Michael Pickens is Australian Speedcar Champion

Australia one

Australia one

Valvoline Raceway: Michael Pickens packs the A1plate into his luggage and heads back home across the ditch with the most valuable and sought after prize in Australian Speedcar season .The Australian Championship will reside uncomfortably for many Speedcar fans in Auckland.
Whatever your view is on the International drivers competing in our National Title event there can be no question as to who has been the most outstanding driver cross all the international events both here in Australian and New Zealand .
Six Americans and 3 of his fellow Kiwis and 45 of Australia’s best have not been able to take the legendary 6 Times New Zealand Champ down.
Never far from the top of time sheets Pickens set the standard for others to match .Make no mistake this 40 lap Championship race had plenty of challengers for Pickens to overcome.

Pickens Clarke and Manders

Pickens Clarke and Manders

The defending Champion Adam Clarke returned to top form during the race and at times looked likely to get his hat trick of successive wins but tyre problems and the furious pace on the top by Felker and Pickens saw the Aussie No1 looking to get the best possible finish . .
The race was a stunner, no need for wings here but the determination and commitment at the front had the big crowd on their feet as the top four exchanged slides and traded positions.
For me the biggest surprise in the earlier Internationals and in the Championship Feature was the performance of Andrew Felker, he has been amazing.
The final laps of the race and it was impossible to predict the race winner and as it should be at all great Championships the winner emerged in the form of Pickens beating Felker by the smallest margin .With Clarke running the bottom trying to keep his tyres in shape Alex Bright drove around the outside to grab the final podium spot just ahead of the defending Champion.

Alex Bright and the Jones Contracting car

Alex Bright and the Jones Contracting car

Michael Pickens a worthy Champion and another reason why the Australian/New Zealand battle for sporting rivalry will continue to divide our two Nations in a positive and friendly way.This coming Saturday night at Western Springs Speedway the New Zealand Speedcar Championship will be run. Michael Pickens having already said in a tweet he might run the A1 could have divided loyalty particularly if he manages to record his 7thNew Zealand Title The question of eligibility will continue no doubt

Results 75th Australian Speedcar Championship

1. Michael Pickens New Zealand
2. Andrew Felker USA
3. Alex Bright USA
4. Adam Clarke
5. Zach Daum USA
6. Matt Jackson
7. Troy Ware
8. Brendan Palmer
9. Nathan Smee
10. Reid Mackay
11. Brad Mosen New Zealnad
12. Kaiden Manders
13. Troy Jenkins
14. Braydan Willmington
15. Leon Burgess New Zealand
16. Lee Redmond
17. Tyler Thomas (DNF) USA
18. Todd Waddell (DNF)
19. Dayne Kingshott (DNF)
20. Hayden Williams (DNF) New Zealand
21. Michael Stewart (DNF)
22. Michael Kendall (DNF)
23. Darren Jenkins (DNF)
24. Brady Bacon (DNF) USA

Michael Pickens 2016 Australian Speedcar Champion

Michael Pickens 2016 Australian Speedcar Champion

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