Baypark Speedway is set for a weekend of full-contact racing, with two major late‑season events drawing bumper fields and top talent from across the North Island.

A 32‑car line-up will contest the annual Technical Welding Services Superstock Rumble, and 36 cars are expected for the 2026 Harry Fredrickson Memorial Gold Cup in the stock car division.

Both events have attracted widespread interest, with drivers travelling from Palmerston North, Rotorua, Gisborne, Wellington, Auckland and Hawke’s Bay, a Baypark speedway promoter said.

The Superstocks return for their final Baypark appearance of the season with a strong contingent of visiting stars. Among them is Manawatū driver William Humphries, fresh off a third-place finish at the New Zealand Championship.

Auckland’s Cody McKee also returns to Baypark after claiming the Bay of Plenty Championship last month, where he set the fastest lap of the season.

The Stock Car Gold Cup, postponed from February because of rain, brings together a mix of locals and visitors from Gisborne, Auckland, Rotorua, Huntly, Kihikihi, Stratford and Wanganui.

Defending champion Karl Garnett (Kihikihi) is back to defend his title. The drivers to watch, however, may be Auckland pair Sam Wright and Azaria Simpson, along with Caleb Stanaway of Rotorua – the trio who shared the podium at last weekend’s Bay of Plenty Championships.

Youth Mini Stocks add an international flavour to the programme as Baypark hosts the second round of a transtasman challenge featuring five Australian drivers competing against a five-driver Kiwi squad that includes local racer Karl Vazey.

Tauranga racer Cole Wood is the points leader after the opening round of the Auto Super Shoppes Baypark Trifecta Series. Photo / Supplied

A combined field of Midgets and F2 Midgets joins the action, with notable entries including New Zealand Sprint Car champion Daniel Thomas, who returns in non‑wing mode for BSL Racing. Also confirmed are Mitch Fabish, Luke McClymont and Corbin Anderson.

The Sprint Cars are back for round two of the Auto Super Shoppes Baypark Trifecta Series, a three‑round, late‑season contest running through Easter weekend with a $5000 prize purse.

Drivers were required to commit to all three rounds and, after last weekend’s opener, Cole Wood leads the points following his third place in the BOP title. He holds a narrow advantage over Keaton Dahm and Ryan O’Connor.