Gartner dominates TA2 Muscle Cars

The second round of the TA2 Muscle Car Series was all about one man Brad Gartner, who enjoyed a “dream weekend” at Morgan Park.

Despite the Queensland circuit throwing up mixed conditions, Gartner reigned supreme, winning all four races.

However, he could not quite hit the championship lead which still retained by Josh Haynes by the barest of margins with Graham Cheney also now on 408 points.

Gartner sits third with 352, just one point ahead of Mark Crutcher.

After a wet affair on the Saturday, clear skies greeted the grid for a busy Sunday that contained three races.

Gartner and Haynes led away as Mark Crutcher ran wide at Turn 9, falling from to the back, but would eventually recover to fifth.

Haynes hit the lead on Lap 6 at Siberia, only for Gartner to respond two laps later.

His move at T-Junction proved to be a race-winning move as Haynes dropped out of contention with a flat tyre.

This opened the door for the charging Jett Johnson, who went from the last row to third, but lost an impressive result due to being penalised for contact with Domain Ramsay.

As a result, Cheney and Connor Roberts completed the podium behind Gartner.

Although Cheney got a solid jump at the start of Race 3, Gartner hit the lead by Turn 2 and charged into the lead and did not look back.

Meanwhile, Hayden Jackson collected Ramsay under the bridge on Lap 2 and the former received a drive through penalty for his drama.

All eyes were on Haynes as he produced a storming drive to second with Cheney getting third.

Boosted from this, Haynes fired an early attack on Gartner in Race 4.

But once again another tyre puncture ended Haynes’ challenge in the finale, allowing Gartner to cruise to a 9s win and complete the perfect weekend.

Haynes was still able keep hold of second ahead of Johnson, who overcame Cheney to get third.

Gartner described the four-peat as a “dream weekend” after a tough time at Sydney.

“It’s been a dream weekend, to get my first round win with a clean sweep,” he said. 

“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.”

The next TA2 round is at Queensland Raceway on June 28-30 for the Two Days of Thunder event.

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