“We will have 1NZ Chris Shingleton here, along with our own 2NZ Brenden Gooch, and they should set the competition alight,” speedway club president Neil Gooch said.
“Any one of eight drivers, including half a dozen from Gisborne, could win that title.
“I’m expecting plenty of action and a hard night of racing.
“The champ of champs and the pairs event will be raced together and the drivers will know who they have been paired with.”
The saloon car champion of champions has attracted a field of about a dozen cars.
“The Cook boys — 1NZ Ethan and 77G Daniel — will be back, and more cars are coming from Hawke’s Bay,” Gooch said.
“It should be spectacular racing.”
Ethan Cook said he and his brother were excited about the meeting.
“The champion of champions title is something we would both really like to win,” he said.
“It won’t just be about Daniel and me, though. Some other good drivers with good cars are out there keen to win it, too.”
In the absence of Ethan and Daniel Cook at the last meeting, the other regular Gisborne saloon drivers stepped up and showed their mettle.
“That should add a bit of extra spice to the sort of competition we can expect in that class tomorrow night,” Gooch said.
“The support programme includes youth ministocks, sidecars, production saloons and TQs.
“We expect about half a dozen TQs to line up.
“As for the production saloons, points are still close in that class at this stage of the season.
“So there’s a lot for them all to go racing for.”
The stockcars will be absent from the programme because of the national teams event in Stratford.
“The track announcers will provide regular updates on progress from the stockcar teams event,” Gooch said.
“We wish the Gladiators and their support personnel all the best for the weekend.”
The gates to the speedway open at 6pm tomorrow and the first race in the 18-race programme starts at 7pm.
