Aucklander Ben Harding is enjoying grabbing a $5000 payday after racing from deep in the pack to win an exciting Bay Super Sundown 30-lapper on Saturday night.

A regular winner at Baypark a decade ago, Ben has only raced occasionally in the last five years, but he’s never stopped studying the engineering of Super Saloon Cars and has combined trips to the USA with modifications to his car.

“It’s still the same old Hypermac, but we’ve cut the front of it, cut the back off it, and done a lot of work with the shocks,” says Ben.

“I didn’t race at all last season but we’ve done a lot of R&D. This season I did four meetings to test the car before [top US racer] Bobby Pierce came down to race it.”

Ben had raced at Palmerston North on Friday night and says his car handled better during the heat races than in the feature.

“After the heat race tonight we made a few changes to car – a couple we knew would work and some that were an experiment. Everything worked and I could run the top and the bottom.”

Ben's charge from grid nine began with passing three cars on the opening lap and by lap three he was battling with Scott Hayward for third place as Steve Cowling and Craig Cardwell led the race.

Ben hit the front on lap 14 and led home Steve by a clear 3.9secs with Scott in third while Napier’s Steve Flynn advanced from grid 10 to fourth.

Ben Harding celebrates his Bay Super Sundown victory. Photo: Supplied.

Also cashing in on Saturday night was Tauranga’s Heather Elmsly who drove a Honda Accord to victory in the Metalman Recyclers Demolition Derby.

While demo derbies are often billed as `last man standing’ contests, the annual Baypark event is developing another reputation with Heather becoming the third consecutive female winner.

The close racing from the F2 Midgets this summer has mainly been a duel between James Earl and Corbin Anderson.

The pair were joined by Leyton Kendall to produce a three-way battle for honours with Corbin taking his second win of the season ahead of Leyton and James.

Ash Henstock was the pace setter in the Stock Cars with two wins and a second placing to secure the Easter honours ahead of Ryan Decke. A points tie for third was decided by fastest laps with Chloe Ingram edging out Paula Henderson.

Tauranga’s Bryan Fraser edged out the challenge from several fast visiting drivers to top score in the three-race contest for Youth Mini Stocks. A win and two seconds put Bryan two points clear of Taranaki racer Bronson Pierce.

The final meeting of the season featuring the Super Stock Rumble is on Saturday April 13.