New Zealand drivers mastered the "sprint" aspect of sprint car racing to clinch the transtasman test at Western Springs Speedway on Saturday night.
The Australian trio produced a stronger second-round performance, with both former national champion Todd Wanless and fellow Queenslander John Kelly posting race wins in the quick-fire, six-lap clashes.
But consistent points-scoring by the Kiwi side of Keith Simpson, Allan Wakeling and Kerry Brocas stretched a 15-point first-round lead out to 20 points at the conclusion of the six-race contest.
The final outcome was a 73-53 Kiwi victory, with Simpson taking the top individual honours with 26 points from Wanless, with 25 and Brocas, 24.
But it was again the Australians who showed the way in the longer races, with Kelly displaying his trademark high-groove pace and dive to the inside passes to race from grid 16 to win the feature race.
The drive went unrewarded as Kelly was later relegated to second for an alleged pass below the pole-line. This handed the win to fast-improving rookie Allan Storey, who had led for most of the race.
A season which has combined startling pace with misfortune finally delivered success for young midget racer Shayne Alach as he fended off a determined challenge from newly crowned national champion Michael Kendall to win the midget car feature.
National three-quarter midget car champion Bryce Townsend was made to work hard by Bruce McDonald before securing his sixth feature win of the season.
Meanwhile, the 18-year-old Nicholas Luxford from Drury clinched the New Zealand Formula First championship at Pukekohe yesterday, taking a win, a second and third placing in three hard-fought races.
Although there are still two rounds to go in the championship, Luxford cannot now be beaten. In other races Dean Perkins had two wins in his Mustang in the pre-65 class and Leon McKnight also won two races in the North island pro-seven series.
Speedway: Kiwis clinch series against Aussies
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