Herne joins hot grid for TA2 Tag Team Enduro at Shell-V Power Motorsport Park
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 3rd 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
$20,000 Prize Pot for TA2 Muscle Car two-driver enduro
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."
Excitement builds as the TA2 two-driver event at Tailem Bend is just weeks away
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 7th 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.”
TA2 championship heats up at halfway mark
As the 2024 TFH Hire Muscle Car Series framed by HYTEK Steel Framing reaches it’s halfway mark, the competition has been nothing short of exciting so far. Drivers are gearing up for what is going to be a thrilling back half of the season.
The TA2 Muscle Car Series features multiple different classes, each with its own fiercely contested championship battle for this year.
After three rounds Josh Haynes leads the championship by 28 points ahead of Graham Cheney in the PHD Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro. Haynes has momentum on his side heading into the second half of the season with a clean sweep at Queensland Raceway in June.
Hi-Tec Oils Chevrolet Camaro driver Brad Gartner had a rough start to the year in a brand new car, after he was involved in an accident at Round One. Round 2 saw Gartner clean sweep the weekend and Morgan Park after picking up his first series Pole Position Award.
Rookies Danny Reidy, Connor Roberts, Domain Ramsay and Steve Wilson are all battling it out for the RaceTech Rookie of the Year award. Connor Roberts currently leads the championship going into the back half of the year on 502 points closely followed by Danny Reidy in the Chevrolet Camaro on 440 points.
After a difficult start to his 2024 season after he was involved in a crash at Round 1 in Sydney, Mark Crutcher in the #4 Crutcher Developments Ford Mustang currently leads the Circo Master Class Championship 29 points in front of PHD Motorsports driver Paul Hadley, who’s sitting back on 506 points.
Round 4 of the TFH Hire Muscle Car Series returns to The Bend Motorsport Park August 31 - September 1 for the first time since 2019. You can catch all of the action live on SBS Fox Sports and Kayo Sports.
QUOTES
Josh Haynes, #37 Herzog Steel Ford Mustang
“The first half of the season has been really good for me and the team. Obviously we had a great round at Sydney Motorsport Park where I took home the first pole position award, and battled up against Todd Hazelwood all weekend which was pretty cool. We had a tough round 2 at Morgan Park with a few mechanical issues, but managed to bag a heap of points and come out of there tied first in the championship with Graham Cheney. The moment we rolled the car out of the truck on Friday practice all the way up until the last race at Queensland Raceway the car was a rocket ship, and we clean swept the weekend.
It’s great to have a nice lead in the championship going into Round 4 at the end of August. It is important that I finish every race and stay consistent as there is still a long way to go and anything can happen.”
Graham Cheney, #51 PHD Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro
"Going into the back half of the year I am heading in with the same mindset, concentrating on finishing all races and not making any silly mistakes, as DNF's can really hurt your championship. With Brad Gartner closing close behind me on points, I am really going to have to step it up as well as maintaining consistency if we want to win a championship.
I am really looking forward to Round 4 at The Bend Motorsport Park at the end of August, pairing up with Zach Bates. Zach is a very experienced driver and I am hoping he can bring some of that as well has his knowledge over to our team."
Drivers gear up for TA2 two-driver event at The Bend
The TA2 Muscle Car Series will revisit The Bend Motorsport Park for the first time since 2019 as a two-driver event for Round 4 of the TFH Hire Muscle Car Series framed by HYTEK Steel Framing.
Teams from all across Australia will make the trip down south to The Bend Motorsport Park for three intense days of racing as part of the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series event.
The format for the weekend is set to feature a separate qualifying session for each driver with three races across each race day on Saturday and Sunday. These six races will compromise a single sprint race for each driver and a longer enduro race, which will feature a driver change with a minimum timed pit stop, with both drivers earning championship points across the weekend.
The first driver pairing locked in sees Walkinshaw Andretti United Super 2 star Zach Bates team up with Graham Cheney in the #51 PHD Motorsport Chevrolet Camaro.
Fellow Super2 regular Jarrod Hughes will team up with Cheney’s son Tyler Cheney in a third PHD Motorsport entry, with Paul Hadley to be joined by former TA2 regular Hugh McAlister.
TCR star Jordan Cox will make his TA2 return, co-driving with Mark Crutcher in the #4 Crutcher Developments Ford Mustang. Cox paired up with Crutcher in last year’s Kings of the North in Darwin, where Cox came away with first in the co-driver race, and also clean swept the penultimate round at Sydney Motorsport Park in Crutcher’s Mustang.
Supercars co-driver Todd Hazelwood will return to the TA2 Muscle Car Series joining forces with Joshua Thomas in the #169 TFH Hire Ford Mustang.
Entries and pairings of more drivers will be announced in the coming weeks closer to the event.
Round 4 of the TFH Hire Muscle Car Series framed by HYTEK Steel Framing takes place on August 30 - September 1 at The Bend Motorsport Park. Saturday and Sunday’s races will be live and free to air on SBS, Fox Sports and Kayo Sports.
QUOTES
Jordan Cox #4 Crutcher Developments Ford Mustang
“Crutcher rung me up and asked me if I wanted to do the two-driver event with him again at The Bend Motorsport Park, I said yes and hung up the phone. It was short and sweet didn’t it certainly didn't take me long to say yes.
We had a lot of fun together up in Darwin for the two-driver event last year, it is always super cool when you can get the chance to co-drive, it makes it a real team event. I has some great racing and great results with Crutcher last year and I am looking forward to doing it again in a few weeks time.”