Speedway: New season underway at Stratford

Jarrod MacBeth

Photo: Jeremy Bunting (22) and Ricky Paul battle for position during Stockcar racing on Saturday night. Photo by Crystal Focus Photography

Drivers got to put their pedals to the floor on Saturday night when Five Star Liquor Stratford Speedway opening the new season with the first night of racing for 2025/2026.

Despite all but one of the pre-season practice sessions being cancelled, the drivers were not deterred and nearly one hundred competitors over seven classes graced the oval.

Four of the classes were racing for their City of New Plymouth Classic trophies - Stockcars, Modifieds, Streetstocks and Adult Ministocks.

The Stockcars presented a reasonable field of twenty and race three heats for their trophy.

Karl Kiddy was the standout driver of the night, recording two third place finishes in the early heats before winning the last to win the Classic by a three point margin from Ryan Nolly who was second and Ricky Paul in third.

Jason Kalin dominated the racing in the Modified class, winning the first two races and placing third in the other to easily land on the top step of the podium for their City of NP Classic. Auckland driver Cody Hata was second and Newton Gordge third.

A decent field of Streetstocks raced with Auckland competitor Corry Terito proving to be too fast for the locals. Despite being given some on track attention throughout the night by other drivers, he won the Classic by five points after winning races one and two and coming home third in race three.

Whanganui contracted driver Blair Ladd was second after beating local competitor Shaun Hall in a four lap run off as the pair were tied on points. Ladd ran away from Hall at the drop of the green and although Hall’s lines racing lines looked cleaner, he just couldn’t quite make a pass.

Whanganui driver Hayden Wilson cleaned up in the Adult Ministock Division, recording two fourth places and a third to win their event by a small two point margin ahead of Palmerston North driver Jonno Mouldey and local Riley Booker.

In the support class racing, Minisprint races were won by Erin Uhlenberg and Cameron Hurley (2).

Saloon races were won by Wayne Hall, Craig Korff and Palmertson North driver Jonathan Mason whop grabbed the lead in heat three with an outside pass before running away with the win.

Zach Coxhead won all three races in the Youth Ministock mentor division while Lucas Hurley won all three races in the senior division.

The next event at Five Star Liquor Stratford Speedway is on Saturday November 1st and will feature the Taranaki round of the Lucas Oils Superstock Series that is supported by M.C Fale Transport, Gibbons Contracting and the Farmers Grill.