Speedway: Winner eyes next level at Meeanee

Aucklander Lance Jennings with his trophies on Saturday. Photo / Geoff Bicknell

There was a time when Auckland Super Saloon driver Lance Jennings struggled at Meeanee.

But that certainly hasn't been the case for the past three years for the 67-year-old veteran of 45 years of racing. Less than three years after winning his third North Island title and second at Meeanee, Jennings won the eighth and final round of the Burger King Pro-Dirt Series on Saturday night.

One of 22 starters for the round, Jennings was the top qualifier for the 25-lap final after winning the top eight pole shuffle. He produced a start-to-finish victory in the final after taking an early lead and driving conservatively to the chequered flag.

"That was a long while up front. I'm a chaser not a runner," Jennings quipped afterwards.

"I've got a dedicated, hard-working crew so it is neat to give something back," he said.

When asked if this was the ideal rehearsal for the March 11 and 12 nationals at Meeanee, Jennings replied: "I'll be back because that's a title I've still to win. But in two weeks time it will be a different deal ... drivers who had problems this weekend could be on the money."

Wellingtonian Mark Pitcher finished second to Jennings and Mount Maunganui's Chris Cowling third.

Cowling took out the series from another Bay Park driver and defending champion Mark Osborne and Pitcher.

Jennings finished sixth overall and Hawke's Bay's national champion Steve Flynn - who will chase a second consecutive and third national title in a fortnight - and his brother Grant were the best of the Bay starters with seventh and eighth placings respectively.

Twelve TQ drivers fronted for their final rehearsal for the New Zealand Grand Prix in their class which will also be run at Meeanee on March 11 and 12.

Hawke's Bay's big improver David Wilson did well to win the first heat and finish second in another to one of the Bay's two-time national champions Craig Todd.

Todd's cousin and another two-time national champion, Duane Todd, won the feature.

Hawke's Bay Hawkeyes Jason Long and Thomas Stanaway had a win each in the 12-strong superstock class before deciding to stir each other in the feature.

While they were in tango mode, Rotorua visitor Pat Westbury snuck through for the victory.

In-form Hawke's Bay ministock driver Regan Penn won the first two heats in his 20-strong class. His clubmate Ethan Dorward took out the feature by 0.05 of a second from fellow Bay driver Jakob Flynn.

Meanwhile, the Meeanee Maulers won the consolation section of the New Zealand Stockcar Teams Championship in Gisborne at the weekend. Captain Randal Tarrant finished third in the individual section of the consolation division.

The Maulers were beaten by the Rotorua Rascals and Stratford Stormers on Friday night. The Gisborne Gladiators retained their title and will host the event next year.