Two-time NZ Midget Champion Michael Pickens continued his stunning run of Midget Feature victories, with his eighth consecutive Samsung / Century Yuasa Batteries National Midget Car Series win at McDonalds Kihikihi Speedway on Saturday night (Jan. 24). In what was arguably one of the best Midget features seen in NZ for the last decade, Pickens went head to head with the resurgent and reigning NZ Midget Champion Shaun Insley for the final eight laps for a hard fought win on the newly banked, but tough Kihikihi Speedbowl.

Twenty-four NMCS Midgets were at Kihikihi to contest the ninth round of the series, all keen to race at the grand reopening of the new high-backed, quarter-mile Kihikihi oval.

Pickens opened with a victory in the first qualifying heat from a front row start, creating a new one lap Kihikihi Midget track record on the way of 13.999 seconds. Shaun Insley finished a strong second, followed by Angus McLeod, Carl Worboys and Shayne Alach.

Second in the NMCS point’s chase, Brad Mosen won the second heat from grid five, ahead of Kihikihi’s Steve Shanley, Wayne Green, and Alvin Cobb and Matt Shaw from Huntley. Notable retirements in this heat were Graham Standring, Michael Kendall and Tony Fabish.

McLeod won the third heat from the pole followed by Worboys, Mosen, Lance Beale, and Pickens. Pickens had started from grid eleven.

Insley needed to win the final heat to out qualify Angus McLeod and Brad Mosen, which he nearly did, all the way back from grid twelve, finishing second to Shayne Alach. Sadly, Graham Standring suffered an engine problem putting him out for the night. After four heats, Insley, McLeod, and Mosen were all tied on points as the top qualifiers. The fastest lap time from each their heats would then determine pole for the Harker Underground Construction Kihikihi Midget Classic, with McLeod setting the fastest lap in his first heat. He would start the 30-lap feature from grid one.

Mosen leapt into the early lead chased by Insley, McLeod, Pickens and Worboys.

Mosen controlled the pace out front, while mayhem ensued behind with positions changing every lap on a rough and tumble new Kihikihi surface. Worboys survived a big moment, nearly stalling after a half spin in turn three, but luckily got restarted by Pickens who hit him in the rear bumper trying to avoid him. A yellow on the next lap saw Worboys and Pickens shuffled back to positions eight and nine for the restart, having lost spots on the previous lap with their incident.

As Pickens started making forward progress from the restart, Mosen continued to lead from Shaun Insley. Then Mosen stopped with electrical issues out of the lead at about two thirds distance, handing the lead to Insley for the restart with Pickens charging forward and not too far away. Pickens then got by Insley for the lead with eight laps to go, wowing the fans running up against the fence in turns three and four, and right through the big hole in turn two, pulling wheelstands along the way. However, Insley didn’t want to give up the race that easily, and they passed each other at least six or seven times over the next six laps, both charging through the holes as if they weren’t there! Pickens finally made the winning pass with two laps to go, holding it to the chequered flag ahead of the impressive Insley, and Carl Worboys. McLeod, Michael Brunt and Tony Fabish completed the top six.

With 37 points for a win, and just three rounds of the NMCS to go at Napier, The Springs and Auckland’s Waikaraka Park, Pickens holds a nearly insurmountable lead on 298 points, 100 ahead of Carl Worboys on 198 points. With the DNF at Kihikihi, Mosen slips to third overall on 192 points. Insley is fourth overall (175 points), ahead of Lance Beale (152 points), and Wayne Green in sixth on 145 points.

The teams are back at Western Springs Speedway for the next four meetings (Wednesday Jan. 28, Saturday Jan. 31, Thursday Feb. 5, and Saturday Feb. 7) featuring the six visiting Americans and the 2009 International Midget World Series. American Brad Kuhn is the defending IMWS Champion, and will certainly have his hands full with Pickens, and the rest of the top Kiwi’s.

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