On Saturday night, the big screaming sprintcars returned to Stratford for the Uhlenberg Haulage Taranaki Sprintcar Champs. Some of the country's best young drivers competed for the Under 23 Stockcar Champs, the Streetstocks raced for the Olsen Memorial with superstocks and adult ministocks as supporting classes. To end an already fantastic night of racing, over 30 cars took to the track the first ramp demolition derby seen at Stratford for many years.
8 sprintcars made the trip with last year's winner Glenn Torpey (10a) driving hard to retain this title. 3NZ Daniel Eggleton took the win in the first race followed by Nelson Hartley (11p) & Glenn finishing in 3rd. The second heat was won by Stephen Taylor (21w) who gained 13 points, followed in 2nd by Daniel on 15 points and 3rd was Raymond Griffen (11a) on 10 points. Going into the final heat, each and every driver would need to work hard to get to the top and gain those last few crucial points. Stephen took out this race with a 5 second lead ahead of Daniel, & 3rd place went to Glenn. Stephen took out the Taranaki Sprint Car Championship for the 2014/15 season, with Daniel finishing 2nd overall and last year's winner Glenn finishing 3rd overall.
The Under 23 Stockcar Champs saw 2 groups of stock cars take to the track for qualifying; the red group had 17 drivers including Asher Rees (1NZG), Rebecca Barr (134) and Tyler Walker (33s). The Blue Group had 18 drivers including Jayden Ward (2NZ), Ethan Rees (127) and Mitch Vickery (26s). With the drivers split into their qualifying heats, each driver needed to ensure they gained enough points to advance to the final heats as only 15 drivers from each group would advance. The Red Group's first qualifying heat saw Keightley Teece (217n) win with Tyler in 2nd and Taylor Lampp (992p) in 3rd. Heat 2 saw Todd McLachlan (155w) winning in the Red Group, with Tyler taking 2nd again and Asher finishing 3rd. The Blue Groups first heat saw Ethan win this race, followed by Zac Harris (119p) in 2nd with Tim Ross (35c) in 3rd. Heat 2 saw Luke Dilworth (631n) winning with Jayden Ward in 2nd and Jayden Meyer (73s) 3rd.
30 drivers advanced through to the finals and would fight their way through 3 heats to gain as many points as possible. The first heat saw Asher (1NZ) win with Keightley in 2nd, Kyle Lampp (722p) in 3rd place. Heat 2 saw Luke Dilworth (631n) win the race with 53 points, Asher finished in 2nd place on 59 points and Jayden Ward finishing in 3rd with 55 points. Going into the third and final heat, it was going to be a tough race for all. Rebecca Barr (134) finishing in 1st, Luke Dilworth (631n) finished in 2nd with Asher Rees (1NZ) finished in 3rd place.
Jayden Ward (2NZ) and Luke Dilworth (631n) were tied on points with 82, so a run off was needed to determine 2nd and 3rd places. Jayden won the run-off which gave him 2nd overall behind the winner of the Under 23 Championship; Asher Rees (1NZ) on 87 points, 3rd place went to Luke Dilworth (631n).