Three Bay drivers book crack at national title
"Not bad for a bloke in a borrowed car."
These were the words of proud Dad and former 3NZ Regan O'Brien after watching his son Kairyn qualify for the top 30 during last night's qualifying races at the 212-car Hawke's Bay Doors-sponsored New Zealand Stockcar Championship.
One of three Hawke's Bay qualifiers last night, Brett Loveridge and Joshua Trott were the others, Kairyn O'Brien admitted to being "pretty happy." He is racing clubmate Andre Stenson's car and drove it for the first time at Thursday night's practice sessions for the biggest, by numbers, Speedway New Zealand national championship.
"I had some clean races at training apart from one hit from a clubmate [Callum Shotter] but there was no damage fortunately. We got the pace sorted and did enough to qualify for tonight," O'Brien said as vehicle checks began this morning.
"Now it's a case of crossing my fingers, closing my eyes and going for it. A lot of it is luck from now on," O'Brien said.
"If I get a number on the car I might have to keep it for a few more meetings. But for now I'm just focused on the first corner ... if I'm not in with a chance of a podium place at the business end of the night I will help another Bay car which has a chance," added the 25-year-old.
Defending champion Ben Smith of Nelson was the top qualifier from his group with a second and two third placings. Last season's second placegetter, Stratford's Tylar Walker, was the second qualifier in his group with two wins and a ninth.
Last season's third placegetter, Kihi Kihi's Mitch Vickery, won all three of his 12-lap qualifying races.
Qualifiers were:
Yellow Group: Ben Smith (Nelson), 79 points 1; Sheldon Arapere (Stratford) 76 2; William Hughes (Stratford) 75 3.
Green Group: Harley Robb (Christchurch) 79 1; Tylar Walker (Stratford) 76 2; Brad Podjursky (Stratford) 71 3.
White Group: Mitch Vickery (Kihi Kihi) 84 1; Kairyn O'Brien (Hawke's Bay) 74 2; Jayden Steiner (Rotorua) 71 3.
Orange Group: Joshua Trott (Hawke's Bay, pictured below) 78 1; Kyle Rowe (Palmerston North) and James Clarke (Gisborne) 77 2 equal.
Grey Group: Mike Herbert (Rotorua) 73 1; Robbie Morris (Rotorua) and Trazarn Ryland Annabell (Whanganui) 72 2 equal.
Red Group: Brett Loveridge (Hawke's Bay, pictured below) 81 1; Gary Lonergan (Auckland) 79 2; Dave Houston Jnr (Greymouth) 68 3.
Blue Group: Matt Phippen (Palmerston North) 79 1; Hamish McLeod (Palmerston North) 73 2; Clinton Cheetham (Huntly) 72 3.
Purple Group: Luke Miers (Palmerston North) 83 1; Karlin Painter-Dudley 76 2; Colin Cameron (Christchurch) 3.
The number of qualifiers from each club is: Stratford 5, Palmerston North 4, Hawke's Bay 3, Rotorua 3, Christchurch 2, Nelson 1, Kihi Kihi 1, Greymouth 1, Gisborne 1, Auckland 1, Whanganui 1, Huntly 1.
Another six qualifiers, three from each repechage, will be decided tonight. Racing begins from 6pm.
