Strong Warriors team eye national crown

CRASH, BANG: Wanganui Warrior Kyle Heibner (14v) stalks Palmerston North rival Jack Miers during last season's New Zealand Super Stocks Team Championships.PHOTO/BRENDON LEARMONTH SQUARE PHOTOGRAPHY 040215WCSUP02

The Wanganui Warriors are geared up to go one better in the New Zealand Super Stocks Teams Championships in Palmerston North this weekend.

The Warriors had a real shot when running second last year in their best performance for the most coveted trophy on the super stocks calendar.

There is one change to the well-oiled team from last year with Shaun Pearson coming in for Ian Barron, who has gone to the bench as reserve driver.

"We have drawn a group that includes the Rotorua Rebels and the Wellington Wildcats, but we feel we have the guys to qualify for the second night finals on Saturday," team publicity officer Mike Paul said yesterday.

"We have the blocking power of arguably the country's best blocker in Kerry Podjursky, combined with the madness and mayhem of Dion Mooney's power hitting that will set up the likes of Kyle Heibner to win races for us. Kyle is one of the best up-and-coming drivers in New Zealand.

"Then there's the two old school drivers in Shaun and Bevan Humphrey with Ian Barron coming in as reserve."

The New Zealand Super Stocks Teams Championship regularly attracts crowds of up to 15,000 each night and Wanganui fans are encouraged to head down to Palmerston North to support the team.

"This is a spectacular event and if you haven't experienced it, this weekend is your chance. It's the equivalent to the Super Rugby final and for Wanganui to have one of the top teams in the country is bloody marvellous. The event is also being streamed live on-line," Paul said.

The team is keen for the public to get behind their bid for the title and a competition is being run on local radio station More FM to nominate a theme song to be played as the Wanganui Warriors enter the arena at Palmerston North Speedway.