A night of quality teams racing and high drama saw the Glen Eagles take their third successive ENZED Superstock Teams Champs last night at the Robertson Prestige International Speedway. A long delay to announce their semi-final victory took the momentum out of the meeting, which ended up being squeezed by the curfew and saw a no-show in the race for fifth overall.
Tier 2 Semi-Final : Stratford Scrappers v Manawatu Mustangs
The semis got off to a fantastic start with the Mustangs and Scrappers duelling it out. 581p Jordan Dare was two laps up and heading for home when he was stopped in his tracks. 89s Tyler James finally took the white flag as Dare escaped from his prison, and the retiring Mustang managed to cross the line a length in front. 34p Rebecca Barr had an eventful third place to secure a comfortable margin. However, Dare was later disqualified for the third time in three races and the Scrappers took a famous win.
Result: 89s Tyler James, 34p Rebecca Barr, 82s Hamish Booker, 133s Tyler Walker, 172p Daniel Burmeister
Scrappers 145, Mustangs 50
Tier 2 Semi-Final : Wanganui Warriors v Gisborne Giants
126g Asher Rees led early and late, with 57v Dylan Marshall in front in the middle laps. The difference was 127g Ethan Rees, who ensured Marshall would be kept under wraps for the latter part of the race, with brother Asher taking the flag.
Result: 126g Asher Rees, 57v Dylan Marshall, 127g Ethan Rees, 166v Hayden Hart, 38v Zane Dykstra
Giants 125, Warriors 70
Tier 1 Semi-Final : Palmerston North Panthers v Baypark Busters
The Busters were too organised and too match-fit for the Panthers in the first semi-final, with veteran 19m Kerry Remnant taking the flag for a famous win. The lap four roll of 156p Trent James by 5m Elias Dykstra set the scene, with 1nzm Todd Hemingway assuming the lead. He was eventually stopped by 88p Jack Miers but that only allowed Remnant to take the win and the Busters were through.
Result: 19m Kerry Remnant, 41p Scott Williams, 1nzm Todd Hemingway, 94p William Humphries
Busters 125, Panthers 60
Tier 1 Semi-Final : Auckland Allstars v Canterbury Glen Eagles
The Allstars proved that there are no certainties in teams racing, with a superb team performance to end the reign of the Glen Eagles… or so it seemed for an hour or so. 808c Scott Tennant and 991c Harley Robb both had time in front, but they were picked off by 96a Jamie Fergusson and 72a Cody McKee took the lead on lap 5. The best efforts of the Glen Eagles weren’t enough, and it appeared the Allstars were into their first final in 30 years. Deliberation by officials saw the result overturned, with McKee disqualified for seeking sanctuary. The Allstars were despondent and the Glen Eagles into the final for their chance at a hat-trick.
Result: 991c Harley Robb, 14c James Thian, 808c Scott Tennant, 66a Randal Tarrant, 96a Jamie Fergusson
Glen Eagles 165, Allstars 30
5th & 6th : Gisborne Giants v Auckland Allstars
The Auckland Allstars elected not to compete in their race for fifth against the Giants, with the four Gisborne cars fighting amongst themselves as they took the win.
Result: 126g Asher Rees, 29g James Clark, 144g Tim Ross, 127g Ethan Rees
Giants 185, Allstars 0
3rd & 4th : Stratford Scrappers v Palmerston North Panthers
The individual drive of the weekend saw the Scrappers win their fourth race in a row to take third over the Panthers. 82s Hamish Booker’s hefty demolition job on 52p Scott Joblin saw a long delay for fence repairs, but remarkably both were able to restart. Booker was in no mood to be stopped, taking the win as the Panthers cars received terminal damage for the second race in a row.
Result: 82s Hamish Booker, 88p Jack Miers, 89s Tyler James
Scrappers 125, Panthers 40
1st & 2nd : Baypark Busters v Canterbury Glen Eagles
You got the feeling as the cars lined up for the final that the Glen Eagles had had their scare, and it was going to take a massive effort from the Busters to stop the juggernaut. That task became even harder when 96m Dylan Towler slightly misjudged an attack on 371c Jay Holtham and tipped over early in the race.
There were too many Glen Eagles circling race leader 1nzm of Todd Hemingway and his charmed run came to an end, while 5m Elias Dykstra’s underrated role as a blocker all came to naught. At the front of the field 557c Darrel Wallace and 808c Scott Tennant powered to the flag and the Canterbury team had taken an unprecedented hat-trick by an out of town team.
Result: 557c Darrel Wallace, 808c Scott Tennant, 19m Kerry Remnant
Glen Eagles 140, Busters 25
