Jeff Barron wins

Baypark racers dominated the New Zealand saloon car championship at Kihikihi Speedway on Sunday afternoon.

Rescheduled due to bad weather, the championship saw 52 cars in action with qualifying on Saturday evening and finals on Sunday afternoon.

Victory was claimed by Matamata's Jeff Barron who overcame adversity after failing to qualify on Saturday with engine problems. An overnight engine swap saw him return to win one of the Sunday afternoon repechages and continue his momentum through the three-race final to edge out defending champ Brent McClymont (Tauranga) and Paul Cressy (Matamata) by one point.

With a Baypark cleansweep of the podium already confirmed there was a four-lap run-off with McClymont needing to make an outside pass to clinch the number two spot after Cressy grabbed the initial lead.

The depth of the Baypark challenge - with over a third of the field being Baypark drivers - saw Hamilton-based Geoff Webb finish fourth and Tauranga's Chris Cowling shared fifth place with former champ Phil Towgood (Whitianga) who is contracted at Auckland's Waikaraka Park. Baypark racers Colin Dyer (Tauranga) and Chris Taylor (Tokoroa) were seventh and eight respectively.

For McClymont the runner-up finish continued a remarkable sequence of success which has seen him finish second, first, second, first and now second again on the five occasions which the saloon cars have contested a national title since 2008.

The saloon cars complete their title calendar with the North Island Championship at Wellington on March 17.

Racing at Baypark Speedway this Saturday night includes a demolition derby and caravan race.