This weekend, the thunder returns to Oceanview Speedway as the mighty Wanganui Warriors make their long-awaited homecoming for the Wanganui Superstock Teams Challenge—a night of high-octane carnage celebrating 50 years of Warrior pride!
For the first time in years, the Warriors will battle on home soil in front of a large crowd of passionate fans, and they’re not coming quietly. New Zealand’s top superstock elite teams join them: the Palmerston North Panthers, Hawke’s Bay Hawkeyes, Manawatu Mustangs, Baypark Busters, and Gisborne Giants—all gunning for glory in a no-holds-barred teams war like Wanganui has never seen before.
The Warriors’ anniversary is more than just a milestone—it’s a statement. With a rock-solid lineup of 15V Ryan Marshall, 23V Scott Duncan, 26V Kaelin Mooney, 38V Zane Dykstra, 94V Matt Buckley, and 98V Gerry Linklater, the local heroes are fired up to defend their turf with bone-rattling hits and fearless teamwork.
But standing in their way are five juggernaut teams with their own point to prove.
The Palmerston North Panthers—featuring 52P Scott Joblin (Captain), 94P William Humphries, 156P Trent James, 599P Ron Tye, and 669P Brendon Tye—are on a mission to bounce back from their fourth-place finish at the 2025 Superstock Teams Champs. The big cats from Palmy are hungry and will bring the fire.
The Manawatu Mustangs bring horsepower and hard hits with a gritty five of 79P Kyle Rowe, 88P Jack Miers, 99P Jamie Hamilton, 581P Jordan Dare (Captain), and 888P Mike McCarthy—a team known for their hard-charging spirit.
The Baypark Busters, still stinging from a narrow runner-up finish in February’s Teams Champs, will unleash a stacked squad led by 1NZ Todd Hemingway and 5M Elias Dykstra (Captain), alongside 29M Ryan Hunt, 58M Stefan Roigard, 77M Luke Alderdice, and 96M Dylan Towler. Watch out for the Busters with a point to prove.
Don’t count out the Gisborne Giants, either. They roared into fifth at the Champs and are locked and loaded with a fearsome six: 5G Josh Prentice, 29G James Clarke, 126G Asher Rees, 127G Ethan Rees, 144G Tim Ross, and 235G Regan Penn. Expect nothing less than full-contact chaos from the boys in red.
And finally, the ever-dangerous Hawke’s Bay Hawkeyes arrive with a balanced and experienced outfit: 9B Brent Stewart, 16B Brett Loveridge, 25B Kairyn O’Brien, 38B Scott Gallop, 351B Paul Vazey, and 422B Dylan Ashton. If they fire early, the rest better look out.
Superstocks, Stockcars, and Youth Ministocks are adding to the night’s intensity as support classes, guaranteeing nonstop action from the green light to the final flag.
Can’t make it to the oval by the ocean? The Pits Media has you covered with a full livestream—perfect for those wanting to catch every clash, crash, and chequered flag from home.
🕝 Gates open: 2:30PM
🏁 Racing from: 5:00PM
Wanganui, the wait is over. Get ready to witness the return of the Warriors and a superstock team showdown for the ages. Bring your colours, bring your noise—and prepare for war!
Header Image: Troy Adamson / The Racers Edge
