Welcome Bay School principal Nik House has taken the title of SunLive Principals’ Challenge winner for the second year in a row.

Students from 25 Tauranga schools cheered from the crowd as their principals took to the racetrack at ASB Baypark on Saturday night for the second annual SunLive Principals’ Challenge.

SunLive Principals’ Challenge winner Welcome Bay School principal Nik House. Photo by Daniel Hines.

Not believing a back-to-back win was likely, Nik is “pretty stoked” with last night’s win.

Nik says this time round, his tactics were to complete smooth laps and stay clear of traffic.

“I was trying to stay out of the traffic because it’s a lot faster when there’s no one in front of you.

“It was a bit rutty on the ends this time as opposed to last year and he car was getting blown around a bit right in the middle of the track at either end.

“So I was trying to stay away from all of that nasty stuff that I think might have flipped Fiona Hawes from Tauranga Primary.”

Nik’s winning efforts awarded him a $1000 cheque to his charity of choice Starship Children’s Hospital.

“Obviously our job is all about kids and family and anything that’s supporting kids and families in need is very valuable,” says Nik, whose youngest son was close to going to Starship when he was born.

Earlier in the night, a few car and driver changes were necessary due the some cars suffering damage in earlier races when their teenage drivers were putting them through their paces. Once the teenager races were completed the principals were given six laps to qualify the car with the fastest lap times being used to set the grid for the feature.

There were a number of spins during the session as principals found the limits of their narrow tired cars on the Baypark Terracotta.

History was being repeated when Tauranga Primary principal Fiona Hawes up ended her borrowed car in turn three. The Tauranga primary driver also rolled their borrowed race car in last years’ race. Once the car was righted by the Baypark rescue crew, an un-phased Fiona proceeded to start it up and head towards the pits for some makeshift repairs in time for the main principals race.

There were a number of early retirements in the principals’ challenge including fastest qualifier Pillans Point Primary principal Matt Simeon, who snapped the throttle cable in his attempts to squeeze more speed out of the 1300cc Toyota powered racer.

Last year’s winner Welcome Bay Primary School principal Nik House stormed through the pack and into an early lead which he lost to Tahatai Coast School principal Ian Leckie after a restart.

Nik was caught “napping” during the restart which allowed Ian to drive straight past him.

Photo by: Daniel Hines.

For the next four laps Nik was all over the back bumper of the Leckie car until a wrong move in traffic on the approach to turn one slowed his car enough to allow Nik to pass and regain the lead.

Two laps on, Nik took the chequered flag, with Ian close behind and St Mary’s Catholic School principal Ben Fuller taking third.

In the crowd, children cheered on their favourite principal wearing costumes in an effort to win the title of Best Dressed School, which was awarded to Omokoroa Point School students who were dressed in pink.

Nik’s racetrack win wasn’t the only win of the night with the Welcome Bay principal winning SunLive’s online poll where public could vote for their favourite principal.

A total 5073 votes were awarded to Nik, who will receive a 2014/15 season pass to Baypark Speedway.

Janet Blaauw was second in the vote with a total 2570 votes, followed by Fiona Hawes who collected 1388 votes.

Before the principals’ race, Baypark action continued as normal with sprint and stock cars taking to the track.

In the sprint sar class, a return to the dirt track was fortunate for Tarmac racer Greg Kilworth who won the feature from 6M James Dahm and veteran racer 66M Skinny Colson.

Kilworth has missed a number of Speedway meetings over the summer months due to his circuit racing commitments where he drives high powered Mazda RX7’s.

271M saloon car driver Steve Cowling bagged a number of points with his fourth feature win of the season in his Tauranga ITM sponsored Pro - ex  corvette on Saturday night.

The SunLive Principals’ Challenge stock car. Photo by: Daniel Hines.

Second was close rival 2NZ Brent McClymont with the third member of the Tauranga ITM team – 274M Dan Corrin in third place.

The stock car class started the evening with a team’s race with the local Baypark Bulldogs team mixing it up against a made up team of fellow mount competitors which claimed victory on this occasion.

Visiting Rotorua stock car driver 81R Damian Orr amassed the most points on the night taking a points win over three heats from 94M Caitlyn Hayward with 55M Joe Carter tied in third.

32M Hayden Cuptil amassed enough points to claim the mini stock class honours in the same car that Nik House drove to victory in the SunLive Principals’ challenge later in the evening.

The next event at ASB Baypark Speedway is the Sprint Car Gold Cup plus Ramp Demo Derby on March 15.

SunLive Principals’ Challenge results are:

Welcome Bay Primary School principal Nik House

Tahatai Coast School principal Ian Leckie

St Mary’s Catholic School principal Ben Fuller

Waihi Central School principal Daryl Aim

Winton Primary School Steve Wadsworth

Aquinas College principal Ray Scott

Omokoroa Point School principal Vicki Knell

Paengaroa School principal Bruce Lendrum

Mount Maunganui Primary School principal Damien Harris

Te Ranga Primary School principal Janet Blaauw

Pahoia School principal Marcus Norrish

Te Puke High School principal Alan Liddle

Pongakawa School principal Craig Haggo

Tauranga Boys’ College principal Robert Mangan

Te Akaui Ki Papamoa principal Bruce Jepson

Greenpark School principal Graeme Lind

Selwyn Ridge School principal Craig Price

Katikati College principal Neil Harray

Tauranga Girls’ College principal Pauline Cowens

Tauranga Primary School principal Fiona Hawes