Baypark driver Jeff Barron defied the odds, surviving engine-failure during qualifying and a two-spot relegation in heat one of the finals series, to win the 2012 CRV Ambreed New Zealand Saloon car title by one point at the McDonalds Kihikihi Speedway on Sunday.

All three spots on the podium after two days of heated action were filled by locally registered drivers.

Jeff Barron, Brent McClymont and Paul Cressy at the winners' podium in Kihikihi.

And not just the top three slots either, with Geoff Webb finishing fourth and Chris Cowling fifth to complete a dominant effort by the Bay of Plenty drivers.

In second place was defending champion Brent McClymont, completing a remarkable run in the five years this championship has run finishing second, first, second, first and now second again.

Third, after a four-lap run-off with Brent, was Jeff's Daltons' team mate Paul Cressy, another to come through the repechage at the beginning of the second day of the two-day meeting after problems prevented him qualifying through the normal methods.

Fifty-two drivers from all over the country gathered at Kihikihi to contest the championship, 16 qualifying through the heats to be joined by another four via the two repechages on Sunday.

Jeff Barron was looking a certain qualifier on Saturday night until his engine quit on him and it was a big effort by him and the crew to even get him back to the track the following afternoon, let alone win.

Their efforts were immediately rewarded when he blitzed the field in the first repechage by almost half a lap, Paul Cressy in second place.

Heat one of the 20-car, three round championship-proper saw Brent McClymont win from grid one, but a couple of movers in the race were Jeff up to third place from grid 12 and Paul fourth from grid 10.

Jeff was relegated two spots post-race by the officials, however, deemed to have jumped the start following a caution period, moving Paul up to third and Jeff down to fifth place.

Heat two saw another 20 laps of torrid action, Jeff taking victory in this one from his handy grid two starting position.

Paul was a mover again, finishing 11th from grid 20, Brent also keeping his title defence alive by finishing fifth from grid 11.

Entering the all-important third heat, Jeff and Brent headed the points chase with 36 apiece, but languished back on grids 17 and 20 respectively.

Paul sat in sixth place overall, eight points off the pace with 28, but with the advantage of a grid two start in the race.

If Paul was to win the race, both Brent and Jeff not only had to get up to eighth place or better to take the title, but if they did so whoever finished ahead of the other would be New Zealand champion.

Paul immediately went to the lead, while behind him all eyes were on Brent and Jeff as they fought their way through traffic, side by side, sometimes racing three-abreast as they fought their way through slower traffic.

Five laps from the end the title was still in Paul's hands, but with a couple to go Jeff moved into the required eighth place but had Brent right behind him.

That's how it stayed to the line however, an incredulous Jeff victorious by a single point from Brent and Paul.

Paul took the lead into the first turn of the run-off, but a brave move round the outside by Brent saw him leading at the completion of the first lap.

Paul tried an ambitious move one lap later, spinning up and confirming himself as third overall, Brent second.

After 60 laps torrid racing under a hot sun on Sunday, 75 laps for those like Jeff and Paul who had to race the repechage as well (and on top of 45 laps each in qualifying), it was a great result for not only Jeff, Brent and Paul, but the Baypark Speedway, which has the virtually unique situation of having the 1nz, 2nz and 3nz in the same class at their track in the same season.

Late last night rumours circulated that one of the top cars may have struck problems at post-race technical inspection by Speedway New Zealand officials, however, that was unconfirmed when this story was filed.

Top 10
1st 69m Jeff Barron 49 pts
2nd 1nz Brent McClymont 48 pts
3rd 45m Paul Cressy 48 pts
4th 66m Geoffrey Webb 45 pts
5th= 272m Chris Cowling 44 pts
5th= 2nz Phil Towgood 44 pts
7th 89m Colin Dyer 43 pts
8th 18m Chris Taylor 40 pts
9th= 21h Steve Williams 38 pts
9th= 74a Scott Landsdowne 38pts