Track: Palmerston North
Date: 21 April 2007
Event: Superstock Shootout
Pictures & reporting by Mike Pollard 

Palmerston North - 21 April 2007
Superstock Shootout
Pictures and reporting by Mike Pollard

Run over four seperate venues; the Superstock Series reaches its climax with the series finale here at Palmerston North. Not sure if it's the lure of the Superstocks or the fact that nowhere else in the region was running. Or it may have been because it was the track's last offering of the season, but either way the place was packed, and the audience was treated to some excellent racing, in largely packed grids.

Heat 1
Coming into the event, it was tight at the top with Palmerston registered #1nz Simon Joblin leading the way ahead of #7b Shane Mellsop, with #54w Mike Pye in third.
A false start before the off, as #24b Gary Foley lurched of the pole. Although the problem may have been one car back, as #95p Clive Elliot had clutch problems or was sent to the infield for the false start, either way #95p Elliot was on the grass. No probs second time around, as #24b Foley and #8p Scott Miers led the pack. In a trademark move, #8p Miers moved out wide and stood on the gas, clattering his way round the concrete, attempting to pick up grip next to the wall, but this time it only served to drop him down the order, slotting into fourth behind #24b Foley, #58p Peter Bengston and #54w Mike Pye. #8p Miers and #54w Pye traded places a few timed before #54w Pye gained the advantage and then started trading for the lead with #58p Bengston. further back it was all action as #2nz Peter Rees clouted #6b Mike Broome up the wall before turning his attentions on #53p Kevan Roberts. back at the front #8p Miers had faded badly over the last couple of laps, as #58p Bengston inched the win ahead of #54w Pye.

1.#58p Peter Bengston 2.#54w Mike Pye 3.#9p Brett Hyslop 4.#71p Kim Lace 5.#77p Barry Lane 6.#31b Paul Demanser

Heat 2
#31b Paul Demanser and #58p Peter Bengston led them away, but the duo were quickly joined and just as quickly overtaken by #5p Bruce Ward. #54w Mike Pye was struggling at the back and was soon lapped by the flying #5p Ward who was putting distance on the field, now headed by #71p Kim Lace from #58p Bengston and #31b Demanser, before #31b Demanser tangled with #1nz Scott Joblin allowing #77p Barry Lane to get in the frame. Former #1nz Bryce Penn was out in son Shane's #3nz car, but together with #54w Pye was a non finisher.

1.#5p Bruce Ward 2.#71p 3.#58p 4.#77p 5.#74r Jeff Mohi 6.#2nz Peter Rees

Heat 3
#3nz Bryce Penn and #2nz Peter Rees traded places at the front and opened a gap over #9p Brett Hyslop and #5p Bruce Ward who were swapping third and fourth between them. In a quick race with little action of note, #2nz Rees confirmed his position at the front as #3nz Penn, #5p Ward and #9p Hyslop fought for second.

1.#2nz 2.#3nz Bryce Penn 3.#5p 4.#9p 5.#71p 6.#77p

Palmerston Leg
1.#71p Kim Lace 2.#77p Barry Lane 3.#9p Brett Hyslop 4.#58p Peter Bengston 5.#5p Bruce Ward

Overall Series
1.#7b Shane Mellsop 2.#54w Mike Pye 3.#1nz Scott Joblin 4.#9p Brett Hyslop 5.#24b Gary Foley 6.#24p Russell Harrop

Finale
In Mirror Masters fashion, the fourteen still running lined up in points order for a big money shootout.
Despite finishing heat 3, albeit a lap down, series winner #7b Shane Mellsop failed to take up his position on pole. And in dramatic fashion, fellow front rower #54w Mike Pye stormed off the front as the grid was assembling, exited via the pit gate and failed to return! The 2nd row (now the 1st) comprised #1nz Scott Joblin and #9p Brett Hyslop, and it was these two who blasted off into the lead. #59b Tony True failed to leave the start/finish line and brought out the reds, but only after receiving a hefty shunt from the pack as they completed lap 1. #9p Hyslop and #1nz Joblin ran side by side before #1nz Joblin was forced to retire. This allowed #5p Bruce Ward to take closer order, and it was #9p Hyslop and #5p Ward now running side by side for the lead. Last lap, last bend and #5p Ward delivers the perfect nudge to #9p Hyslop sending him wide as #5p Ward nips underneath to take the big money finale.

1.#5p Bruce Ward 2.#9p Brett Hyslop 3.#3nz Bryce Penn 4.#24p Russell Harrop 5.#42p Robin Davenport 6.#24b Gary Foley

Cars racing
Jnr Ministocks 40
Stockcars 32
Snr Ministocks 29
Superstocks 25
Saloons 14
Sprintcars 11