Long time motorsport administrator Craig Denyer announced to a standing ovation at the 2024 TA2 Muscle Car Awards presentation over the weekend he will retire from the sport this year after helping build the TA2 brand from a nine-car series which commenced  in 2018 to over 100 cars now sold in the country. PBR spec TA2 cars race in both the National Trans AM and TA2 Muscle Car Series, the Western Australian series, plus launched in New Zealand with a two round Trans-Tasman series earlier this year, where TA2  continues to also grow as a domestic NZ category in its own right.

The father of television presenter and regular race driver Grant Denyer, Craig has had a long history in the sport conceiving and running the V8 Ute series for many years, worked for Ross Palmers PROCAR developing the GTP and Nations Cup Series in the late 90’s and was involved in administrating both  the Bathurst 12 and 24 Hour races.  He was heavily involved in the early Gold Coast Indycar events, commentated on motorsport for most television networks over the years, including the F1 Grand Prix in Melbourne, and has been planning to step down for some time announcing that Matt MacKelden will take on the role of TA2 Muscle Car series category manager. Denyer will continue to be involved in the short term as a part of the handover to the new entity.

The Gala presentation evening last Friday at the Sofitel Broadbeach on the Gold Coast crowned the 2024 TA2 champion, Josh Haynes with the presentation of the $10,000 Wallace Bishop Championship ring, from Brad Gartner and Mark Crutcher. 

Mark Crutcher scored the Circo Master Class title from Paul Hadley and Domain Ramsay. 

#169 TFH Racing Ford Mustang Driver Josh Thomas scored the Wilwood Most Improved award, as he was the most improved driver this year compared to last year on series points. This prize included a full set of Wilwood Calipers and Rotors supplied by Wilwood Brakes. 

The TA2 Geoff Leeds Memorial Trophy is for the driver that does not necessarily win races or run at the front, but contributes in many ways to the success of the series. This award presented by Ben Leeds went to #81 MGW/Team RSG Dodge Challenger driver Hayden Jackson. Jackson also took home the Race Products Never Give Up Award, which included a pair of Race Products 300M TA2 Australia spec floater axles valued at $786. 

The Racetech Rookie of the Year was awarded to the highest point scoring first year TA2 Muscle Car Series driver. This was awarded to Danny Reidy in the #7 Desert Palms Alice Springs Chevrolet Camaro. 

TA2 Muscle Car Series is expected to formally announce the 2025 calendar later this week.

QUOTES

Craig Denyer, TA2 Category Manager 
“This has been somewhat of a 20-year apprenticeship for Matt, who has worked with us in the V8 Ute days as well as Mini Challenge and Australian GT, plus has also been a competitor in TA2.  He has great knowledge across many areas of the sport and has the passion to continue to keep the faith on what we have achieved as a category so far.” Denyer said.

“I cant thank Peter and Mo Robinson, Dayna Bullock and Cam Sendall enough for making this the most enjoyable time I’ve ever  had in the sport and bringing me into their family. When I first sat down with Pete 8 years ago and he explained his vision for TA2, I couldn’t believe that someone so new to the industry had such great foresight and could see so clearly what others with years in the sport had failed to see and where the gap was for a low cost, big bang for buck V8 alternative. That’s the reason the TA2 “Family”  is so successful today and will continue to grow under the new ownership group led by TA2 competitors Mark Crutcher, Graham Cheney and Paul Hadley.”

Matt MacKelden, 2025 TA2 Category Manager 
"I can’t thank The Robinsons, Craig and the new ownership group enough for tapping me on the shoulder given Craigs well deserved retirement.”

“Having worked with Craig and the Series previously the opportunity to continue on his great work and build on the foundation he set is truly an honour, I certainly have very big shoes to fill.”

Herzog Steel Ford Mustang driver Josh Haynes has claimed the 2024 TFH Hire Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek Steel Framing title for 2024 at the season finale at One Raceway. 

Sam Bates from the famous Bates family and son of former TA2 Masters Champion Nick Bates had a tremendous sprint race debut weekend finishing 2nd overall. Bates showed class and pace through out the entire weekend, finishing well ahead of some of the more experienced competitors. 

NSW Dodge Challenger pilot Hayden Jackson completes the weekend podium after a storing battle with Bates in the final race. Jackson and Bates ran nose to tail through out race 4 but just couldn’t get the pass done at the flag.

In only his second event for the year, Tempest Solutions Chevrolet Camaro driver Zach Loscialpo had a strong weekend and was awarded the Hypercoil Hard Charger Award. Mark Crutcher in the #4 Crutcher Development’s Ford Mustang finished the weekend taking out his second Masters Championship even after contact in the final race with Aaron Prosser which ended his race prematurely. 

Brad Garter came into the round as a championship contender but unfortunately suffered mechanical gremlins all weekend putting pay to any any Championship aspirations. The Hi Tec Oils Driver finished 8th for the weekend but 2nd overall for the Championship. 

Speedway Legend Robbie Farr was awarded the Circo Masters Award for the weekend after being involved in battles all weekend,

The championship winners will be officially crowned at the 2024 TFH Hire Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek Steel Framing Awards Night on November 29th on the Gold Coast. 

