Maddie Wise became the second Hawke's Bay driver to win the under-25 superstock grand nationals title in dramatic fashion at Meeanee on Saturday night.
"I had to be pushed over the line by a couple of Bay clubmates because my gearbox blew up 30 metres from the finish line in the last race, so a big thanks to them," Wise said, referring to Randal Tarrant and Quinn Ryan.
Wise, 20, started the final heat of the 17-car Napier City Council-sponsored event tied on points with Rotorua's Lance Elsworth, a brother of two-time title winner David Elsworth. Despite rolling twice after a spectacular hit from Stratford's Hamish Booker and collecting major mechanical issues in the process, Elsworth finished 13th in the race and third overall. With his second placing to Palmerston North's Ricky Dykstra in the final heat, Wise won the title by 10 points from Aucklander Scott Tennant, who finished a point ahead of Elsworth.
"Hamish's roll of Lance wasn't arranged by me. He just did it and I breathed a sigh of relief. I think the track helped him do that," Wise said in reference to the rough track - a result of the torrential rain which pounded Hawke's Bay earlier in the week.
Wise recorded first, second and third placings in the three heats. He agreed it was a night when everything went to plan for him.