SPEEDWAY: Bad start derails title challenge

SHANE HURNDELL
Having the "old man" prepare the race track helps when you're chasing the North Island TQ title ... just ask Hawke's Bay's James Tollison.
"Dad produced an unbelievable track," Tollison, 18, said referring to his father Paul, the Hawke's Bay Speedway Club's track maintenance king, after he finished second in the championship at the ZM Meeanee Speedway last night.
Tollison was beaten in a four-lap run-off for the title by national champion Scott Joblin of Auckland after he "bogged" at the start and was passed by Joblin on the first corner.
A third season racer in the class, Tollison said last night's second placing was better than his fifth at last year's national championships. He secured his berth in the run-off with a second placing in his final heat after starting 19th on the grid in the 23-car field, he won his second heat after starting third on the grid and was fifth in his first heat after starting 15th.
"Yes, if James had won the title he would have deserved it," Joblin, 24, said.
A fifth-year TQ driver, Joblin was rapt to win his first North Island title.
"It's awesome ... this followed three wins from three starts in Auckland last night. Hopefully this form will continue at the nationals," he said referring to the January 13 and 14 national champs in Gisborne.
Aucklanders Paul Le Cren, Lance Sutherland and Shane O'Connor were third, fourth and fifth respectively while Craig Todd was the next best of the host club drivers in sixth place.
The second of six rounds in the fourth annual TelstraClear DHL Saloon Speedweek was last night's other major attraction. Defending champion Phil Towgood of Mount Maunganui won the round and the Huntly-contracted Steve Williams, who is better known as the caddy for the world's No1 golfer Tiger Woods, was second.
Wellington's Shane Simpson required treatment after a spectacular crash and won the class driver of the night award for his efforts. No Hawke's Bay drivers are involved in the Speedweek.
Once again Hawke's Bay's stockcar drivers provided plenty of thrills and spills. There was a lengthy delay when Scott Lloyd was rolled.
He ended up on his roof and once his car was back on four wheels, his roof was cut open before he was taken to hospital with concussion and a suspected broken arm.
Hawke's Bay's James Dean and swinger Troy Devery did well to win all three of their sidechair races. The action-packed season in the dwarfcar class continued when Hawke's Bay's Ryan Osborne flipped.
He took home the driver of the night award for his class. Honours were shared in the three streetstock races with Darren Barber, in his first outing of the season, former national champion Bill Tawler, who along with his ministock driving son Timmy captured driver of the night honours, and their Hawke's Bay clubmate Richard Houston all recording wins.
The young host club ministock drivers again impressed with their speed. Winners were Amanda Warren, James Hughes-Lock and Sam Bartholomew.
Six quarter midget drivers from Auckland's Western Springs track provided some entertaining and close racing in their annual visit to the Bay.