Baypark Speedway is proving to be a successful home away from home for last night's two big winners.
California racer Jonathan Allard won a 25-lap sprint car feature on his first appearance at the track since winning last year's New Zealand title and Rotorua's Mark Costello backed up his December win at the Harry Fredrickson Memorial Gold Cup meet and claimed the biggest win of his career by taking out the NZ Stock Car Grand Prix.
"It's good to be home," said Allard after driving from grid 18 in the main event to lead home Aucklander Jamie McDonald and US legend Sammy Swindell.
"This is where I made my first appearance in New Zealand [at the Outlaws event in 2006] and it's where I met [car owner] Kevin McGreal and all these guys who helped me for the first time," said Allard. "I've always liked the track and it's where it all started for me in New Zealand."
Allard's night didn't begin well when he ran out of fuel in the first heat that took 18 minutes due to cautions but he bounced back to win heat two.
"It was just a mistake. We always put in a gallon a lap and with all the cautions it wasn't quite enough," said Allard.
"In the second race I got confidence in the car and we made some changes for the feature which worked right away."
The format for the feature race meant top qualifier Swindell - with two second placings - had to start from the rear of the field but he got to choose who started second-to-last. He gave Allard that spot who, in turn, selected Peter Murphy to start 17th. Allard said he enjoyed the challenge of racing through from the rear of the field.
"I like the challenge and it puts on a good show. The great thing is to beat Sammy and also Peter Murphy who is really good here."
Tauranga's Rodney Wood won a thrilling first heat, holding off Swindell. Allard won the second heat but Swindell delivered a storming drive from grid 21 and grabbed second place from McDonald in the last turn.
The Stock Car Grand Prix saw Rotorua drivers to the fore with Shaun Stewart winning the first heat before limping home with a flat tyre in heat two which was won by Rotorua's Damian Orr with Costello backing up an earlier fifth place with second place. Costello shared the points lead with Baypark's Eben Young - who had posted a fourth and third - after two races.
"I just wanted to keep it straight and drive sensibly," said Costello. "I got some space around some Rotorua cars and I have to say thanks to both the Rotorua and Mount guys who helped me."
Coming home fourth in the third heat earned Costello a 100 point tally, which put him two points clear of Palmerston North's Jordan Dare. Young was 11th in race three and third on provisional results last night with 93 points with Fredrickson fourth on 90 points and Darrell Wallace (Palm Nth) and Paul Mabey (Rotorua) completing the top six with 87 and 83 respectively.
Costello's previous big success was last season's NZ under-23 title. '
'Winning the Grand Prix definitely tops that. It seems I'm having a bit of luck at Baypark."
There was also Rotorua success in the Youth Ministock Invasion with Shaun McHardy leading home Baypark racers Nathan Smith and Aidon Decke.
Baypark Speedway - results:
New Zealand Stock Car Grand Prix:
Repechage: 1 Chris Hall 47c; 2 Ryan Smyth 84m; 3 Nick Vallance 45r. GP Heat 1: 1 Shaun Stewart 4r; 2 Ian Daniel 24m; 3 Jordan Dare 581p. Non qualifiers: 1 Wayne Wright 24v; 2 Scott Hayward 92m; 3 Darcy Meurant 32h. GP Heat 2: 1 Damian Orr 81r; 2 Mark Costello 98r; 3 Eben Young 35m. GP Heat 3: 1 Scott Fredrickson 8r; 2 Dare; 3 Kylee Symes 229s. Overall: 1 Costello 100pts; 2 Dare 98pts; 3 Young 93pts; 4 Fredrickson 90pts; 5 Darrell Wallace 557p, 87pts; 6 Paul Mabey 15r, 83pts.
Sprint Cars:
Heat 1: Rodney Wood 51m; 2 Sammy Swindell 1usa; 3 Ryan O'Connor 8a. Heat 2: 1 Jonathan Allard 1nz; 2 Swindell; 3 Jamie McDonald 71a. Feature: 1 Allard; 2 McDonald; 3 Swindell.
Ministocks:
Red Group Heat 1: 1 Shaun McHardy 89r; 2 Nevin Shrubb 87h; 3 Jake Baynes 82g. Blue Group Heat 1: 1 Aidon Decke 88m; 2 Bradley Allen 91g; 3 Callum Flavell 13r. Red Group Heat 1: 1 Jayden Steiner 18m; 2 McHardy; 3 Ben Hindmarsh 38g. Blue Group Heat 2: 1 Nathan Smith 46m; 2 Jordan Latham 84m; 3 Decke. Final: 1 McHardy; 2 Smith; 3 Decke.