Podium finishes for two Gisborne drivers and a clean sweep of wins for new stockcar driver Shaun Kingi were highlights of Gisborne Speedway meeting on Saturday night.

Racing at Eastland Group Raceway was hard and fast in the McIndoe Logging Gisborne Limited 2023 North Island Saloon Championship, contested by a dozen cars and won by Tauranga driver Trent Amrein (3NZ).

“There was excitement aplenty in the saloon champs,” said club secretary Aaron Lum.

“The title was really anyone’s for the taking, with the large-body cars exchanging positions — and at times paint — throughout the races.”

The final two spots on the podium had to be decided by a three-way run-off across four laps.

It was contested by Hamish Moore (85G), 1NZ Jarred Fletcher from Wellington and meeting sponsor Rodney McIndoe (7G).

Moore won from McIndoe and Fletcher.

Fletcher won Race 1 of the three-race series ahead of Amrein and Ethan Cook (76G).

Amrein won Race 2 from McIndoe, second, and Cook, again in third place.

In Race 3, Moore got up for the win ahead of Ashleigh Halcrow (242P) from Palmerston North and Scott Rumball (67A) from Auckland.

The results gave Amrein the title and, in the battle for second and third, Moore won the run-off, McIndoe was second and Fletcher, third. That meant Moore took second place and McIndoe, third.

In the stockcars, Kingi was outstanding.

“He put on an excellent display of driving to take his first clean sweep in the stockcar class,” Lum said.

“In the streetstocks, Bob Fraider provided the excitement of the night, finding the concrete twice and using all of his skill to avoid going upside-down.

“Matt Ireland drove superbly to finish his last meeting for the Gisborne club third, fourth and fourth. He showed the developing potential he is taking to his next club.

“The three TQs put on a classy display, with all drivers trying to get valuable seat time ahead of the upcoming TQ North Island Championship.

“Our youth ministockers strung together three clean and fast races.

“Koby Gooch was battling for the lead in every one and took it in the second race.”

“In the production saloons, Brendan Land took his first race win of the season and Blake Dear battled with Antonio McKay all night,” Lum said.

Article added: Thursday 16 March 2023