In an action-packed night of racing at Western Springs Speedway it was Michael Pickens that came away with the spoils, taking a dominant win in the 35-lap New Zealand Midget Grand Prix and also taking victory in the inaugural Midget Triple Crown series, of which the event was the final round.

Pickens was top qualifier after winning both his heat races and lined-up alongside his long-time rival, America's Jerry Coons Jr. The pair battled across the opening three laps until a caution for a spinning back-marker. After the restart, Pickens cleared out while Coons became involved in a battle with Brad Mosen, before the American made a small mistake, riding over the wheel of a back-marker, forcing him wide and, after another dose of contact with Hayden Williams trying to re-join the race, slipped outside of the top ten places.

Pickens continued to extend his lead throughout lapped traffic, eventually lapping the field as high up as sixth place in a simply dominant display, which saw the four-time New Zealand champion also taking his fourth NZ Midget Grand Prix title, more than any other driver has achieved in the history of the Grand Prix. He lead home Mosen, some half a lap back, with Australian driver Nathan Smee rounding out the podium spot. But there was drama at the finish with Jerry Coons Jr. and Hayden Williams coming together in the final corner, the pair both ending their races in the concrete wall less than half a lap from home.

This meant that Pickens took out the Triple Crown series, with young up and coming driver Shane O'Connor in claiming second for the series and Coons Jr. taking our third.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PW4jCbGIJBc#!