Speedway: Tarrant eyeing payback after hit

Jason Penn

Hawke's Bay stockcar driver Randal Tarrant will be on a revenge mission in Palmerston North tonight.

The former East Coast and Hawke's Bay champion will be targeting Palmerston North veteran Rob Miers should the pair meet in one of the support class races for the International Sprintcar Meeting at Robertson Holden Speedway. Miers ended Tarrant's hopes of winning the New Zealand Stockcar Grand Prix when he smashed him into the wall on lap seven of the 15-lap final heat at Hauraki Meeanee Speedway on Saturday night.

Tarrant was second on points going into the final heat behind eventual winner Josh Prentice of Palmerston North and had moved from grid 23 to 14th place during the first two laps of the race. When quizzed if there was any previous history between the pair, Tarrant replied:

"No ... he was just doing his job for the Palmy Army. If I get the opportunity to get him back on Monday night I will. Rob did mention he was going to retire so we will have to wait and see."

Tarrant was disappointed both of the other Hawke's Bay qualifiers for the top 26 from the original field of 64, Jason Penn and Grant Hollyman, were unable to start the final heat. Penn had clutch and axle problems from the first heat and Hollyman also had mechanical issues.

However, Tarrant pointed out the form displayed by Hawke's Bay drivers in the 30-strong second tier group at The Thirsty Whale Bar and Restaurant-sponsored meeting proved it won't be too long before more than three Bay starters qualify for the second night of major meetings such as the Grand Prix.

Michael Smith won the group by four points from Hawke's Bay clubmate Ben Milne and continued the outstanding form which saw him share Strong Family Cup honours with Penn last month. Smith was unsure where he finished at the end of the meeting until told by the track announcers Mike Wilson and Regan O'Brien.

"I'm pretty happy with that. I just stuck to my lines and picked them well," Smith said.

Prentice took top spot on the podium in the Grand Prix by four points from Wellingtonian Kyle Lane. Another from the capital, Shane Davis, finished two points behind Lane in third place.

"I'm overwhelmed. This was just the fourth meeting for my car and the engine. Two weeks ago I wasn't coming to this meeting so I must thank the crew for getting everything ready in time," Prentice said.

"I've changed my stance to racing now. It's all about fun and taking whatever happens."

The hit of the night saw Palmerston North's Shane Simpson smash Hawke's Bay contracted Rotorua-based driver Scott McEwen (who was racing Brett Loveridge's car) into the fence during the third heat for the second tier group. Simpson's front bumper ended up inside McEwen's cockpit and as McEwen exited his car he waved to Simpson, much to the delight of the crowd.

For the second time in three meetings Bay ministock driver Regan Penn won all four of his races despite being up against 17 starters. On Friday night he had two podium finishes, a second and first, from three starts.

Gear box issues during qualifying races ruined Palmerston North's national stockcar champion Jayden Ward's hopes of qualifying for the top 26. This is the second time in 11 years the Bay has hosted the grand prix and in its 13-year history a Bay driver has never made the podium.