Hughes unveils American inspired Camaro for Ipswich return

Posted on 27 June 2024
Hughes unveils American inspired Camaro for Ipswich return

Super2 youngster Jarrod Hughes is returning to the TA2 Muscle Car Series and hopes to replicate his debut heroics in the stars and stripes.

Hughes will make his second TA2 start at this weekend’s Two Days of Thunder event at Queensland Raceway.

The cameo makes sense with his next Super2 round with Image Racing at Townsville next weekend.

He knows how to get the job done on the Trans Am machines, having enjoyed a memorable debut.

In last year’s season finale, Hughes wowed at a soaked Calder Park, steering an AC Delco Mustang to victory in three of the four races.

But instead of jumping back in a Ford this weekend, he will be racing a Camaro for PHD Motorsport.

The #118 will stand out, proudly representing the seats and stripes thanks to backing from American Muscle Trucks.

After enjoying a successful debut, Hughes cannot wait to chase more victories around the “Paperclip.”

“I am very excited to make a return to TA2. It was such a great event and I had an awesome time at Calder Park,” Hughes told AUTO ACTION.

“I was very keen to come back and can’t thank Graham (Cheney) and Paul (Hadley) enough from PHD to have another go at the TA2 cars.

“I am looking forward to an awesome weekend.”

Reflecting on his Calder Park debut, Hughes said the unpredictable nature of the TA2 on a wet track suited his style.

“It was really good. The style of that car and track really suited what Paul (Morris) has taught me,” he said.

“I love those cars but not going to lie, when we went into the first race I was thinking ‘gosh all I have heard is how bad these cars are in the wet’ but I really enjoyed it.

“Being low grip you are having to hang on the whole time.”

However, being in the Camaro will be a new challenge with slightly different aero even though the chassis are the same.

The TA2 field has been further boosted by the arrival of Trans Am drivers Tom Hayman, Mark Bailey and John Holinger, while TFH Racing returns with Josh Thomas and Des Collier.

There will be three 12-lap sprints before an 18-lap finale with the four races spread across the weekend.

All the action from Round 3 can be viewed live on SBS Viceland, Fox Sports and Kayo.

 

Hayden Jackson targeting improved pace at Queensland Raceway

Posted on 26 June 2024
Hayden Jackson targeting improved pace at Queensland Raceway

Hayden Jackson will enjoy extra support from Dream Racing Australia this weekend at Queensland Raceway for the third round of the 2024 TA2 Racing Muscle Car Series season.

With the series running in Queensland Raceway’s marquee ‘2 Days of Thunder’ meeting, Jackson will enjoy the support of two key Dream Racing Australia personnel for the round.

Multiple Australian Touring Car Championship winner Glenn Seton and Trico Trans Am Series podium finisher Jackson Rice will impart their knowledge to Jackson as he aims to build on a relationship with Dream Racing Australia, which started at the Calder Park finale last season.

Seton has joined Dream Racing Australia this season to focus on the engineering processes and so far it has proven successful.

Jackson enters the round 10th in the standings, but will be aiming to build on his points score following a podium result at Morgan Park last round.

The TA2 Racing Muscle Car Series will contest four races at the ‘2 Days of Thunder’ making up Round 3 of the season at Queensland Raceway on June 26-30.

QUOTES

Hayden Jackson

#81 MGW/Team RSG

“We had some good pace in the rain and the dry running was where the wheels fell off at the end of the weekend, but it was a strong recovery to sixth in the last one,” said Jackson.

“I’ve spent a bit of time with him approaching this round just getting to know him a little bit better and what he’s going to work on with the car. It’s going to be great and I can’t wait to work with him, he’s a legend. Glenn is a nice bloke, he’s humble and genuine.

“I love working with Jacko too, he’s a nice fellow. It’s very good to get tips and tricks out of him, the little nuances to drive the cars fast.

“At the end of the day we just want to finish. We’ve had too many zeros in the first two rounds already, so the more points we can collect now to try and get back to where we should be.”

 

National stars join stacked TA2 Muscle Car field at Queensland Raceway

Posted on 26 June 2024
National stars join stacked TA2 Muscle Car field at Queensland Raceway

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 

 

Gartner clean sweeps Morgan Park

Posted on 3 June 2024
Gartner clean sweeps Morgan Park

Hi-Tec Oils Camaro driver Brad Gartner has scores his maiden TFH Hire TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek Steel Framing round win with a clean sweep of Round 2 at Morgan Park Raceway.

Following his Race 1 win in torrential conditions on Saturday, clear skies greeted competitors on Sunday as Gartner and Josh Haynes lead the field away for Race 2.

