Success for Stratford drivers

It’s been a stellar start to the year for Stratford speedway drivers, with a number of podium finishes at national championships in the bag already.

Richard Pierce took out the New Zealand Modified Championship at Greymouth Speedway in the first week of January, with clubmate Farron Lowry coming home second.

The title made Pierce two-time winner of the New Zealand Championship for the modified class and has also previously won the New Zealand Super Saloon Championship along with North Island and New Zealand Grand Prix Modified Championships.

Lowry had previously finished third in the North Island Cham- pionship twice and third in the grand prix.

His second place finish at Greymouth was the first time he had finished in the top three in the New Zealand Championship. Another Taranaki racer, Blair Luscombe, finished fourth at the event. Luscombe was unable to make a passing manoeuvre on Auckland competitor Jamie Fox who finished third behind Lowry.

Josh Walsh made it to the podium when he placed third in the New Zealand Stockcar Championship held at Kihikihi Speedway at the weekend.

Walsh was one of five Taranaki competitors to qualify for the finals on the first night of racing and survived the carnage to earn his new number on night two.

Wellington driver Josh Prentice won the event while defending New Zealand number two, Dion Mooney from Wanganui, retained his place on the second step.

Stratford driver Tyler Walker was unlucky not to stand on the podium with clubmate Walsh. Walker won the first of the three final heats but was in the wrong place at the wrong time in heat two when Auckland driver Keegan Orr was rolled over.

Walker hit the rolled over car and although he was able to continue, had lost valuable points. He finished just two points behind Walsh in fourth place which was still a credible effort considering there were over 160 competitors entered in the championship.