It's fair to say there hasn't been a more popular first-time winner of the Hawke's Bay superstock championship than Quintin Butcher.
"Yes it was the ideal form of consolation for missing out on helping the Hawkeyes go back-to-back at the ENZED Teams Champs in Palmy," Butcher said shortly after his success was confirmed at Meeanee on Saturday night.
Butcher, 33, who has been racing for six seasons, missed out on Hawkeyes selection because he was unable to do some selection races as he was serving a mandatory standdown for concussion after being knocked out while racing for the Hawkeyes against the Wellington Wildcats at Meeanee in November. Saturday night's 18-car championship was his third meeting this season in his new car.
"My new car was the key to my success and I had a bit of help in the final heat with Kairyn [O'Brien] in front of me and Zach [Lawrence] behind me," Butcher explained.
With a win, third and fourth placings in his three heats, Butcher won the championship by five points from Rotorua's Pat Westbury. Lawrence finished third, a point behind Westbury.
Butcher, who runs HRPP in Hastings, hopes the weekend's success will be repeated when he attempts to win a first East Coast championship at Easter. This was one of three Hawke's Bay championships raced on Saturday night.