The Americans are coming and since covid it has felt like a life time for speedway fans to see internationals back on our shore. Drivers have been travelling to New Zealand since the late 20’s to race around ovals and compete with the best New Zealand has to offer.
The hay days of the 70’s saw Rich Vogler, Mel Kenyon, the 80’s were dominated by Ron Sleepy Tripp, Stan Fox and Larry Rice even lone female superstar Denise Bennet came and took home 3rd in the World midget 50 lapper at the Springs. The 90’s gave us Mark Passarelli and even more of Sleepy Tripp who eventually took home nine 50 lap wins.
The 2000’s however Dave Darland, Cory Kruseman, Jerry Coons Jnr and most recently Kyle Larsen and Christopher Bell, now get ready for the next generation who are leading the way.
Michael ‘Buddy” Kofoid will be making his first visit downunder in a Midget car however he is no stranger to NZ having visited a couple of season’s ago on the mainland and taking away with him the New Zealand Sprintcar Championship at a very young age. Fast forward a couple of years and he is the current back to back USAC National Midget Champion, Chili Bowl prelim night winner, BC39 Winner, Hangtown 100 Champ, WOO winner and currently 13 USAC midget features wins this season.
He will be driving for Way Motorsports in a brand new King Chassis and TRD engine in the 2USA.
Justin Grant will be making his first trip to New Zealand and comes with a long list of accomplishments including the USAC silver crown champion and the current non-wing 410 champion. With the likes of many heavy hitters missing next years Chilli Bowl he is the current favourite to take it out and will look to add the Bay Superstars 30, Pickens 54 and World 50 Lap event to his list of honors at Baypark and the Springs.
He will team up with NZ’s very own Brad Mosen racing for Green Way racing in the number 11USA.
Taylor Reimer is considered “one of the lads” a young lady who has set numerous QuickTimes this year in qualifying, won a few heat races and has finished on the podium a couple times, but is always quick no matter where she goes. She will be the first female in a Midget touring since the late Denise Bennett and fans are excited for it.
She will be driving for Mike Robins and Ron Kendall in a new Terminator Esslinger number 25USA
Ethan Mitchell is very quick running up front often, he has just had bad luck with him and his dad adapting a Honda engine to run in a midget which has come with it’s challenges but challenges is what this kid aims for and could be the underdog of the entire series, we have seen it before with other youngsters when they first arrived, so don’t count him out.
He will be driving for Cometti Racing in a Honda Bullet by Spike in the 19USA
The American superstars will race as part of the International Series at Baypark Speedway on the 28th of December alongside the North Island Sprintcars which will be a huge meeting for the Bay of Plenty.
Huge thanks to Stefan Gutteridge for helping us with some of the facts.