State's top drivers to hit the dirt | Northern Rivers Motorsports | Car Racing, Rally Driving, V8 Supercars in Northern Rivers

12th November 2009

The number 73 Dirt Modified that ‘Steady’ Eddie Mackney will drive in the NSW title race at Grafton on Saturday.

THE Grafton Showground speedway will host one of the biggest events on the state speedway calendar this Saturday night with the running of the NSW Dirt Modifieds title.

This class of vehicle is undoubtedly the most spectacular to compete at the Showground.

The cars have very powerful V8 engines and very large tyres that throw up lots of dirt, but because they have no wings on top for extra grip they also slide nearly all the way around the circuit.

The Grafton track always provides hard action for this class as the circuit doesn’t have any straights where you can use some extra power to overtake, so if you want to pass you have to have the suspension set up properly and really force your way past.

The field will be one of the strongest seen in Grafton for years, with a total of 19 drivers having nominated.

Local Jai Stephenson will be able to take the title.

He certainly doesn’t take any prisoners with his very aggressive style but sometimes to win a title event you have to be a bit conservative because, as Jack Brabham used to say, ‘to finish first, first you have to finish’.

‘Steady’ Eddie Mackney will also be in contention in the thrilling class, while other drivers who will be super competitive and well known to Grafton fans are Luke Oldfield, Alan Jarvis and Andrew Pezutti.

The V8 Dirt Modifieds will be supported by Limited Sprinters in the open wheel division and five classes of sedans.

The wild Surfers Paradise Sedans return to provide lots of action with a full field of competitors expected.

The Limited Sedans, Stockers and 4 Cylinder Sedans have all provided good, close racing this season but probably the most action has come from the Junior Sedan class.

Local drivers Dallas Rose and Brayd Stephenson are very competitive and aren’t afraid to do whatever it takes to win.

They may only be young but it is doubtful if any more experienced drivers could go faster they just hold their foot flat all the way around the circuit.

To hold a state title of this importance is a feather in the cap for the new Grafton promoters.

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