Mark Crutcher ran wide at the Turn 9 sweeper and dropped to the back of the pack before recovering to fifth.

Haynes took the lead on Lap 6 with a move under brakes at Siberia Turn 5. Gartner regained the lead two laps later as he got a run and passed Haynes exiting the T-Junction into Turn 8.

However, Haynes began to drop back with a punctured left rear tyre, before the tyre completely delaminated on the final lap resulting in a non-finish. Gartner, Cheney and Connor Roberts completed the podium, resulting in Roberts’ first top-three finish.

Starting from the back, Jett Johnson charged all the way up to third in the Turps Tippers Mustang he is driving in place of Michael Coulter. However, contact which turned Domain Ramsay under the bridge at Turn 3 on Lap 6 saw Johnson penalised five spots and relegated to eighth.

Gartner and Cheney got off to an even start in Race 2 before Gartner took the lead into Turn 2.

Hayden Jackson collected Ramsay under the bridge on Lap 2, with Haynes and Johnson narrowly avoiding the stricken Camaro across the track at Turn 3. Jackson received a drive-through penalty for the incident before parking his Dodge later in the race with a steering issue in the closing stages.

Haynes recovered from his DNF in Race 2 with a storming drive to second, earning the Hyperco Hard Charger Award for his efforts. Cheney was third from Crutcher who held off a hard charging Jett Johnson for fourth.

Gartner completed his clean sweep in Race 4 with a nine second win over Haynes. Haynes challenged Gartner for the lead early but faded off in the closing stages with another tyre puncture.

Crutcher held off Johnson for the first half of the race before missing a gear on the exit of Turn 4 on Lap 10 which allowed Johnson through. Johnson caught up to Cheney and got by for third on the run out of the T-Junction into Turn 8 with two laps remaining. Johnson picked up the Wilwood Big Braker Award for his last-minute appearance in place of Michael Coulter.

Graham Cheney and Mark Crutcher came home fourth and fifth to secure second and third for the round respectively. Crutcher also won the CIRCO Masters Class from Paul Hadley and Domain Ramsay.

Speedway convert Danny Reidy picked up the RaceTech Rookie of the Round and the Bowdens Own Best Presented Award in the Reidy Racing Camaro.

Cheney and Haynes now sit level on top of the TFH Hire TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek Steel Framing standings on 408 points, with Gartner climbing from 16th to third.

The TFH Hire TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek Steel Framing remains in Queensland for Round 3 at Queensland Raceway on 28-30 June at the Two Days of Thunder.

 

QUOTES

Brad Gartner, #22 Hi-Tec Oils Chevrolet Camaro

“It’s been a dream weekend, to get my first round win with a clean sweep. There was a bit of bad luck to some off the other competitors but you’ve got to be there at the end to win the race and I’m extremely grateful to have the weekend we did.

“This result definitely boosts our confidence. To get a few wins like this. Obviously Sydney was a big hit, Queensland Raceway was a bit hit and I feel we’re really getting back into the feel of things.

“It’s really emotional, last year and even starting this year and a couple months ago we probably wouldn't have been here, so a massive thanks to Peter Robinson and George Gambino Hi-Tec Oils. They’re two people in my life that produced the goods for me so far, and I hope I've made them proud by standing up here now.”

“I’d like to thank Castec Rural Supplies, Hi-Tec Oils, MED Electrical, Southern Flood Lighting Mike’s Beef Jerky, TNS Tippers, Peter Robinson from PBR and everyone that's got on board, I really can't thank everyone enough.”

Graham Cheney, #51 PHD Motorsport Chevrolet Camaro

“I'm pretty stoked with that. It was a tricky weekend with the wet weather, but we came through in the end with a good result.

“I've always said, the guy that finishes every round is going to be in the championship hunt for sure and I couldn't have done it without my team. PHD have got the car always dialed in, they have put so much effort in between races and it just shows we have a pretty reliable package.”

Mark Crutcher, #4 Crutcher Developments Ford Mustang

“When you've got a guy like Jett Johnson behind you have to concentrate, I actually got caught in second gear around the back for about 200 metres. But once he got past me, you could see he had pace. These young kids, they're just exceptional and 'm just the first of the old guys.

“It’s been a great weekend. We had some pace, which was great. I had great support from the PHD Motorsport team mates in Graham Cheney and Paul Hadley and the entire team.

“Congratulations to my team mate Graham Cheney on his lead in the championship, it’s been a great outcome for the team.”

 

Gartner on top at wet Morgan Park

Posted on 1 June 2024
Gartner on top at wet Morgan Park

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.”