Stockcars: Rascals smash NZ champs

The Rotorua Rascals won the New Zealand stockcar teams racing title in Palmerston North last weekend. Photo/Square Photography

Rotorua is back at the top of the stockcar teams' racing world after winning the national title in Palmerston North.

It's the first time the Rotorua Rascals have won the title since the 1995/96 season - almost 20 years ago - and the first time in six years since the Palmerston North Pumas had been beaten.

Making up the winning team were Dale Stewart, Steve Grey, Chris Hall, Brent Stewart, Damian Orr, Nicky Johnson and seventh driver Darcy Meurant.

The team's managers were Harriet Taylor and Mel Hills supported by team coach Dean Mulholland.

Ms Taylor said it was an awesome weekend with some full-on racing deciding the championship.

"They are a young team, the oldest is about 35 with most of them in their 20s.

"They are a fantastic bunch of guys with great team spirit.

"It went right down to the wire on Saturday night," she said.

The Rascals won their first two qualifying heats against Waikato and Wellington to reach the finals.

They then disposed of the Tasman Thunder from Nelson in the semifinal before coming up against the home team in the final.

The opening lap could not have gone better for the Rotorua Rascals when Brent Stewart rolled Palmerston North Pumas driver Josh Prentice on the opening lap.

The Pumas were also missing one of their top drivers in Peter Rees who was out with engine damage.

The Rascals seemed to have the championship in the bag before Chris Hall was rolled about halfway through the race.

The ding-dong continued and soon after Palmerston North's Jay Knight was rolled by Dale Stewart, but the race was not over.

Some superb blocking by the Pumas' Gavin Taniwha allowed a team-mate to get close to the lead car of Damian Orr, but it wasn't enough and the Rascals took out the title.

Taylor said she was very proud of the team and was looking forward to defending the title in Rotorua next year.

"It's just massive for the club.

"We came away with minimal damage and everyone came home in one piece. We had to replace 13 wheel rims over the weekend, which is pretty good.

"The team have come a long way in such a short time, having now won the past 12 teams races in a row from January 2013 to the present and now hold two major titles and four trophies for this season," Taylor said.

The Rascals are now 2013/14 New Zealand Stockcar Teams Champions, 2013/14 Waikato Stockcar Teams Invitation Champions and current holders of the Rees Shield and the Ross Orr Memorial.

Rotorua Stockcar Club secretary and promotions officer Sonja Hickey said the result was not only good for the club, but for the city, with 12 teams heading to Rotorua next year to complete for the title.

"There will be a total of 72 cars and they will bring at least five people each with them. They will all spend lots of money in town for the weekend."

She said she expected the national finals to be held in February next year, subject to team availability.