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.”