Baypark Speedway will deliver a double-header of summer holiday dirt track racing action with international drivers set to battle New Zealand’s best in headline events.
The December 27 and December 30 race meetings put the Midget Car division in the spotlight with a stellar field featuring recently crowned United States Auto Club National champion Cannon McIntosh.
McIntosh, 22, from Bixby, Oklahoma, becomes the latest young American Midget Car talent to chase New Zealand success. He won the 2024 POWRI and Extreme Outlaw titles, and in 2025 McIntosh clinched the 29-race USAC National title.
He is part of the Toyota driver development programme in the USA, and for his Kiwi campaign, he will drive for the Trent Way Motorsport team, which last summer provided the winning equipment for California racer Buddy Kofoid.
There is no shortage of local competition for the US champ with former New Zealand champions Michael Pickens and Brad Mosen providing the experience, while the ranks of young Kiwi talent include Luke McClymont, Travis Buckley, Trent Way, Alec Insley, Mitch Fabish and Ben Morrison, who are eager to impress.
Another talented young racer bringing the international flavour to the Midget Car competition is 21-year-old Australian Zoe Pearce. She has already gained plenty of experience on New Zealand tracks in the past 14 months.
The South Island is strongly represented with three-time South Island Midget champion – and six-time national TQ Midget Car champion – Jeremy Webb making the trip north along with fellow Christchurch racer Ben Morgan, who had some impressive races at Baypark last summer.
Saturday’s Midget Car racing is headlined by the Bay Super Stars 30-lapper, and on Tuesday night the prestigious Bay 51 title is up for grabs – the race established in the 2020-21 season as New Zealand’s longest Midget Car event.
The winged excitement of Sprint Car racing is included on both race programmes, while a 26-strong field from throughout the North Island lines up Saturday night for the third annual Hokey Ashby Super Stock Memorial, which has quickly become established as Baypark’s premier contest for the full-contact heavy-metal class.
Tauranga’s national champ, Todd Hemingway, is the defending champion and also the in-form driver with a string of early-season success at several tracks. Rotorua, Auckland, Gisborne and Stratford visitors are also among the entry lists.
On Tuesday evening, the focus switches to Super Saloon racing with a championship-quality field of 16 cars entered from around the North Island as the class makes its third Baypark appearance of the season.
Full fields of Youth Mini Stocks with young racers from throughout the North Island will complete the programme both nights to showcase the next generation of Speedway talent.
Racing starts 6.30pm.
Header Image: Jessica Barnes/Blissful Photography
Well done to Bay Park, what a lineup!!