Biggest-ever line up of teams for stockcar glory

The Baypark Busters’ team could only sit and watch as a place in tonight’s semifinals of the Superstock Teams Champs slowly disappeared race by race in front of a sold-out crowd in Palmerston North last night.

With 14 teams having two teams races each it was always likely more than four teams would win two races, with places in the semifinals decided by points.

Unfortunately the 295 points the Busters netted at the Robertson Holden Speedway was surpassed first by the Great Britain Lions (330 points), followed by the Palmerston North Panthers (300 pts), Gisborne Giants (305) and finally the Hawke’s Bay Hawkeyes (300).

Busters’ captain and the man at his 22nd consecutive ENZED/Dewtec Teams’ Champs Kerry Remnant was frustrated to not get through into the top tier semifinals.

“We never really expected to win two races,” Remnant said. “But to win them and then have to sit back and watch each race and miss out was pretty disappointing for us.

“It was so up and down – one minute it looked like we would be in and the next it was taken from us, especially in the Hawkeyes’ race when they looked like they had blown it until they came through at the end.”

Remnant said the draw played a part in the Busters not securing enough points as they had to race the Wellington Wildcats and the Manawatu Mustangs.

“We had two races that were always going to be close while other teams were always going to collect a bucket load of points in their races.”

Remnant said his team still has a strong chance of finishing third through the second four-team tier.

“We can’t win but we’re a going well enough to finish third.”

There will be a run-off to decide third and fourth place before tonight’s Grand Parade after the Panthers and Hawkeyes were level on points. The teams finishing fourth will meet the impressive Great Britain team with the other team facing the equally impressive Giants team.

Panthers captain Peter Bengston admitted he wasn’t keen to even race in a runoff with a semifinal not long afterwards.

“We’re not interested in going out there and giving our semifinal opponent an advantage by getting some damage,” Bengston said.

“It doesn’t really matter who we face in the semifinal.”

Bengston was excited by the drive of the three youngsters, Jordan Dare, William Humphries and Jack Miers in the Panthers in their second race when his team looked destined to be knocked out in qualifying after Bengston’s race came to an end after one lap.

“The three of them drove brilliantly as a team in that second race to get us through.”

Dare chased Stratford Scrappers’ Paul Johnson until third-placed Jack Miers decided to stop and slam Johnson into the wall handing the lead to Dare. All the time national champion William Humphries was blocking for Dare, often having three Scrappers trying to take him out of the race.

Great Britain had two strong races although their strength wasn’t really shown with the rookie Nelson Tigers team at their first teams champs. The Wanganui Warriors didn’t perform as they usually do.

The Giants were never under threat of missing out after facing the Tigers and the Wanderers.

Despite having a virtually new team the two-time defending champion Hawkeyes don’t look about to give up with two outstanding wins.

The Hawkeyes beat both Wanganui and Waikato.

Racing will again get underway at 6pm tonight.

Semifinals tier 1: Great Britain 330, Gisborne 305, Palmerston North 300, Hawke’s Bay 300.

Tier 2: Baypark Busters 295, Stratford Scrappers 225, Wellington Wildcats 215, Rebels 205.

 – Stuff

Source :Stuff.co.nz

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