The 2022 ENZED Superstock Teams Champs is underway, with two-thirds of the 12 teams out of the running following a night of qualifying carnage.
The four groups of three teams format was in play for the first time since 2017, and the finalists include one team who have never progressed this far before.
Group A - Kings Progress
Race One: Manawatu Mustangs vs Wellington Wildcats
89w Dale Robertson led early for the Wildcats but once he was blocked the Mustangs just got stronger and stronger as the race progressed. With 5w Keegan Levien unable to start due to a 3 minute bell infringement, 26p Nic Davey and 34p Rebecca Barr were able to progress through the field, taking a famous victory while suffering minimal damage.
Result: Nic Davey 26p, Rebecca Barr 34p, Paul Fairbrother 52w, Dale Robertson 89w, Paul Gaskin 6w
Points: Mustangs 140, Wildcats 55
Race Two: Kihikihi Kings vs Manawatu Mustangs
They looked good first time out, but the Mustangs were no match for a fired up Kings with 58k Stefan Roigard and 3nzk Mitch Vickery leading home a couple of locals. 71k Shane Mellsop was one casualty, eliminated by debutant 172p Daniel Burmeister, but 75k Gavin Taniwha was a rock in defence.
Result: Stefan Roigard 58k, Mitch Vickery 3nzk, Rebecca Barr 34p, Gavin Taniwha 75k
Points: Kings 160, Mustangs 25
Race Three: Kihikihi Kings vs Wellington Wildcats
In the words of immortal team manager Tony McLanachan the Wildcats “started rubbish and continued on like that”. The Kings led all the way, with 3nzk Mitch Vickery having a dream run as his team mates did everything required to keep the dream alive.
Result: 3nzk, 5w Keegan Levien, 89w, 52w, 147k Matt Nielsen
Points: Kings 110, Wildcats 85
Overall Points: Kings 270, Mustangs 165, Wildcats 140
Group B - Gisborne Take a Giant Leap
Race One: Gisborne Giants vs Baypark Busters
The opening race of the group was over as a contest once leader 9g Jamie Hamilton spectacularly rolled blocker 272m Seth McConchie in front of the stand a couple of laps in. Following on from that 10g Peter Rees was content to shadow 19m Kerry Remnant while 127g Ethan Rees and Hamilton took first and second, with the Giants collecting 150 valuable points.
Result: Ethan Rees 127g, Jamie Hamilton 9g, Ross Ashby 38m, Dan Pollock 85m, Josh Prentice 5g
Points: Giants 150, Busters 45
Race Two: Hawkes Bay Hawkyes vs Baypark Busters
This race was tense, but ultimately one way traffic in favour of the Hawkeyes. 46b Quinn Ryan led from the get go, with 38m Ross Ashby chasing in an extremely valiant second place. Sometimes the Tank Commander caught the leader and other times the Bay would get a blocker in the way, but as the laps ticked down the Busters ran out of Ashby-support crew and Ryan took the win.
Result: Quinn Ryan 46b, Ross Ashby 38m, Quintin Butcher 98b, Kairyn O’Brien 25b, Kerry Remnant 19m
Points: Hawkeyes 145, Busters 50
Race Three: Gisborne Giants vs Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes
Anyone expecting a close battle in the decider were to be disappointed as the Giants dismantled the Hawkeyes. 127g Ethan Rees was fast and effective again to take the win, with 9g Jamie Hamilton following in second as the Giants racked up the biggest victory of the night.
Result: Ethan Rees 127g, Jamie Hamilton 9g, Kairyn O’Brien 25b, Josh Prentice 5g, Tim Ross 144g
Points: Giants 170, Hawkeyes 25
Overall Points: Giants 320, Hawkeyes 170, Busters 95
Group C - Canterbury Lose, Still Win
Race One: Palmerston North Panthers vs Canterbury Glen Eagles
The Panthers made short work of the Glen Eagles, with winner 52p Scott Joblin running 10 laps at high speed to minimise the chance of Canterbury to respond. A crucial 88p Jack Miers block cemented the win, with 58p Peter Bengston leapfrogging 557c Darrel Wallace into second on the final lap, although he was subsequently relegated to fourth which closed up the result.
