Nash Morris has clean swept Round 3 of the TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by HYTEK Steel Framing in a wild weather-affected Sunday at Queensland Raceway.

After a dominant win in Race 1 on Saturday, Morris lead the rest of the field away off the start in Race 2.

Michael Coulter ran into trouble through Turn 5 on Lap 1 and returned to pit lane with a broken throttle cable.

The safety car was called on Lap 2 when Chris Pappas and Nicholas Bates clashed at Turn 3, while Bates received penalty of five championship points for his part in the incident.

The race resumed on Lap 8, before drama struck again two laps later when Brad Gartner suffered a brake failure at Turn 4 and slid backwards into the infield tyre wall. Gartner was taken to the infield medical centre and cleared of any serious injuries. 

The field took the flag under safety car on Lap 10 with Morris taking the win from Haynes and Rice.

Morris scored a lights-to-flag win in Race 3 from Haynes and Thomas.

Michael Rowell spun out on Lap 1 at Turn 4 after having contact with Matt MacKelden, and received a three-grid spot penalty for his part in the incident.

Mark Crutcher spun at Turn 6 on Lap 2 after contact with Chris Pappas. 

Jackson Rice sat in third on Lap 6 until he dropped a wheel at Turn 6 and lost two positions, as Russell Wright moved up to fourth. 

Nicholas Bates recovered from his incident in Race 2 to move his way up from 19th to 12th, while Hayden Hume retired on Lap 7 with a gearbox issue.

The heavens opened on the formation lap of Race 4, as 12 of the 19 starters piled into pit lane to swap from slicks to wet weather tyres, including pole sitter Nash Morris.

Thomas and Haynes gambled to stay on slicks and lead the field away from Hugh McAlister and rookie Greg Keam.

Morris joined the back of the field on the first lap and proceeded to charge his way back into the lead by the third lap of the race, and produced a 30-second lead by half race distance.

Haynes and Thomas closed in as the track dried up in the closing stages, but the gap was too far gone as Morris hung on to win the race and the round on his series return.

In the championship points, Dylan Thomas extended his lead to 12 points over Rice, as Haynes moved up to third ahead of Bates and Cheney.

Hayden Jackson scored the Wilwood Big Braker Award for his strong overtaking moves all weekend, Michael Rowell scored the Bowden’s Best Presented Award, Greg Keam won the RaceTech Rookie of the Round and Russell Wright won the Circo Masters Class on his TA2 Comeback.

The Geoff Leeds Memorial Trophy, donated by Tony Quinn of Queensland Raceway, was awarded to Hugh McAlister for best displaying Leeds’ mantra of “Race Hard, Race Fair, Give Racing Room and Respect Your Fellow Competitor’.

Round 4 of the TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek heads to Morgan Park Raceway in Warwick, QLD on July 8-9.

QUOTES

Nash Morris, #67 Supercheap Auto / Norwell Motorplex Ford Mustang

“It was good to win every race and get the pole position here at QR.

“I think it was the right strategy call to swap tyres and start from the lane, but then it actually stopped raining, so I was second guessing myself, I was pretty lucky to hang on there but it worked out well in the end.

“I love driving in the wet, so I enjoyed it. It was full NASCAR style. I brought it in, thought I was in the Daytona 500, but it was pretty cool. Credit to the team, they’ve been giving me a fast car all weekend.

“Winton will be good next week, hopefully we can carry on what we’ve done here, but I have not really raced there before so we’ll see how we go.

Hugh McALister, #6 McAlister Motors Ford Mustang

(Geoff Leeds Memorial Trophy Recipient)

"It’s an absolute honour to win the Geoff Leeds Memorial Trophy. I think yesterday on the grid was an amazing celebration and ceremony for Geoff and I know a lot of people teared up on the grid and he was in our minds a lot of the weekend.

“It’s a real honour to take this trophy home, I’m absolutely thrilled.”

Supercheap Auto / Norwell Motorplex driver Nash Morris converted pole to a dominant lights-to-flag win over Josh Haynes and Dylan Thomas in Race 1 of Round 3 of the 2023 TA2 Muscle Car Series at Queensland Raceway, headlining the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series at the 2 Days of Thunder.

