The Grand Champion chase at Red CentreNATS is always one of the highlights of the event, with the contenders having to prove their car’s worth on the drag strip, a tarmac motorkahana and a grass motorkahana. Trailer queens need not apply!

Unlike other events such as Street Machine Summernats, Red CentreNats rules do not allow anyone to win the Grand Champion title more than twice, unless their car has undergone extreme modifications.

However, for the 10th anniversary, the organisers have parked that rule and invited all of the former Grand Champions back to take on the new contenders in 2024. All but two the past winners will be there to duke it out, so it will be spectacular!

Let’s check them out:

Brent Murry, Dodge Dart

Brent and his Dart are the only combo to have two RCN Grand Champ titles to their names, earned in 2023 and 2019. With blown big-block power and Portland Raceway in his backyard to practice on, Brent has to be a top contender for another title.

Nigel Warr, HQ ute

The late Nigel Warr took out the Grand Champion crown in 2022 in his blown BBC-powered HQ ute. Nigel’s close mates and his son Tom got the ute to Motorvation 38 and won another Grand Champion title there. The team are hoping for a repeat performance at RCN #10 – and are bringing a fresh build to unveil as well.

Billy Shelton, VL Commodore

Billy and his turbo-LS powered VL not only won both the Rockynats and RedCentre NATS gongs in 2021 but he has also since put the car into the seven-second zone! With crew chief Paul Butler at this side, Billy is sure to be drawing short odds on another win.

Graham Miller, EH Holden

Brisbane boy Graham has a fleet of tough EH Holdens in the shed, but his 8/71 blown small-block powered sedan mixes show and go perfectly, with flat 10-second time slips to his credit. Graham reports that his new engine is buttoned up and sounding good plugged into the EH on the hub dyno.

Troy David, FJ Holden

One of the quickest cars amongst the RCN alumni is Troy David’s 2019 winning FJ Holden ute dubbed primed. Powered by a twin-turbo LS combo, PRIMED received a big birthday at MPW last year.

John Curwen-Walker, FX Holden

John aka Snapper took out the first Red CentreNATS Grand Champion title in his BOOGY FX. Originally built by Ken Neilson, the FX is a piece of Aussie street machining royalty that was way ahead of its time when we featured it back in 1993! John has had numerous shots at the title since his win and will be back for another go this year.

Gregg Foss, XP Fairmont

While 2016 winner Gregg Foss is no longer with us, his 1UZ-FE powered XP will be at RCN #10 as a tribute to the man.

2017 winner Layton Crambrook would have loved to attend the 10th anniversary event in his HUMBLE HQ Monaro, but alas, the car is currently undergoing a rebuild.

Stay tuned for more Red CentreNATS news!