# New Zealand Superstock Teams Championship

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 $5.2M 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 tragically lost his life doing what he loved in April of 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 Stephen Penn who was driving for the Manawatu Mustangs crashed and sustained injuries leading to his death on the track.

## Past Champions

Past Champions :
| Year | Date Held | Teams Entered | 1ST | 2ND | 3RD |
| 2025 | February 6/7 | 13 | Canterbury Glen Eagles | Baypark Busters | Stratford Scrappers |
| 2024 | February 3/4/5 | 13 | Canterbury Glen Eagles | Rotorua Rebels | Great Britain Loins |
| 2023 | February 4/5/6 | 14 | Canterbury Glen Eagles | Palmerston North Panthers | Gisborne Giants |
| 2021 | February 6/7 | 13 | Rotorua Rebels | Canterbury Glen Eagles | Gisborne Giants |
| 2020 | February 7/8 | 14 | Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes | Gisborne Giants | Palmerston North Panthers |
| 2019 | February 2/3 | 13 | Canterbury Glen Eagles | Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes | Wellington Wildcats |
| 2018 | February 3/4 | 14 | Palmerston North Cheetahs | Gisborne Giants | Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes |
| 2017 | February 4/5 | 12 | Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes | Great Britain Loins | Palmerston North Cheetahs |
| 2016 | February 6/7 | 12 | Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes | Great Britain Loins | Gisborne Giants |
| 2015 | February 6/7 | 12 | Palmerston North Panthers | Wanganui Warriors | Baypark Busters |
| 2014 | February 7/8 | 12 | Baypark Busters | Wanganui Warriors | Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes |
| 2013 | February 8/9 | 13 | Palmerston North Cheetahs | Manawatu Mustangs | Nelson Tigers |
| 2012 | February 4/5 | 12 | Palmerston North Cheetahs | Nelson Tigers | Great Britain Lions |
| 2011 | February 4/5 | 11 | Palmerston North Cheetahs | Stratford Scrappers | Nelson Tigers |
| 2010 | February 5/6 | 11 | Nelson Tigers | Great Britain Loins | Manawatu Mustangs |
| 2009 | February 6/7 | 12 | Palmerston North Cheetahs | Nelson Tigers | Great Britain Lions |
| 2008 | February 8/9 | 12 | Palmerston North Cheetahs | Wanganui Warriors | Waikato Wanderers |
| 2007 | February 9/10 | 12 | Palmerston North Cheetahs | Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes | Wanganui Warriors |
| 2006 | February 11/12 | 12 | Palmerston North Cheetahs | Nelson Tigers | Manawatu Mustangs |
| 2005 | February 11/12/13 | 12 | Manawatu Mustangs | Canterbury Glen Eagles | Baypark Busters |
| 2004 | February 20/21/22 | 12 | Baypark Busters | Palmerston North Cheetahs | Waikato Wanderers |
| 2003 | February 21/22 | 12 | Baypark Busters | Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes | Palmerston North Cheetahs |
| 2002 | February 22/23 | 12 | Palmerston North Cheetahs | Rotorua Rebels | Baypark Busters |
| 2001 | February 23/24 | 12 | Wellington Wildcats | Stratford Scrappers | Rotorua Rebels |
| 2000 | February 18/19 | 12 | Nelson Tigers | Wellington Wildcats | Palmerston North Cheetahs |
| 1999 | February 19/21 | 12 | Palmerston North Cheetahs | Wellington Wildcats | Bay of Plenty Raiders |
| 1998 | February 20/21/22 | 12 | Wellington Wildcats | Rotorua Rebels | Palmerston North Cheetahs/Stratford Gladiators |
| 1997 | February 21/22 | 12 | Stratford Gladiators | Palmerston North Cheetahs | Wellington Wildcats |
| 1996 | February 16/17 | 12 | Taranaki Scrappers | Rotorua Rebels | Waikato Wanderers |
| 1995 | February 17/18 | 12 | Waikato Wanderers | Auckland Allstars | Palmerston North Cheetahs |
| 1994 | February 18/19 | 12 | Baypark Busters | Rotorua Rebels | Palmerston North Cheetahs/ Stratford Scrappers |
| 1993 | February 26/27 | 8 | Waikato Wanderers | Palmerston North Cheetahs | Wellington Wildcats/ Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes |
| 1992 | February 28/29 | 10 | Palmerston North Cheetahs | Wellington Wildcats | Christchurch Glen Eagles/Stratford Scrappers |
| 1991 | February 15/16 | 10 | Palmerston North Cheetahs | Nelson Tigers | Baypark Busters/Waikato Wanderers |
| 1990 | February 16/17 | 10 | Palmerston North Cheetahs | Wellington Wildcats | Stratford Scrappers/Rotorua Rebels |
| 1989 | February 17/18 | 10 | Palmerston North Cheetahs | Baypark Busters | Waikato Wanderers/Nelson Tigers |
| 1988 | February 19/20/21 | 10 | Stratford Scrappers | Palmerston North Cheetahs | Wellington Wildcats/Rotorua Rebels |
| 1987 | February 20/21 | 10 | Stratford Scrappers | Palmerston North Cheetahs | Baypark Busters/Nelson Tigers |
| 1986 | February 21/22 | 10 | Rotorua Rebels | Wanganui Warriors | Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes/Baypark Busters |
| 1985 | February 22/23 | 10 | Palmerston North Cheetahs | Stratford Scrappers | Christchurch Glen Eagles/Nelson Tigers |
| 1984 | February 24/25 | 8 | Palmerston North Cheetahs | Stratford Scrappers | Wanganui Warriors/Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes |
| 1983 | February 26/27 | 8 | Stratford Scrappers | Bay of Plenty | Wellington Wildcats/Palmerston North Panthers |
| 1982 | February 26/27 | 8 | Palmerston North Panthers | Wanganui Warriors | Palmerston North B/Stratford Scrappers |
| 1981 | March 7 | 8 | Palmerston North B | Wanganui Warriors | Palmerston 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 | | | | | 1 | 0 | 0% |