Morris set provisional pole in qualifying ahead of Dylan Thomas and Jackson Rice this morning. The last man out in the Top 10 Shootout scored pole position by nine-tenths of a second with a 1:11.6950 lap in the Supercheap Auto Mustang, with CXC Racing’s Dylan Thomas joining him on the front row.

Prior to Race 1, all drivers came together at the start finish line to honour the life of former TA2 Driving Standards & Prosecuting Officer Geoff Leeds, where Queensland Raceway announced that a Geoff Leeds Memorial Trophy will be awarded to the driver that best embodies Leeds’ mantra of ‘Race Hard, Race Fair, Give Racing Room and Respect Your Fellow Competitor’ across the weekend.

Reverend Steve Peach from the Southport Church of Christ lead a moments silence and a prayer before drivers returned to their cars for the start of the race.

Morris lead the field away off the start before controlling the lead for the remainder of the race.

Josh Haynes moved up to second past Thomas down the front straight on the opening lap, as Thomas closed out the podium from Rice.

Rookie Hayden Hume scored a strong top five finish over Russell Wright, who made amends after a two-place penalty in qualifying for impeding another car to move forwards from eighth to sixth.

Chris Pappas placed seventh ahead of Brad Gartner, who charged forward five positions from 13th, as Hugh McAlister and Nicholas Bates rounded out the top ten.

After missing qualifying with a clutch issue, Hayden Jackson moved forward from the back of the grid to 12th. 

The TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek returns for Races 2, 3 and 4 at 9:30am, 1:15pm and 3:05pm respectively. Race 2 will be live streamed on the TA2 Facebook Page while Races 3 and 4 will be shown live on SBS, Fox Sports and Kayo.

QUOTES

Nash Morris, #67 Supercheap Auto / Norwell Motorplex Ford Mustang

“It was a good race. It was pretty hot out there, I wasn't cruising, but I was still trying to manage my car for tomorrow. We’ve got a pretty big day of racing with three races tomorrow. I was still pushing pretty much the whole way through but I didn't want to take too much out of the tyres.

“We don't get too many tyres in the TA2 Series, so it's all about managing what you got and managing it over the weekend.”

Super2 Series driver Nash Morris will join a 20-strong grid for Round 3 of the TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek, headlining this weekend’s 2 Days of Thunder at Queensland Raceway with the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series.

Morris, son of 2014 Bathurst 1000 winner Paul Morris, will take to the track in the Supercheap Auto Ford Mustang after a race-winning return in the National Trans-Am Series at Phillip Island in May.

After a thrilling Round 2 in Darwin where he and co-driver Tim Brook claimed the ‘Kings of the North’ title, CXC Racing’s Dylan Thomas leads the series by six points over Pedders Suspension & Brakes Mustang driver Jackson Rice. Thomas’ co-driver Brook will return to the paddock at Queensland Raceway to support Thomas’ bid for the title.

Reigning Masters Class champion Nicholas Bates sits third overall on 368 points, with young charger Josh Haynes 11 points back in fourth.

Kobelco Motorsport’s Michael Coulter returns after a podium finish in the first two-driver race in Darwin alongside father Steve and sits seventh in the points, behind IES Motorsport’s Graham Cheney in sixth.

Total Parts Plus Motorsport’s Hayden Hume will continue his strong rookie charge after back-to-back Racetech Rookie of the Round performances at Winton and Darwin.

Inaugural Australian TA2 champion Russell Wright is set for his TA2 comeback this weekend after a strong cameo appearance as a co-driver for Rob Leonard at Round 2 in Darwin. Following Wright’s comeback announcement earlier this week, he has welcomed onboard Crew Commercial as the major backer on the number 55 Mustang.

Leonard returns this weekend to fight it out in the Circo Masters Class against the likes of Mark Crutcher, Greg Keam, Michael Rowell and Paul Hadley. 

Hayden Jackson, Brad Gartner, Chris Pappas, Hugh McAlister, Bernie Walsh and Kubota Racing’s Matt MacKelden complete the grid.

The TA2 Muscle Car Series fraternity will come together before Race 1 on Saturday to honour the life former Driving Standards & Prosecuting Officer and Australian motorsport veteran Geoff Leeds. Once cars form up on the grid for Race 1, all drivers will stand at the front of the grid for a short tribute and a minutes silence. Each car will also run a sticker on the rear quarter in memory of Leeds.

