Pierce recovers from slow start to demolish field
A bad start in the Super Saloon feature by young American star Bobby Pierce made for a spectacular feature, as he took out the third round of the Pro Dirt Series in Palmerston North on Saturday night.
Pierce, who only turned 20 on Monday, had finished second in the first round at Waikaraka Park, Auckland last Saturday after beginning the feature in a lowly 15th place. The second round at Napier was rained out on Friday.
In Palmerston North, Pierce scored top points in qualifying, then won the shoot out to begin the 25-lap final on pole position with the race win seemingly heading his way, until a poor start dropped him down into eighth place at the end of the first lap.
Once he regained his composure, he set about chasing down race leader and national champion Mark Osborne on one of his favourite tracks, the Robertson Holden Speedway.
Incredibly Pierce went out to the wall, a place that even Osborne didn’t go to, with the track having slicked off, making it hard for drivers to hold their line out wide without sliding into the wall.
Pierce though, had the crowd on the edge of their seats, as he one by one picked off first Grant Flynn (Hawke’s Bay) then Nigel Mouat (Auckland), Lance Jennings (Mount Maunganui) and Steve Flynn (Hawke’s Bay) before taking on Chris Cowling and the improving Dan Corrin (both Mount Maunganui).
Usually the super saloon driver to be doing the charging out wide, Osborne was on the receiving end on this occasion, as Pierce had little trouble getting past Osborne and increased his lead over the final five laps.
Osborne finished second ahead of Cowling, Corrin and Sam Waddell.
Pierce openly stated he prefers racing out wide and clearly he’s used to it, as he regularly tapped the wall, occasionally harder than a light tap, but it didn’t do anything to halt his run to the chequered flag, with the crowd standing to applaud him.
A big field of 35 drivers began the first of three heats for the coveted Manawatu superstock title, but it didn’t take long for the field to be whittled down with more than 10 cars failing to finish each of the three heats.
Only seven drivers finished each of the three heats, with Jordan Dare winning the title by 13 points in an outstanding display of hard-charging driving.
Despite a visit up the wall in the third heat and a small stop on the infield, Dare’s team-mate Wayne Hemi finished second with William Humphries, who was chasing his third consecutive Manawatu title, ended up third overall.
Jacob Baker won the third heat for his first win in a full superstocks field.
It was top effort by Humphries, who, along with Dare, are two youngsters destined to be stars.
Scott Duncan (Wanganui) and Ron Tye were a point behind Humphries, followed by Shaun Pearson.
Robert Mason won the stockcar feature with Stu Sowry and Brian Taniwha winning the other races.
Caitlyn Dunn won the adult ministock race, with Stratford duo Craig Mason and Bradley Korff winning the other races.
The second of three rounds of the international sprintcar series is on Tuesday night at the Arena,at 7pm.