Jacob Buckrell's dreams of racing for the Hawkeyes Superstock team began eight years ago.

"I was 12 and it was the first time the Hawkeyes won the Palmerston North Teams Champs back in the 2016-'17 season," Buckrell recalled.

"The Hawkeyes are the only team I ever want to race for."

On Saturday night Buckrell's dreams will become reality when he races for the Hawkeyes against the Wellington Wildcats at Meeanee Speedway's Flushed Drainage-sponsored meeting.

"I want to be getting both races. We have eight drivers in our squad and we're all prepared for it," Buckrell said.

A fourth season driver in the Superstock class, Buckrell, 20, had the ideal rehearsal with a top-10 finish at an event in Wellington last weekend. The 2022 East Coast champion had a season to remember last summer when he qualified for the New Zealand Championship at Meeanee and was the Hawke's Bay club's top points scorer and top feature points scorer.

"I'm carrying on that momentum this season," Buckrell said.

A structural engineer with Razos Engineering, Buckrell, is comfortable in both the blocking and flag racing roles.

"I've done a little bit of blocking ... Either way I will get an adrenalin boost," he added.

Buckrell is a son of former Hawkeyes manager and former Hawke's Bay Speedway Club president James Buckrell.

Hawkeyes manager Quintin Butcher pointed out there will be a normal Superstock class race before the two teams races which will see four Hawkeyes go up against four Wildcats in each.

"We've got a new-look squad and I'm aiming to put two experienced drivers with two less experienced drivers in each of the races," Butcher explained.

Like Buckrell, former Waikato Raiders Stockcar team member Scott Gallop, will be making his debut for the Hawkeyes.

"We're looking forward to see what Scott can do at this level," Butcher said.

Matt Demanser has returned to the Hawkeyes squad and Butcher's son Deegan Butcher has been named as reserve and his father said this is part of the squad's "long-term plan."

When we've done well at the Palmy Teams Champs we've had an extensive Pre-Season plan and this is why we have re-started our relationship with the Wildcats and the following weekend we will be among five teams at an event in Palmerston North," Butcher explained.

Both the Hawkeyes and Wildcats teams will have a poster signing session in the pits between 5pm and 5.30pm. These teams will be among 28 starters in the Superstocks class.

Support class action will come from an 18-strong Stockcar class, a dozen Streetstocks, more than 20 Ministocks, 17 TQs and a nine-strong combined Super Saloon-Saloon class.

The Superstock teams are:

Hawke's Bay Hawkeyes: Brett Loveridge, Matt Demanser, Kairyn O'Brien, Scott Gallop, Quinn Ryan, Jacob Buckrell, Dylan Ashton, Deegan Butcher (Reserve). Manager: Quintin Butcher.

Wellington Wildcats: Keegan Levien, Tim Parker, Ethan Levien, Zane Riddick, Kayne McDonald, Dale Robertson, Brad McGee, Sam Parker, Benji Sneddon. Manager Paul Fairbrother.

- Shane Hurndell

Article added: Monday 02 December 2024