The New Zealand Superstock Teams Championship is a 2-day event held annually at Central Energy Trust Arena in Palmerston North, New Zealand. The event attracts crowds of 14,000 people on each day of the event, as they are entertained by up to 14 teams, all fighting with full-contact allowed for the ultimate New Zealand speedway crown. In 2018, the event gave the region a $5.2 million economic boost, an estimated $1.5M up from 2017.

Racing

Superstocks racing allows for full contact, hardcore racing around oval dirt tracks with concrete walls in close proximity to the outside of the track. Drivers are entitled to push one another into the infield, up the wall or into one another in the fight for victory. With no blue flags backmarker cars may wait for the lead pack and if drivers wish, may take out lead cars to best suit their team. Superstocks teams racing consists of 2 teams facing off in each race progressing through qualifying night for a chance to be in the grand final. Teams of 5 cars take part with 1 car from either team sitting out each race as a reserve car. With a total of 4 cars in the race for each team most teams use a 2:2 tactic with 2 cars attacking and going to the victory while 2 cars block the other team from taking out their attackers. Because of the all-out nature of the sport there are often many rollovers and cars up into the catch fencing, leading to red flags where cars must stop in as little distance as possible, hold position and wait until the accident is cleared and the green flag is shown once again.

There are two other individual awards that are presented at the ENZED Superstock Teams Champs. The Spike Richardson memorial which is rewarded for the performance of the Teams Champs. Winners: 2024 - 5GB Charlie Sworder. The other award goes to the best Rookie driver and is named after Stephen Penn who lost his life doing what he loved in April 2022. The winners are 2023 - 26v Kaelin Mooney and 2024 - 74a Codi Chatfield.

Deaths

There have been two deaths at the Superstock Teams Racing championship.

On 9 February 2009, Peter Barry, aged 44, was flown to Wellington Hospital in a critical condition with severe head injury. He succumbed to the injuries six days later at 6pm, February 12. Barry was driving a block car for the Kihikihi Kings versus the Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes when he lost consciousness from multiple hits between cars and the concrete wall. Barry's car continued to move slowly along the track for three quarters of a lap before a flag marshall stopped it. The coroner accepted fatalities were relatively rare in superstock racing, although the likelihood of injury was not. It was inherently high risk and violent, especially in teams' racing, where drivers crashed into each other on purpose. The coroner raised concerns about the HANS (head and neck restraint system) device, a safety item compulsory in many motorsports. The HANS device is now a primary piece of safety equipment used by every driver when racing.

In 2022 the Championships were not completed after the number 59P Stephen Penn who was driving for the Manawatu Mustangs went for an attempted hit into turn 3, sending himself into the concrete wall and sustained major injuries leading to his death on the track.

