

SCHEDULE 

FRIDAY

8:00am Practice 1 (40 mins)

10:45am Practice 2 (40 mins) 

1:45pm Practice 3 (20 mins)

4:05pm Qualifying - Driver 1 (15 mins)

4:30pm Qualifying - Driver 2 (15 mins)

SATURDAY 

10:15am Race 1 - Driver 1 (10 laps)

12:40pm Race 2 - Driver 2 (10 laps)

4:00pm Race 3 - Enduro (20 laps) 

SUNDAY
10:45am Race 4 - Driver 2 (10 laps)

12:35pm Race 5 - Driver 1 (10 laps)

3:30pm Race 6 - Enduro (25 laps) 

BROADCAST 

LIVE STREAM:

Saturday & Sunday: 10:15am - 12:30pm

Hi-Tec Oils Super Series Facebook, Hi-Tec Oils, Super Series Youtube & Speedcafe

TELEVISION:

Saturday & Sunday: 1pm - 4pm 

SBS VICELAND, Fox Sports, Kayo Sports, Sky NZ

The prize pool for round four of the TFH Muscle Car Series - framed by HYTEK Steel Framing has been added to significantly for next weekend’s Hi-Tec Oils Super Series at the Bend Motorsport Park, with a major cash bonus and a prize cache courtesy of AC Delco.

This includes  a winner take all $20,000 cash bonus from HYTEK and TFH for the highest cumulative point scoring two driver combo over all 6 races,  plus a bonus $5,000 worth of AC Delco Power Tools for the outright AC Delco Tag Team winners of the 25 lap finale Sunday afternoon.

Heading the two-driver line up is Todd Hazelwood, who will partner Josh Thomas in the 23 car field that includes Jarrod Hughes, Jordan Cox, Elliot Barbour, Zach Bates and cousin Sam Bates and other front running drivers.

Based on last years Darwin King of the North two driver format which proved successful, each driver will have their own qualifying session and sprint races, before combining for a 20 lap enduro Saturday afternoon, and a longer 25 lap finale on Sunday.

Other two driver combo’s include Kubota Racings Matt Mackelden, 2017 TA2 champ Russell Wright, former TA2 WA Champ Brett Niall - partnering with Perth’s Clint Harvey, Hugh McAlister and 20 year old Perth TA2 driver Chase Hoy, partnering with John Holinger. 

TFH’s Todd Hazlewood will go in as the form favourite, while series front runners Josh Haynes and Brad Gartner are yet to declare if they will run the solo or two driver format.

All cars in the Saturday and Sunday afternoon mini enduros will be forced to have a 90 second compulsory pit stop during a nominated lap window

Haynes leads the series from Graham Cheney and Brad Gartner with the weekend’s races live-streamed and televised on SBS, Fox Sport and Kayo Sports.

QUOTES

Craig Denyer, TA2 Category Manager 
“The Bend Motorsport Park is a world class facility and perfect to showcase our largest TA2 entry   for the season with a field of quality competitive drivers. Our thanks to AC Delco, HYTEK Steel Framing and TFH Hire for stepping up to offer a fitting reward for what will be a weekend of intense racing for the best performing team.”

TFH’s Todd Hazlewood will go in as the form favourite, while series front runners Josh Haynes and Brad Gartner are yet to declare if they will run the solo or two driver format.

All cars in the Saturday and Sunday afternoon mini enduros will be forced to have a 90 second compulsory pit stop during a nominated lap window

Haynes leads the series from Graham Cheney and Brad Gartner with the weekend’s races live-streamed and televised on SBS, Fox Sport and Kayo Sports."

The countdown is on for Round 4 of the TFH Hire Muscle Car Series framed by HYTEK Steel Framing at Shell - V Power Motorsport Park at The Bend, August 30 - September 1. 

Some more driver pairings have been announced for the two-driver feature event just a few weeks out from Tailem Bend. 

With a combined age of 131, 2017 TA2 Champion Russell Wright will be joining regular series runner Anthony Tenkate, in the #69 Tenkate Plant Hire Ford Mustang. Both drivers are quick to point out that they are there to have fun while pushing for a good result and collecting championship points. 

Gunnedah’s Greg Keam is back in the #13 DeBeer’s Refinish Ford Mustang for the first time since Round One in April at Sydney Motorsport Park, and will join forces with Matthew MacKelden, who finished 7^th in the 2023 series.

Father and son duo from Canberra ACT, Nicholas Bates and Sam Bates will be pairing up in the #24 Very Clean Ford Mustang. Sam is currently racing in his first year of the Toyota Australia 86 Scholarship Series with the last round at Sandown in one week. 

TA2 rookie Steve Wilson will be teaming up with a former TA2 driver Nick Lange in the #3 Wilson Autosport Chevrolet Camaro. Lange has jumped on board helping out Wilson in his TA2 journey this year and is looking forward to jumping back in the car that he previously raced. 

Western Australia driver Brett Niall will be back in his Chevrolet Camaro, the former WA TA2 Champion teaming up with his long-time enduro co-driver Clint Harvey. 

Championship leader Josh Haynes, in the Herzog Steel Ford Mustang, is one of the few drivers competing this round as a solo driver. Other drivers competing as solo drivers are  Tom Hayman, Hayden Jackson, South Aussie Dean Lindstrom and ex speedway drivers Domain Ramsay and Danny Reidy. 

Josh Haynes has had a strong running this year and currently leads the TA2 Championship 28 points ahead of PHD Motorsports driver Graham Cheney in the #51 Chevrolet Camaro. #4 Crutcher Developments Ford Mustang driver leads the Circo Master Class going into Round 4 closely followed by Paul Hadley and rookie Domain Ramsay in the #71 C&H Trucking Chevrolet Camaro. 

Schedule and Broadcast times will be released closer to the event, however both Sat and Sunday will be televised live by SBS free to air, simulcast on Fox Sports/Kayo.

Round 4 of the TFH Hire Muscle Car Series framed by HYTEK Steel Framing kicks off August 30 - September 1 at The Bend Motorsport Park. 

QUOTES

Russell Wright, #69 Tenkate Plant Hire Ford Mustang 
"I did the Darwin two-driver event last year and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it, it was a real fun weekend. I am pairing up with Anthony Tenkate this year, we aren’t putting any pressure on ourselves we are going out there to have some fun, keep the car in one piece and enjoy it. I am really looking forward to Tailem Bend in a few weeks time” 

Brad Gartner, #22 Hi-Tec Oils Chevrolet Camaro 
“I ran in last year’s two-driver event in Darwin and had so much fun. For me it is just trying to get ourselves back in the championship whether I am doing it as a solo driver or with a co-driver. With Tailem Bend being my home track,I definitely need to maximise every opportunity I get, obviously with Round 1 for me being a disappointing one knocking me a fair way back in the championship. I am really looking forward to it and seeing what we can do as a team.”