The weekend schedule will kick off with five practice sessions on Friday. A 15-minute Qualifying session will be held at 8:45am on Friday, followed by a Top 10 Shootout at 11:05am to set the grid for Race 1. Four sprint races will be held across the weekend, three 12-lappers and a finale over 20 laps. Race 1 will be held on Saturday at 2:25pm. Race 2 on Sunday morning will be streamed live via the TA2 Racing Australia Facebook and Hi Tec Oils Super Series’ Facebook and YouTube channel, before Races 3 and 4 will be included as part of the series live broadcast on SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand, Fox Sports and Kayo Sports. 

QUOTES

Nash Morris, #67 Supercheap Auto Ford Mustang

“Queensland Raceway is close for us, probably only 40 minutes up the road for us, so we thought we might as well go up there and race.

“It’s the 2 Days of Thunder, which was an event we did last year and the year before. It’s a pretty cool event and you normally get a few spectators to it too, so it will be good to take the Supercheap Auto Mustang there and hopefully achieve a good result in the TA2 Muscle Car Series.

“We had the car on display at the Supercheap Wildcard Launch Event last weekend and everyone loved it out there. Most people were wondering ‘what is this?’ A lot of them were pretty diehard Supercar fans that were at that event, but also some people that were pretty new to the sport so it was cool to show it off there.

“I watched some of the racing up in Darwin and the first round at Winton and guys like Josh Haynes and Jackson Rice and Brad Gartner are all going pretty good.

"I love driving these TA2 cars and enjoying myself driving them so we’ll head to Ipswich and have some fun this weekend!”

SCHEDULE TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek 2023 Round 3 - Queensland Raceway 2-4 June 2023 All times AEST

FRIDAY Practice 1: 9:39am (19 minutes) Practice 2: 11:09am (19 minutes) Practice 3: 12:39pm (19 minutes) Practice 4: 2:09pm (19 minutes) Practice 5: 3:39pm (19 minutes)

SATURDAY Qualifying: 8:45am (20 minutes) Top 10 Shootout: 11:05am Race 1: 2:25pm (12 laps)

SUNDAY Race 2: 9:32am (12 laps) Race 3: 1:14pm (12 laps) Race 4: 3:04pm (20 laps)

BROADCAST TIMES: Live stream: Sunday 9:30am to 12:45pm (TA2 Racing Australia Facebook, Hi Tec Oils Super Series Facebook & YouTube) Speedweek: Sunday 1pm (SBS Viceland, SBS On Demand, Fox Sports, Kayo Sports)

ENTRY LIST TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek 2023 Round 3 - Queensland Raceway

#4 Mark Crutcher (NSW), Ford Mustang - Crutcher Developments #6 Hugh McAlister (NSW), Ford Mustang - McAlister Motors #7 Jackson Rice (VIC), Ford Mustang - Pedders Suspension & Brakes #8 Chris Pappas (QLD), Ford Mustang - WealthRite #11 Michael Coulter (NSW), Chevrolet Camaro - Kobelco Motorsport #13 Greg Keam (NSW), Ford Mustang - Debeers Refinish #15 Michael Rowell (QLD), Ford Mustang - Norwell Racers #22 Brad Gartner (SA), Ford Mustang - Castec Rural Supplies/MVA Racing #24 Nicholas Bates (NSW), Ford Mustang - Sullivans #37 Josh Haynes (NSW), Ford Mustang - Beaches SEADOO #40 Robert Leonard (QLD), Ford Mustang - Access Linemarking Equipment/Municipal Works Australia #45 Hayden Hume (QLD), Dodge Challenger - Total Parts Plus #50 Paul Hadley (NSW), Chevrolet Camaro - IES Motorsport #51 Graham Cheney (NSW), Chevrolet Camaro - IES Motorsport#52 Bernie Walsh (QLD), Ford Mustang - Red Point Racing #55 Russell Wright (QLD), Ford Mustang - Crew Commercial #67 Nash Morris (QLD), Ford Mustang - Supercheap Auto #68 Dylan Thomas (NSW), Ford Mustang - CXC Racing #81 Hayden Jackson (NSW), Dodge Challenger - MGW/Team RSG #99 Matthew MacKelden, Ford Mustang - Kubota Racing

Dream Racing Australia’s Jackson Rice is aiming to leave Queensland Raceway on top of the TA2 Muscle Car Series standings following Round 3 as part of the Hi Tec Oils Super Series this weekend.

