Pool of death to liven up Superstocks

With only five drivers able to qualify from each of the five groups at Monday’s New Zealand Superstock Championships there will be some top drivers who miss out on the finals.

The groups for qualifying were released yesterday with 25 starters in each group and the 125 starters who will begin three qualifying heats at the Robertson Holden Speedway is a record for the superstock champs.

The favoured Palmerston North drivers appear to have been spread evenly.

But as always, there’s a group of death.

All five groups will be difficult and any flat tyre or mechanical problem will force that driver into the repechage where just one of the 26 starters will qualify for the main event.

But it’s the third group to race, the Blue Group, which will be especially competitive with at least 10 of the ranked drivers all in with realistic chances.

Palmerston North drivers Graeme Barr, the current 3NZ and three times on the podium, heads the group with fellow Arena drivers Jordan Dare, a former runner up, William Humphries, Shane Mellsop and Tony Whittaker, who was in top form last week.

There’s a strong splattering of visitors with Dale Robertson (Wellington), Brett Nicholls (Nelson), who has been racing regularly here this season, Bruce Williams (Stratford), Thomas Stanaway (Hawke’s Bay) and Rotorua’s Tony Fabish.

Nelson’s national champion Shane Harwood is another who has raced twice in Palmerston North this season getting progressively quicker each meeting and he heads the first group to race, the Green Group.

The Green Group may seem the easiest to predict for the five qualifiers with former champion Peter Rees, Bryce Steiner (Rotorua), former champion Jared Wade (Huntly) and Phil Ogle (Stratford) heading the visitors, while Adam Joblin and Jack Miers.

Last season’s runner-up Jason Long (Hawke’s Bay) heads the Red Group with Damian Orr and Scott Hewson (Rotorua), Scott Redfern (Huntly) along with locals Peter Bengston, Scott Joblin, both former 2NZ’S, Chad Ace and top stockcar driver Jayden Ward the best chances.

Don’t be surprised if Brett Hyslop, Jake Baker, Wayne Talbot (Hawke’s Bay) or Murray Greig (Christchurch) sneak in though.

The Orange Group features two tank commanders in Scott Miers and Kerry Podjursky (Wanganui), both of whom look in good form and good chances of qualifying.

Former champions Wayne Hemi and Simon Joblin look good bets to qualify while visitors Ethan Rees, Nick Valance (Rotorua), Richard Gaskin (Wellington) and Ross Ashby (Mount Maunganui) all look strong contenders.

Former champion and always a strong performer at the Arena Malcolm Ngatai (Christchurch) and Steve Jude (Hawke’s Bay) who led the Hawkeye’s to their first national teams’ title last year, look certainties to get through from the Yellow Group.

Andy Mccabe, Checron Taniwha and Shaun Pearson head the Palmerston North charge with other top chances including Allen Levien (Wellington), Gavin Taniwha (Gisborne), Mark Costello (Mount Maunganui) and Paul Johnson (Stratford).

The first of 15 qualifying-races begins at 7pm on Monday with the finals at 7pm on Tuesday, starting with the repechage.

There will also be a second-tier 26-car championship .

There is a practice from 6pm to 7.30pm on Sunday, with free entry, and scrutineering in the Square between 11am and 3.30pm on Monday.