The new speedway season for 2022/2023 got underway last night at the Huntly International Speedway. A respectable crowd turned out to usher in what will be a busy season of speedway racing at Huntly.
Ministocks we’re first cabs off the rank and although there were a few skirmishes in the opening race on a rather damp track, 29H Blake Lockett was able to survive the most to conjure up the first win of the night. Heat 2 saw a much cleaner race between participants with Chloe Burley taking a popular win, taking the spoils in the Feature race was 88H Ethan Whittaker.
Saloons were very light on numbers but they soon made up for it in quality with 43K Aaron Tonks and 8M Jarrod Fletcher providing most of the action throughout the night. Tonks held off a strong challenge from Fletcher to win Heat 1 with Fletcher again having to be content with 2nd in Heat 2 after a race long battle with eventual race winner 25H Reece Clements. Much consolation was awarded for Fletcher in the Feature race as he streaked away to an unchallenged win from green to checker.
The heavy hitting Stockcars sported a full field of 30 cars and as you would expect it was carnage galore right from the drop of the green flag. 97H Kacey Cheetham checked out early to win Heat 1 with ease whilst behind him it was battle stations with the rest of the field fighting for the minor placings. From there it would be a visiting drivers clinic with 884R Jordan Latham cruising to a Heat 2 win with Auckland’s 51A Ali Van Amsterdam holding on to win the Feature race.
Modifieds were fast right from the get go, 119H Brad Lane assumed his regular dominance having made light work of the small Modified field to win Heats 1 and 2. Although 63A Daniel Crumpe did take the challenge to Lane in Heat 1 before a mid race spin costing him the lead. Crumpe did have the last laugh however winning the Feature race from the ever improving 68H Cody Hata coming home in 2nd, and although Lane was looking at every opportunity to make a pass Hata all race long, he had to settle for 3rd.
It was an all Wootton family affair in the 18 car Superstock field with 71H Tony Wootton doing more then enough to win Heat 1 despite an early race battle with newcomer 17H Dave Kirton. From there, Heat 2 and the Feature had 717H Tyson Wootton written all over it. Now campaigning the ex 2NZ Jason Long car, it didn’t take long for Tyson to come to grips with it making light work of a few cars and trading paint with early leader 66R Steve Hampton, Tyson got past for the lead but Hampton couldn’t resist one last attack on Tyson pushing him hard in the closing laps, Tyson held on for the win. However he didn’t have it all his own way in Heat 3 with 422R Dylan Ashton having looked comfortable in bagging the win, a race stoppage with a lap or two remaining allowed Tyson to close the gap to Ashton. Upon the restart Tyson pounced on Ashton spinning him around and into the wall on the penultimate corner to make it back to back wins.
In the Teng Tools Production Saloon report, 99H Stephen Hayman was first to the checker amongst the strong 15 car field in Heat 1. From there it was the 14R Wayne Warrender show, the veteran driver still showing he hasn’t lost any of his talent to win Heat 2 and the Feature race respectively.
