Speedway: Uhlenberg goes back to back

Jarrod MacBeth

Photo by: Loaded Glass Photography

Karl Uhlenberg has proven that he is still the fastest Minisprint competitor in New Zealand when he retained his position as New Zealand’s number one Minisprint driver at the Zodiac Signs sponsored New Zealand Championship at Stratford Speedway on Saturday night.

Uhlenberg has been a dominating force on the race track in the class since he won the New Zealand title last season at Palmerston North Speedway for the first time.

His dominance proven with regular podiums, including winning the Taranaki champs for the second season in a row on December 28th.

Racing in a field of twenty cars, Uhlenberg set down the fastest lap time of the event in just lap four of the first of three fifteen lap races where drivers would have points accumulated from their finishing positions to find the overall winner.

That lap time of 14.018 second was untouchable by any of the other competitors, the only driver able to get close being Regan Ogle with a time of 14.129 in the same race.

Uhlenberg won this first race from a grid two start before again winning race two from grid twelve. Starting from the rear of the field in race three, he worked his way up to position five, finishing there and winning the overall title by a five point margin.

Regan Ogle, who has been quick after moving into this class from Youth Ministocks a few seasons ago placed third in race one, sixth in race two and survived and incident in race three where he became airborne.

He managed to land back on his wheels and keep going to finish third in that race and claim second spot overall and will now get to wear the number 2nz on his car for the next twelve months.

Palmerston North Contracted driver Daniel Nickel was third after recording a fifth place in race one, seventh place in race two and winning race three.

Luck wasn’t on everyone’s side with Bronson Pierce looking good on points going into heat three but he did not finish that race while event sponsor Cameron Hurley was caught up in an incident in the first race, taking him out of championship contention.

A near full field of twenty seven young drivers from all over the North Island raced for the Taranaki Precast Concrete Under 23 Stockcar Champs.

Riki-Lee Kauri, who raced here recently in the Queen of the Mountain Stockcar Champs and was familiar with the track, dominated the racing in the class to take the overall win after placing second in the first race, fourth in the second and winning the third.

Auckland driver Sam Wright was second while Whanganui racer Cody Lockett was third after beating club mate Tobey Matthews in a run off that was needed after the pair were tied on points for third place.

Saloons raced for their Mufflers NZ Taranaki Champs with Thomas Korff and Bradley Korff again dominating the racing. The event was closely fought with the pair equal on points

for the top step of the podium after three races. T.Korff won the run off the decide the winner. Blake Hooper, driving his dad’s car as his new one isn’t yet ready, was third.

Superstocks raced two heats before the United Steel twenty lap feature which was won by Hamish Booker ahead of Loyd Clarke and Brayden Fale.

However, it was position six that was of interest, being a joker finishing position with $750 prize money up for grabs.

Logan Sharpe, Scott Williams, Zack Young and Haydin Barker were all fighting for this spot towards the end of the race with Barker claiming position six and the prize money at the drop of the chequered flag.