Speedway: Todd's thriving under the pressure

TOP PROSPECT: Two-time winner Duane Todd is Hawke's Bay's best hope for the national TQ title at Meeanee this weekend. PHOTO/WARREN BUCKLAND

If the pressure was getting to Hawke's Bay TQ driver Duane Todd in the countdown to this weekend's national championship at Meeanee he was doing a good time of shrugging it off yesterday.

At the same time the 2014 and '15 national champion was happy to admit where the pressure was coming from. The fact the 31-car Efficient Moving and Storage championship which starts tonight and ends tomorrow night is being staged on his home track is near the top of the list.

"That adds a little bit more pressure. You want to do well for in front of family and sponsors and of course Roger," Todd said.

He was referring to his team's mechanical whiz Roger "Moses" Young who has been looking after the Todd Squad for 36 years. Todd's father and retired two-time national champion Steve Todd gave Young the nickname Moses because according to the Todds Young is like the bloke with the same name in the bible, he has long hair and performs miracles.

"We could not race without Roger. He's out in his shed every night during the summer working on our cars," Todd said.

A former golf professional so he knows all about dealing with pressure, Todd, 38, is also keen to do well for his cousin Craig Todd, the 2011 and '12 national champion, who won't be racing this weekend after being forced to retire earlier than expected last year with a back injury.

"I'm racing Craig's air cooled car because it is a bit more lighter than my water cooled car. It will give me more bottom end go which will come in handy with all the traffic this weekend," Todd explained.

One of three Hawke's Bay-contracted drivers in the championship (Doug Morris and Kris Gillies are the others), Todd, who has been racing in the class for 12 years, pointed out anyone of 15 of the starters have the potential and experience to capture the title.

"It's a lot more even this year. There might not be as many TQs around the country as there used to be but the ones who race up in Auckland are all quality drivers because they're racing each other regularly."

By his own previous high standards Todd, who was 2NZ in 2011 and '12, has had a quiet season in terms of titles won. He finished fourth at the North Island champs in Huntly, second in his first Auckland feature of the season and won one heat at the New Zealand Grand Prix before it was rained out in Auckland last weekend.

The Grand Prix is scheduled to be completed at Western Springs on March 18.

"Hopefully I'm peaking at the right time for this weekend. It would mean a lot to get the family's seventh national title on the home track."

An administration manager for the company which is sponsoring the nationals and a father of three, Todd, beleived there is several more season of racing left in him and his team yet.

"Obviously those decision will be made by Dad because he owns the cars and Roger because it is a big commitment these days. But I'm sure we will be around for a few more seasons yet."

'We've been to Auckland eight times this season and have only raced at four out at Meeanee. However we are scheduled for six more at Meeanee after the nationals ... hopefully we will get a lot of the Aucklanders back for them which will contribute to some great racing," he added.

The 31starters have been divided into two groups which will each have two 15-lap qualifying heats tonight. The top 18 qualifiers plus the top two finishers in tomorrow night's repechage will qualify for tomorrow night's three 20-lap championship races in which points will accumulate to determine the overall placegetters.

Support classes tonight will be superstocks, ministocks, production saloons and sidecars. A demolition derby will be staged tomorrow night and other support classes will be stockcars, superstocks and ministocks.