A desperately unlucky Rotorua Rascals stock car team fell just short of winning the New Zealand Stock Car Teams title on Saturday.
Having beaten the defending champions and hosts, the Gisborne Gladiators, in the semifinal they came agonisingly close to beating the Auckland Alleycats in the final. Both Steve Gray (battery) and Darcy Meurant (wiring) were dogged with electrical issues in the showdown.
"Teams racing's a funny old thing, and you lose a couple of cars early and things can go against you," said team manager Steve Axtens.
"In the end, it was the space of about 75m we lost the race by, but these boys from Rotorua did bloody well."
Beating the Meeanee Maulers and Kihikihi Crusaders in Friday's qualifying races, the Rascals booked their semifinal spot by beating a "really strong" Wanganui Vulcans.