Sprintcars to battle for Manawatu title
The massive winged sprintcars, the fastest of the speedway classes,. return for their Manawatu title on Saturday night. The title is wide open, although fans will be hoping for a home-town victory of sorts at the Robertson Prestige International Speedway.
Last season’s popular winner, Jamie McDonald, isn’t returning to defend his title, the first big one for him at Palmerston North after years of bad luck there. One year his car was virtually cut in half when hit by a visiting American driver.
The favourite is likely to be visiting American Jonathon Allard, who recently won the $20,000 winner-take-all feature at Western Springs. Allard is definitely beatable, but when he gets it right he is lightning quick and spectacular with it.
Kapiti’s Jame Larsen called the Robertson Prestige International Speedway home right from ministock racing to sprintcars, winning two national titles with the Palmerston North “P” on his car.
Larsen won his first at Cromwell when he came from a long way back to win, before winning his second title on his home track in what must be one of the most spectacular finals seen.
Larsen, out against the wall for the entire race, and Pickens, on the pole line, raced side by side for the entire race, including going outside and inside to pass a slower car in the middle of the corner.
Stephen Taylor has threatened to win a major title for years with his pace, especially off the front, but often made errors that cost him the title. But there is no doubt that if he gets it right, he’s a threat.
Dean Cooper may contract to Mount Maunganui, but he is still considered a Palmerston North driver by many. Cooper’s rise through the ranks has been steady but it culminated this year when he earned the 2NZ, finishing behind American Joel Myers with Larsen third.
The fast Max Guilford and popular veteran Greg Pickerill will also be in the field.
A big field of 15 sidecars will compete with all eyes on whether 1NZ Mike Zachan and Ben Franklin can build on their eightrace winning streak since taking out the national title ahead of Palmerston North riders Jamie Moohan and Patrick Larsen.
The super-saloons will have a select field on Friday night and it will be interesting to see if Peter Bengston can take out a race in a bigger quality field after his two victories a fortnight ago. How Bengston and fellow Palmerston North drivers Joe Ingram and Richard Dreaver go up against drivers like Ben Harding will be worth watching.
When there is a major streetstock title up for grabs, competitors come from everywhere to compete, though it has often been a one-man show for Palmerston North’s Den Dingwall. He is often near the front early on, but usually pays the price for having no support to help him in title races.
An added streetstock attraction will see Australian drivers Jessica Dakin Masters and Shane Walden racing.
Apart from superstocks’ teams’ champs, the only time there is much contact in superstocks, the streetstocks show the way as a contact class; they are always taking swipes at each other.
Expect to see the North Islanders trying to get their own back with the South Island drivers making a clean sweep of the national title in Wellington recently.
Dunedin’s 1NZ national champion Alan Finch is joined by Nelson duo 2NZ Cody McCarrison and 3NZ Steve Soper. Others to make the trip across the strait include Mitch Lavender, Matt Stewart, Ben Jenkins (all Dunedin), Mike Jones, Paul Leslie and Corey Schumacher (all Christchurch).
North Island drivers are headed by Hawke’s Bay’s Darren Melling and Brent Reddington, both past winners at the Robertson Prestige International Speedway. With team-mates to help, expect a big battle for the only class that races clockwise and anti-clockwise during the night.