Speedway: Thomas Stanaway tops across all classes

Tony Meechan

Thomas Stanaway stole the limelight during Saturday night's second round in the Hawke's Bay Superstock Championships at Meeanee.

The 2012-13 season 3NZ who is in his first season racing at Hauraki Meeanee Speedway after moving from Nelson won the round by by five points from experienced Hawkeye Steve Jude. Stanaway, who raced at the Brisca F1 world finals in England last September, recorded two wins and a third placing in a 19-strong field.

Unavailable for the first of three rounds in the championship on November 23, Stanaway won the first heat from grid five, the second from grid 14 and finished third in the third from grid eight. In addition to winning the round, Stanaway won the driver of the night award across all classes.

While consistent Hawke's Bay driver Tony Meechan started the round in first equal place with clubmate and former 1NZ Joe Faram - who didn't race on Saturday night because he had best man commitments at a wedding - he finished the second round first equal with Jude. They have an eight point lead over clubmate Quinn Ryan.

The third round has yet to be scheduled but it is expected to be at one of next month's meetings.

A $1000 rollover prize went unclaimed in a 19-strong stockcar class. Hawke's Bay's Jeff Hart went close to claiming it when he put new Bay driver Steve Hart (no relation) up the wall in the feature.

Heat one saw Anthony Adams go close to the money when he put long-time leader Ben Milne up the wall.

Host track drivers Marty Cooke, the driver of the night for the class, James Tollison and Jason Penn all recorded wins in the stockcar heats.

Hawke's Bay-based Palmerston North-contracted superstock driver Andy McCabe raced Grant Hollyman's stockcar in the feature and recorded a fourth placing behind Penn, Cooke and Tollison.

After a short stint in the superstock class this season Hawke's Bay's former 3NZ streetstock class driver Richard Houston celebrated his return with a couple of second placings.

His clubmate Dave "The Sheriff" Brand captured the driver of the night award for the class with two wins.

Hawke's Bay's husband and wife sidecar crew of Kim and Kerry Johnston had the perfect rehearsal for this weekend's national championship in Christchurch with three wins from as many starts in a seven-crew class. The first heat for the class was a handicap race and the top three placegetters, the Johnstons, Dave Black and Cole Petterson and former national champions Russell Stuart and Andrew Parker all came from row two.

Hawke's Bay's Steven Martin won two of the heats for the six-strong saloon class and Palmerston North visitor Callum Hanere the other. Bay drivers Shane Laking, Adrian Kramer and Rob Simmons all had wins in the seven-strong kiwilite class.

Results - Page 25.