Result: Scott Joblin 52p, Darrel Wallace 557p, Harley Robb 991c, Jayden Ward 971p, Peter Bengston 58p
Points: Panthers 120, Glen Eagles 75
Race Two: Palmerston North Panthers vs Stratford Scrappers
The Scrappers gave the Panthers a far tougher run, but the result still went to the locals with 88p Jack Miers in imperious form as their sole finisher and race winner. 94p William Humphries was unluckily tipped over, 52p Scott Joblin ground to a halt and 58p Peter Bengston likewise after some brutal block work. The Scrappers were valiant in defeat and had a quick regroup before their Glen Eagles race.
Result: Jack Miers 88p, Blair Uhlenberg 28s, Shane Denham 37s
Points: Panthers 100, Scrappers 65
Race Three: Canterbury Glen Eagles vs Stratford Scrappers
One of the races of the night, the Scrappers were again valiant in defeat. 991c Harley Robb was walled at the start line and 133s Tyler Walker took the lead, but their numerical advantage was lost when 971c Jayden Ward rolled 82s Hamish Booker. Then 25c Lloyd Jennings placed Walker up the fence and still remained in a high points scoring position, with 557c Darrel Wallace taking the win. The Glen Eagles were jubilant, having scored enough points to leapfrog the Panthers and make the semi-finals for the third time in four seasons.
Result: 557c, Lloyd Jennings 25c, Carl Shearer 75s, Jayden Ward 971c, Blair Uhlenberg 28s
Points: Glen Eagles 160, Scrappers 35
Overall Points: Glen Eagles 235, Panthers 220, Scrappers 100
Group D - Rebels Remain
Race One: Rotorua Rebels vs Wanganui Warriors
The Rebels started their title defence as they meant to continue, briskly dispatching the Warriors with pace and finesse. 14r AJ Axtens was the only Rebel who was targeted by Wanganui, with the other three drivers placing 1-2-3. Impressive.
Result: Michael Rumney 7r, Brent Stewart 9r, Alan McRobbie 10r, Elias Dykstra 6v
Points: Rebels 165, Warriors 20
Race Two: Auckland Allstars vs Wanganui Warriors
The Allstars had to face a wounded Warriors and did all they needed to but nothing more with 66a Randal Tarrant leading from start to finish. Wanganui showed heart and commitment, but ultimately came up short.
Result: Randal Tarrant 66a, Max Holloway 81v, Dylan Marshall 57v, Gary Lonergan 95a, Cody McKee 72a
Points: Allstars 130, Warriors 65
Race Three: Rotorua Rebels vs Auckland Allstars
The evening’s finale was expected to deliver on the action front, and with 66a Randal Tarrant hitting the front early the Rebels had it all to do. 10r Alan McRobbie proved to be up to the task with some accurate defence, both 9r Brent Stewart and 7r Michael Rumney able to get past the former 1nz. The Allstars picked off Rumney but couldn’t stop Stewart, the defending champs looking good as they headed into a semi-final battle with Kihikihi.
Result: Brent Stewart 9r, Randal Tarrant 66a, Cody McKee 72a, Gary Lonergan 95a, Tyson Wootton 717a
Points: Rebels 100, Allstars 95
Overall Points: Rebels 265, Allstars 225, Warriors 85
Finals night will see the Kihikihi Kings face the Rotorua Rebels in the Tier 1 semi-finals, with the Gisborne Giants up against the Canterbury Glen Eagles to find the other finalist.
Tier 2 semi-finals will take place between the Manawatu Mustangs and Auckland Allstars, along with the Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes versus the Palmerston North Panthers for a chance at third place overall.
The meeting kicks off at 5pm, support classes are Sidecars and consolation Superstock races.
