McHUGH WINS THUNDER ON THE DOWNS SERIES ROUNDS AT TOOWOOMBA

Feature photo:   Sprintcars, night four, September 26: Winner Lockie McHugh (centre) surrounded by third-placed Henry Titman (left) and main event runner-up Jock Goodyer.

By David Budden:

Lachlan McHugh took the win in round three of the Sedl Earthmoving Thunder on the Downs Sprintcar Series at Hi-Tec-Oils Toowoomba Speedway on Friday night, September 25.

Randy Morgan, in his season debut, fought his way to second before challenging McHugh for the race lead, but crossed the line as runner-up, with Michael Stewart rounding out the podium. Dylan Menz, who made his way to third before he faded in the final few laps, completed the top five. While Harry Stewart, also on track for the first time this summer, started twelfth in the A Main, he charged home to finish a creditable sixth, taking out the Axiom Hard Charger Award.

Earlier in the night Menz stopped the clock in the first round of qualifying with an impressive 10.757 second lap ahead of Michael Stewart (10.762) and Liam Williams (10.778). Nicholas Whell (10.917), Jock Goodyer (10.952) and Liam Williams would later win his first Sprintcar heat race.

McHugh set overall quickest time with a 10.721 second lap ahead of Kobi Wright (10.824), Jy Corbet (10.898), Brock Hallett (10.963) and Lachlan Paulger 10.986. Just 0.771 of a second separated the top seventeen cars.

One of the outstanding heat races from Friday night was the third heat of the night. Tarhlea Apelt had an outstanding drive to defend her third place finish from Micheal Saller after Jy Corbet won the race from McHugh.

The following night Lachlan McHugh again set a quick time of 10.825. In the next group of drivers to qualify saw Liam Williams stop the timer at 10.937 ahead of Aaron Kelly 10.943, Max Guilford 10.960, Dylan Menz 11.056 and Glen Sutherland 11.168.

Apelt had a good weekend and was on her A game. She was unstoppable in the B-Main when she took the win in a career highlight. Brodie Davis finished second ahead of Jason Faint, while Brock Hallett had the crowd on their feet in a determined drive from the rear of the field to secure the fourth and final transfer spot to lock himself into the main event.

Michael Saller and Jessie Attard rode out a wild crash while battling for second, with Saller’s car ending up consumed in flames after rupturing the fuel cell as it bounced off the catch fence. In a wonderful act of sportsmanship, Attard unbuckled his belts and raced from his car directly into the flames to assist Saller out of his burning car. Both drivers walked away and were cleared by paramedics. Special thanks to the Hi-Tec-Oils Toowoomba Speedway crash crew and first responders who were quickly on the scene.

However, the weekend belonged to McHugh winning back to back A mains and his seventh Thunder On The Downs feature race win.

Jock Goodyer finished second after a faultless drive from position nine as he and Henry Titman argued over positions throwing numerous sliders at each other. Titman finished a very impressive third after holding second for most of the race. Randy Morgan and Michael Stewart rounded out the top five. Stewart had a solid weekend, being one of only a handful of drivers to make the dash on all four nights. Brock Hallett secured the deserved Axiom Hard Charger Award for advancing from twentieth to eighth in the A-Main. In a brilliant drive through traffic in both the A and B Mains. He had to come from eighteenth in the B to the final transfer spot to secure a place in the main event.

After round four of the Ultimate Sprintcar Championship Lachlan McHugh sits on top of the leader board from Jock Goodyer and Henry Titman.

Randy Morgan and Michael Stewart complete the top five.

Modified Sedan podium, Saturday night, September 26: Modified Sedans, from left to right: Chris Pagel (third), winner Aidan Raymont, runner-up in the main event, Nathan Macdonald.

The Modified Sedan feature race was entertaining to watch with action a plenty during night one of the Toowoomba Steering and Suspension Smackdown Series.

Shane Macdonald started on the front row alongside Charlotte Christensen. Tim Atkin and Nathan Macdonald shared the second row. Aidan Raymont, who earlier in the night won the dash, rolled the dice and put himself out of position five for the feature race Joel Berkley concluded the top six. Macdonald set the pace early as they raced three wide as Raymont sneaks up the inside of Atkin while that was happening Nathan Macdonald moved into second over the next few laps the brothers ran wheel to wheel and the crowd loved it.

It was Modified Sedan racing at its best as Raymont switched to the high line around Christensen in pursuit of the Macdonald, as he levelled up with Nathan and moved forward on Shane. Current Queensland Champion Chris Pagel was in the mix also. The two brothers made contact after gearbox failure in Shane’s Commodore gave Raymont the opportunity he was looking for when he switched to the high line and ran into the race lead. However, Nathan wanted no part of that and charged back into the race lead with nine laps left to run. Not long after, Raymont was back in front, at the chequered flag Aidan Raymont took the win from Nathan Macdonald and Chris Pagel.

The V8 Dirt Modifieds produced some exceptional racing in the 25 lap Super Rooster Classic. Disappointment from the start, Australian Champion Seiton Young was out early with a flat right rear tyre.

This left Zeke Edwards the opportunity to lead the race from start to finish. Andrew Pezzutti, Kevin Britten, Geoff Phillips and David Clark the top five as the laps ticked away.

Britten made the high line look easy as David Clark had a big look down the inside and made it work. He then set out after Pezzutti as he reeled in Edwards at 1.2 seconds a lap. Further back, Luke Dunn closed in on Phillips with five laps still to run as Kevin Britten retired to the infield. Out in front Edwards was faultless and drove a perfect race to win the 2026 Super Rooster Classic.  Andrew Pezzutti was lucky to finish after the motor cut out just metres before the finish line either out of fuel or electrical issues. Geoff Phillips made a welcome return to racing after two years out of the driver’s seat to finish a strong third.  Matt Gordon got the double winning both nights of the Legend cars feature race from Scott Nichols on night two and Brock Thornton.

Speedway returns to Toowoomba in two weeks for the Queensland Super Sedan Title. To keep up to date with what is happening , go to the HI-Tec-Oils Toowoomba Speedway Facebook page.

Lightning Sprint podium, Friday night, September 25: 1. From left to right: runner-up Tyler Stralow, feature race winner Keith Blatch (centre) and third-placed Jim Kennedy.

Street Stock top three, Friday night, September 25:  From left to right: Third placegetter Luke Wilkinson (left), winner Darren Ciesiolka and second placegetter Matt Langton.

UICK RESULTS Night 3 Thunder on the Downs

Sprintcars

1. Lockie McHugh NQ7

2. Randy Morgan Q54

3. Michael Stewart NS14

4. Kobi Wright N78

5. Dylan Menz Q46

Street Stocks

1. Darren Ciesiolka SB3

2. Matt Langton CR9

3. Luke Wilkinson CR31

Lightning Sprints

1. Keith Blatch Q77

2. Tyler Stralow Q51

3. Jim Kennedy Q7

Legend Cars

1. Matt Gordon 1Q

2. Darren Snowden 1N

3. Scott Nichols

QUICK RESULTS night 4 Thunder on the Downs

Sprintcars

1. Lockie McHugh NQ7

2. Jock Goodyer A1

3. Henry Titman Q59

4. Randy Morgan Q54

5. Michael Stewart NS14

V8 Dirt Modifieds

1. Zeke Edwards V21

2. Andrew Pezzutti N25

3. Geoff Phillips Q303

Modified Sedans

1. Aidan Raymont CR28

2. Nathan Macdonald CR32

3. Chris Pagel Q1

Legend Cars

1. Matt Gordon 1Q

2. Scott Nichols 2Q

3. Brock Thornton 55Q