The North Island Stockcar Championships to be held at Baypark Speedway on Friday and Saturday nights is postponed.

They will not be held until after the end of February, says Baypark promoter Willie Kay; but a date is not set.

Stock cars at Baypark are postponed.

'There were other championships around the country that were scheduled to run this weekend that were postponed from last weekend,” says Willie.

'I don't think they have much show of running this weekend either, and there're others that were scheduled for this weekend that will be in the same position as us.

'It's going to be a lolly scramble at Speedway New Zealand as to when and how we fit in with all the other events around the place and particularly for stockcars.”

The Baypark track does not drain well after heavy rain. The track was underwater for the sprint cars at the new year – forcing their postponement

'It's likely to be underwater again tomorrow night as well,” says Willie.

'There isn't enough expectation for me that we will get through tonight due to the rain, and that the track would be dry enough tomorrow to continue with a Saturday/Sunday situation.

Saturday is awkward says Willie. There are 125 entries, the largest number of entries in the North Island Stock Car Championship since the New Zealand Title, held in 2005, and the largest ever scheduled to be held at Baypark.

'Even if it cleared up at 4pm or 5pm, the track conditions probably wouldn't allow it,” says Willie.

'It's going to take us about four hours to scrutineer all the vehicles. We would be doing that in the rain on Saturday, hoping it was going to clear up. It's pretty hard.

'It's not anniversary weekend in Wellington, Palmerston, Wanganui, and a lot of the cars are from there and they will have to turn around and go home.

'They planned to take a day off today to come here and I tried to stop most of them by making a call last night, so they don't spend all their money.

'Hopefully they will be able to come back when we do re-schedule it, which I think most of them will.”

Trying to squeeze everything into a Sunday with half the competitors is not the option, says Willie.

'The fans, the sponsors, the corporate box holders here at Baypark, and the competitors, deserve this to be run in its entirety in the manner it should be over two days to make it worthwhile for everybody.

'I'm not about to squeeze things in for a Sunday just for convenience.”