QUOTES

Josh Haynes, #37 Herzog Steel Ford Mustang 
“We’ve worked 3 years for this so it means the world to me and my family. I’m still lost for words. If I didn’t have my team I wouldn’t be able to do what I do. To also be able to set the lap record at the end of the race I'm really stoked. It took me three attempts to get a skid started but once it got going it was quite good. Huge thank you again to everyone involved.”

Mark Crutcher, #4 Crutcher Development's Ford Mustang, Circo Master Class Champion
"It’s been such a great season. Thanks to Paul Hadley and his team, Rhett and Coxy have been great today. Thank you to my family for their support and my beautiful wife Melissa. I will keep going for the next 5 years I reckon. I love the TA2 family it’s magnificent."

Danny Reidy, #5 Desert Palms Alice Springs Chevrolet Camaro, Racetech Australia Rookie of the Year 
"It's been an up and down year for us. It’s all about learning and seeing all these tracks for the first time. This weekend was tough for us but we had a bit of fun and it made the weekend worth it. We are going to be back next year bigger and better. Thank you to all my sponsors."

Josh Haynes driver of the #37 Herzog Steel Ford Mustang has taken pole position for this afternoons first race of the TFH Hire TA2 Muscle Car Series by Hytek Steel Framing at the One Raceway in Goulburn, NSW. 

Haynes scored his fourth Kubota Pole Position in the Top 8 Shootout, 0.04 seconds from Brad Gartner in the Hi-Tec Oils Camaro. Rookie Sam Bates achieved his best TA2 qualifying result with third place, while Zach Loscialpo and Mark Crutcher rounded out the top five.

Speedway legend Robbie Farr threw away his fast lap at the exit of turn 1 in the shootout with a mis shift causing a compression lock up but managed to finish the lap in eighth. 

Race one saw Haynes lead the way from Sam Bates, before a safety car was called on lap one after Aaron Prosser and Danny Reidy made contact at turn four, resulting in a DNF for both drivers. A post race penalty was given to Prosser of 15 championship points for causing the incident. 

Championship contender Brad Gartner missed second gear off the start and dropped back to eighth while Farr was given a five second penalty for passing before the control line on the re start. 

Mark Crutcher in the Crutcher Developments Ford Mustang was under attack from Hayden Jackson and Brad Gartner through out the journey, and while Crutcher survived for fourth, Gartner and Jackson traded  places on multiple laps before Jackson finally prevailed in fifth. 

The TFH Hire Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek Steel Framing returns for Race two at 10:50AM, Race three at 1:15PM and Race four at 3:40PM Sunday afternoon. Sunday’s action can be viewed online with a live stream at 10:00Am on the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series Facebook and YouTube Page, and then from 1:00PM live on SBS, Fox Sports and Kayo Sports. 

QUOTES 

Josh Haynes, #37 Herzog Steel Ford Mustang 

“We had a really good start for Race 1 here at One Raceway. It’s still early days, we have 3 more races tomorrow but it’s super exciting to win at race in front of my home crowd and sponsors. I am looking forward to the 3 races tomorrow and the Herzog Steel Ford Mustang is a jet. It’s going to be good racing tomorrow and I am really looking forward to it.”

Sam Bates, #24 Bates Motorsport Ford Mustang

“Thank you to all my sponsors they made the car really fast. It was a good race, I was chasing Josh around. He’s too fast for me but P2 is pretty good for me. I managed the gap to Zach Loscialpo but I've got to save the tyres. I am looking forward to tomorrow and seeing what we can do again.”

Josh Haynes, driver of the Herzog Steel Mustang continued his strong form at the reborn One Raceway today for Round 6 of the TFH Hire Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek Steel Framing. 

Brad Gartner in the #22 Hi-Tec Oils Chevrolet Camaro was the first driver to crack a 59.6106 which he completed in practice 3. 

Sydney’s Zach Loscalpio, driving the #21 Tempest Solutions Chevrolet Camaro, made his return to the field for the first time this year and consistently stayed in the top three during all three practice sessions.

Mark Crutcher in the #4 Crutcher Developments Ford Mustang was pushing to find the limits at the newly reconfigured track leaving the circuit on multiple occasions.

Cam Sendall, driver of the #42 PBR Distributions Ford Mustang, was mistakenly released from pit lane into the path of Sam Bates in the #24 Ford Mustang coming down the main straight. Both cars suffered minor damage but will be ready for Kubota qualifying in the morning. 

Josh Haynes has a comfortable lead in the 2024 TA2 Muscle Car Series, 82 points ahead of Graham Cheney who will not be participating in this round due to other commitments, which opens the door for Brad Gartner to put pressure on the Herzog Steel Mustang in an effort to claim his first Championship win. .

With three practice sessions complete, all eyes now turn to tomorrow with qualifying at 10:30am, plus a Top 8 Shootout at 1:10pm and Race 1 at 4:20pm. Catch all the action Saturday and Sunday live on SBS, Fox Sports and Kay Sports.

QUOTES

Josh Haynes, #37 Herzog Steel Ford Mustang

“This track is really cool, I love it. Obviously the new facilities are amazing, and it is so cool to be here at One Raceway after so many years. The track is still pretty technical especially in one of these big TA2 cars. There is still some learning to be done, it is early days and we have to try a lot of different things. There are a lot of tight corners and different lines to take on this track which makes it interesting.”

“Everything went well for me today in the #37 Herzog Steel Ford Mustang. I am really looking forward to the rest of the weekend and hopefully by the end of it we’ll have the 2024 Championship wrapped up.”