Just a five-point margin separates Pedders Suspension and Brakes-supported Rice from current series leader Dylan Thomas ahead of four races in the Sunshine State.

It comes after a taxing weekend in Darwin where Rice teamed with Dream Racing Australia’s National Trans Am Series contender Tyler Everingham for the world’s first two-driver endurance race for TA2.

Since Darwin, Rice’s Pedders Ford Mustang has been completely overhauled featuring a fresh transmission and body. Rice has already completed a shakedown of the rebuilt Mustang, which has given him confidence ahead of Queensland Raceway.

Rice has not only aided in the preparation of his Pedders Mustang for Round 3, but also Dream Racing Australia’s entries for Winton the next weekend in the National Trans Am Series.

Round 3 of the TA2 Muscle Car Series takes place at Queensland Raceway as part of the Hi Tec Oils Super Series in conjunction with the circuit’s traditional 2 Days of Thunder meet on June 3-5. Sunday’s action will be livestreamed between 9:30am-12:45pm on TA2 Racing Australia’s Facebook before Speedweek will broadcast live from 1pm.

QUOTES

Jackson Rice

#7 Pedders Suspension and Brakes/Dream Racing Australia Ford Mustang

“We’ve put in a lot of hours,” said Rice.

“Darwin took a big toll on the car, but we’re probably not the only competitors in that boat. We pretty much stripped down the car to the chassis and rebuilt it, full transmission, full body, before a shakedown, which went really well.

“I’m excited to head up north with the new gear in it and to see how it all goes. It’s been a massive amount of work for the turnaround that we’ve had. Cam (Fisher), myself and all the boys probably did three and a half weeks work in eight days, so it was a pretty big period for us, but I’m glad it’s all ready to go.

“The good thing about the rebuild was the opportunity to get a shakedown done to get a feel and the confidence to know everything is all good.

“I’d like to hope I can leave with the series lead. It’s a very tight competition, so my aim is to maximise points to give myself a gap to the drivers behind and try to capitalise on catching Dylan (Thomas). He is very quick, but I think as long as we just keep it on the road and put our best foot forward we’ll recoup some points so we come away with the lead.”

Inaugural Australian TA2 champion Russell Wright will make a stunning return to racing the TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by HYTEK Steel Framing for the remainder of this year’s season.

After hanging up his helmet early last year, the Gold Coaster made an impressive return to TA2 racing recently at Round 2 at Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway for what was the world first TA2 two-driver event, where he paired with Rob Leonard in the #40 “Slow Down Workers Around” Access Linemarking Equipment/Municipal Workers Australia Mustang. 

After a successful weekend in Darwin, the pair came home with the Bowdens Own Best Presented Award and had a strong points finish in seventh overall.

Wright has purchased the Aaron Seton ex 2021 Ford Mustang that was owned and prepared by Harris Racing. Seton drove the car for five rounds before he moved into the Dunlop Super 2 Series. The keys were then handed to John Harris, Craig Harris’s son, who raced it in the National Trans Am Series for a number of rounds.

Wright has applied his traditional yellow colour scheme to the Mustang, that features major backing from Wright Property Investments.

Wright was the first Australian to venture to join the American Trans-Am Series TA2 class in 2018, when he raced at the Circuit of the Americas as reward winning the 2017 title. Wright had a competitive outing with Stevens-Miller Racing, the same team Nathan Herne now drives for full time.

A strong field is expected to hit the track this weekend for Round 3 of the TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek, with the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series heading to Queensland Raceway as part of their annual 2 Days of Thunder event. CXC Racing’s Dylan Thomas leads the championship going into Round 3 closely followed by Jackson Rice and Nicholas Bates.

QUOTES

Russell Wright, driver #55 Ford Mustang - Wright Property Investments

“Darwin was a great round for me. It had been around a year since I had raced a TA2 car and I was very thankful to Rob and Jill Leonard for giving me the opportunity to drive the car up there.

“I have been asking myself for the last year about getting back into the category and Darwin definitely was the catalyst that made me decide I was missing the action.

“I have seen a massive change in the series, there is now a mixture of older guys and so much younger talent coming into the series. It is developing into a great class and the competition has lifted since I last raced.

“I can’t wait to hit the track on Friday at Queensland Raceway for Round 3 of the series and I’m looking forward to the rest of the year.”