Auckland’s Scott Buckley won the biggest race of his career when he won the 2009 NZ Midget Grand Prix at Western Springs Speedway on Saturday night (Feb. 28). In a race where seemingly no one wanted to lead, Buckley held onto win his first ever feature race at Western Springs after seven years of trying.

With the entry dominated by Western Springs regulars, it was disappointing not to see any out of towners travel north to contest the NZ Midget Grand Prix, apart from those registered to Huntly Speedway. The entries were seeded and split into two groups to contest two qualifying heats each, with the highest qualifier starting from pole, just like the TQ’s for their NZ Championship on the same night.

Former National Champion Shaun Insley won the first heat for the ZM group from Michael Kendall, with new 2NZ Brad Mosen finishing third. One of the title favourites Michael Pickens was in the wars early on after a couple of clashes, and it would also be the last time he was seen on the night, with the former National Champ finally succumbing to engine problems.

After an impressive run to fifth at the NZ title in Nelson, Dave Gick won the first heat for the Newstalk ZB group, followed by new 3NZ Angus McLeod, and Scott Buckley. It was the first run at Western Springs Speedway for new 1NZ Shane Alach since his NZ title win, and he raced to fifth behind Graham Standring.

Lance Beale won the second heat for the ZM group, surviving a controversial clash for the lead with Bill Clarkson Jnr. Beale and Clarkson made contact on the pit straight out of turn two, which saw Clarkson crash spectacularly, ending his night with a badly damaged car. Insley raced to second behind Beale, with Tony Fabish third. Another title favourite Brad Mosen suffered from mechanical issues before the heat, and like Pickens would not be seen for the rest of the night and the NZ Grand Prix feature.

Chris McCutcheon won the second and final heat for the Newstalk ZB group, followed by Huntley’s Michael Brunt, and Mark Oudney. Alach had problems and didn’t finish.

Shaun Insley was the top qualifier from the heats, followed Beale, Gick, and Buckley.

There was no need for a repecharge so twenty cars started the 2009 NZ midget Grand Prix final over 25 laps.

The race was hard fought right through the field, with Insley jumping out to an early lead, chased by Beale. Beale took over the lead on lap three until he broke a torsion stop on lap 12 and retired to the infield. Graham Standring was charging from grid sixteen into contention, as was Shane Alach from grid seventeen. McLeod had already retired with engine dramas. McCutcheon took over the lead from Beale, and led until lap twenty. Then sensationally he was shown the black flag for noise, handing the lead to Buckley.

Standring and Alach were up inside the top five and right in contention.

Buckley was on the cushion, with Brunt, Standring, Alach and Insley disputing the battle for second. Then Standring hooked a rut which caused a log jam behind and claimed Shane Alach who slid onto the infield and into retirement with just two laps to go.

Buckley held on for the win ahead of Standring, and Michael Brunt. The top ten was completed by Wayne Green, Shaun Insley, Michael Kendall, Mark Mullins, Dave Gick, Tony Fabish, and Joe Malone.

On the podium, Standring made light of the fact it may have been his last ever race, possibly ending what has been a stellar career for one of NZ’s best ever open wheel racers. Currently sitting on 99 all-time feature wins in TQ’s and Midgets, here in NZ, Australia and the US, the three-time former NZ Midget Champ, long-time NZ Midget Test Team member, and two-time NZ TQ Champ will be missed from NZ Speedway  

Jamie McDonald won the final Sprintcar feature of the summer at Western Springs, followed by Alan Wakeling, and Jeremy Halpin. Carl Wilson took out the season long Track Championship at The Springs from Wakeling and Sprintcar rookie Ryan O’ Connor. Wakeling sneaked ahead of young O’Connor on countback with more feature wins this season at The Springs. Earlier on in the night the three Sprintcar heats were won by Jeremy Halpin, Wakeling, and new 1NZ Dean Brindle.

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