Past Champions +Past ChampionsYearDate HeldTeams Entered1ST2ND3RD2026February 7/812Gisborne GiantsStratford ScrappersGreat Britain Lions2025February 7/813Canterbury Glen EaglesBaypark BustersStratford Scrappers2024February 3/4/513Canterbury Glen EaglesRotorua RebelsGreat Britain Lions2023February 4/5/614Canterbury Glen EaglesPalmerston North PanthersGisborne Giants2021February 6/713Rotorua RebelsCanterbury Glen EaglesGisborne Giants2020February 7/814Hawkes Bay HawkeyesGisborne GiantsPalmerston North Panthers2019February 2/313Canterbury Glen EaglesHawkes Bay HawkeyesWellington Wildcats2018February 3/414Palmerston North PanthersGisborne GiantsHawkes Bay Hawkeyes2017February 4/512Hawkes Bay HawkeyesGreat Britain LionsPalmerston North Panthers2016February 6/712Hawkes Bay HawkeyesGreat Britain LionsGisborne Giants2015February 6/712Palmerston North PanthersWanganui WarriorsBaypark Busters2014February 7/812Baypark BustersWanganui WarriorsHawkes Bay Hawkeyes2013February 8/913Palmerston North PanthersManawatu MustangsNelson Tigers2012February 4/512Palmerston North PanthersNelson TigersGreat Britain Lions2011February 4/511Palmerston North PanthersStratford ScrappersNelson Tigers2010February 5/611Nelson TigersGreat Britain LionsManawatu Mustangs2009February 6/712Palmerston North PanthersNelson TigersGreat Britain Lions2008February 8/912Palmerston North PanthersWanganui WarriorsWaikato Wanderers2007February 9/1012Palmerston North PanthersHawkes Bay HawkeyesWanganui Warriors2006February 11/1212Palmerston North PanthersNelson TigersManawatu Mustangs2005February 11/12/1312Manawatu MustangsCanterbury Glen EaglesBaypark Busters2004February 20/21/2212Baypark BustersPalmerston North PanthersWaikato Wanderers2003February 21/2212Baypark BustersHawkes Bay HawkeyesPalmerston North Panthers2002February 22/2312Palmerston North PanthersRotorua RebelsBaypark Busters2001February 23/2412Wellington WildcatsStratford ScrappersRotorua Rebels2000February 18/1912Nelson TigersWellington WildcatsPalmerston North Panthers1999February 19/2112Palmerston North PanthersWellington WildcatsBay of Plenty Raiders1998February 20/21/2212Wellington WildcatsRotorua RebelsPalmerston North Panthers/Stratford Gladiators1997February 21/2212Stratford GladiatorsPalmerston North PanthersWellington Wildcats1996February 16/1712Taranaki ScrappersRotorua RebelsWaikato Wanderers1995February 17/1812Waikato WanderersAuckland AllstarsPalmerston North Panthers1994February 18/1912Baypark BustersRotorua RebelsPalmerston North Panthers/ Stratford Scrappers1993February 26/278Waikato WanderersPalmerston North PanthersWellington Wildcats/ Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes1992February 28/2910Palmerston North PanthersWellington WildcatsChristchurch Glen Eagles/Stratford Scrappers1991February 15/1610Palmerston North PanthersNelson TigersBaypark Busters/Waikato Wanderers1990February 16/1710Palmerston North PanthersWellington WildcatsStratford Scrappers/Rotorua Rebels1989February 17/1810Palmerston North PanthersBaypark BustersWaikato Wanderers/Nelson Tigers1988February 19/20/2110Stratford ScrappersPalmerston North PanthersWellington Wildcats/Rotorua Rebels1987February 20/2110Stratford ScrappersPalmerston North PanthersBaypark Busters/Nelson Tigers1986February 21/2210Rotorua RebelsWanganui WarriorsHawkes Bay Hawkeyes/Baypark Busters1985February 22/2310Palmerston North PanthersStratford ScrappersChristchurch Glen Eagles/Nelson Tigers1984February 24/258Palmerston North PanthersStratford ScrappersWanganui Warriors/Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes1983February 26/278Stratford ScrappersBay of PlentyWellington Wildcats/Palmerston North Panthers1982February 26/278Palmerston North PanthersWanganui WarriorsPalmerston North B/Stratford Scrappers1981March 78Palmerston North BWanganui WarriorsPalmerston North Panthers/Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes

+Team Records Team Entered Semi Finals Finals Titles 2nds Races Wins Win%Palmerston North Panthers 40 34 23 18 5 133 105 79%Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes 40 13 5 3 3 96 50 53%Nelson Tigers 37 11 6 2 4 84 42 50%Stratford Scrappers 39 14 8 4 4 93 47 52%Rotorua Rebels 38 12 6 2 4 92 45 47%Wellington Wildcats 33 12 6 2 4 82 40 49%Canterbury Glen Eagles 33 5 5 4 2 70 23 30%Manawatu Mustangs 31 6 3 2 1 77 34 45%Wanganui Warriors 30 10 6 6 72 24 33%Waikato Wanderers 29 9 2 2 72 37 53%Baypark Busters 27 12 5 4 1 64 39 63%Auckland Allstars 26 3 1 1 61 18 26%Great Britain Lions 11 5 3 3 41 25 61%Otago Cougars 7 14 0 0%Kihikihi Kings 7 14 4 33%Gisborne Giants 6 4 1 1 21 14 65%Bay of Plenty 4 2 1 1 10 6 60%Stratford Gladiators 3 3 1 1 11 8 73%Rotorua Rookie Rebels 2 4 2 50%Te Marua Terminators 2 4 0 0%Blenheim Vikings 2 4 0 0%Nelson Vipers 1 2 0 0%Wanganui B 1 1 0 0%Hawkes Bay Allstars 1 10 0%

References