Race pole position left open for car 71
More joy than sadness will be displayed as Waikato’s top speedway drivers line up for the Andrew Edwards Memorial meeting.
Adrenaline pumping action will be the order for a full race night at the McDonald’s Kihikihi Speedway featuring TQs, super saloons, stockcars and sprintcars.
The feature, the Andrew Edwards Memorial Race will be hotly contested by sprint car drivers.
The race was dedicated to Andrew Edwards, the 21-year old Te Awamutu sprint car driver killed in an accident at Tauranga’s Baypark Speedway on New Year’s Day 2008.
Drivers will leave pole position open for Andrew’s car 71, as a mark of respect.
Last year’s winner Daniel Thomas won’t be wanting to relinquish his hold on the trophy.
He can expect challenges from drivers Dean Brindle, Jamie McDonald, Rodney Wood and the brother of Andrew Edwards, Brian.
A win for Brindle, who started his career in mini stocks at Kihikihi, would be a fitting finale to his 26-year racing career.
He leaves New Zealand at the end of this season to race in the Australian competition.
Sibling rivalry will be to the fore in the Super Saloons Class as the Cowling brothers Chris and Steve continue their competition on the track.
The event will mark the 10th anniversary since Andrew Edwards died. The memorial meeting first held in 2017 was seen as a way to keep his memory alive.
Andrew was first introduced to speedway watching his father Mark racing TQs at Kihikihi.
He started racing when Mark purchased vehicles for his two sons, a mini sprint for Andrew and a mini stock for younger brother Brian.
With three members of the family racing, they formed Edwards Motorsport Team.
The team went onto success creating history at the Huntly Raceway with all three taking a step on the podium at the same time.
Andrew was successful in mini-sprints achieving 15-race wins, three New Zealand and a South Pacific title.
Andrew moved up to sprint cars and soon became recognised as the driver to beat.
Since the fatal accident at Baypark, the family continue racing with younger sister Ella joining the team.