Motorsport: Brocas stuns Pickens to claim sprint car title

Kerry Brocas (21) leads Michael Pickens at the NZ Sprint Car Champs. Photo / James Selwyn Photography

Veteran speedway racer Kerry Brocas has stunned Michael Pickens to win the New Zealand Sprint Car title at Vodafone Speedway Western Springs on Saturday night.

The 55-year-old Aucklander was considered an unlikely winner leading into the event but produced some impressive drives in the heats to qualify on the front row alongside New Zealand's most renowned racer Pickens.

While Pickens grabbed an early lead, Brocas took his chance as the front-runners hit lapped traffic and got to the front.

He held on during a couple of re-starts and won comfortably in what was a popular victory.

Pickens managed to take second while James Dahm was third.

Jamie McDonald, who suffered a serious crash before Christmas, defied the odds to not only make it back for the night but finished a strong fifth despite not being at 100 percent health.

Earlier in the evening American Zach Daum took out the midget feature after pipping Kiwi Brock Maskovich on the final lap.

Maskovich had led the entire race but got held up by lapped traffic, which allowed Daum to pounce.

Another American Spencer Bayston was third just days after competing at the iconic Chili Bowl event in Oklahoma.