MARK RAYMONT’S IMPRESSIVE MODIFIED SEDAN $10,000 FEATURE WIN

Feature photo: The Modified Sedan $10,000 Hot Pursuit top three . . . from left to right it’s runner-up Dylan Burrow, winner Mark Raymont and third-placed Nathan MacDonald.

Words by Dennis Newlyn – All photos by Tony Powell.

IT has been described as one of the most exciting sedan races – regardless of category – witnessed at Castrol Lismore Speedway in more recent history of the long running showground venue.

A big statement . . . and it took a big race on Saturday night, January 13, to justify what many long term observers rated so highly.

Mark Raymont overcame enormous white-hot pressure and claimed the $10,000 winner’s payout after he drove to a splendid victory in the 2024 Clements Haulage Modified Sedan Hot Pursuit 30-lap main event.

He was followed to the chequered flag by runner-up Dylan Burrow and third-placed Nathan MacDonald. A margin of 0.415 of a second separated the top two!

Mark Raymont powers around the Castrol Lismore Speedway.

It was a race that had a bit of everything: drama, excitement, any number of potential winners after some fast action in the heats, and a few stoppages in the main event to ensure the pressure stayed on Raymont.

That pressure typifies that nearing mid-race distance he put down the fastest lap time of the feature event when he stopped the timer at 16.09 seconds!

But, though it all, Mark Raymont, who started from pole after he won the shuffle, got the job done. “It was a tough race and there was plenty of pressure, that’s for sure,” he said after the trophy presentation.

What made the event so memorable was the heavy hitters who threw everything at the ultimate winner and at various times during the event, it looked like Raymont would be passed – plenty of side-by-side action always ensured Mark would never have it easy.

He didn’t!

But he stuck to his guns, rarely moved off the pole line, and had the speed to match anyone who charged up beside him or attempted to dive under him . . . and there were a number of contenders.

Madison Harkin was right with Mark Raymont after he lost out in the pole shuffle to Raymont for the choice pole position and filled the outside front row starting position.

As the race unfolded Joel Berkley, who started out of position seven, was at one stage up to second and looked set to go right on with the job.

But Raymont found something extra.

Keeping it in the Raymont family name, Aidan was also moving strongly into contention, while Burrow, MacDonald, and a very hard charging Max Clarke, passed plenty of cars and loomed into contention in the traffic snarl right behind Mark Raymont.

All pressed Mark Raymont lap after lap.

While Mark might have had the luxury of starting from the pole position, Raymont had pressure and contenders knocking on his rear bumper from the outset.

A few stoppages put added pressure on Mark Raymont who always had to get the jump on the opposition at race resumption . . . sometimes only narrowly, but he always turned back the opposition. One of the reasons why this event was such an enthralling contest.

It was also a drive that made this race so spectacular and exciting.

At the chequered flag, the top three were rounded out by fourth placed Max Clarke, followed by Aidan Raymont, Josh Harm, David Head, Brendan Kennedy, Alex Sweeney while Shane Langton rounded out the top ten.

Yes, there were some hard luck stories: Harkin,  an example, who was top pointscorer from the heats.

But nothing can be taken away from the win by Mark Raymont.

Earlier in the night he showed glimpses of what was to come when he took out the final heat and put himself in a strong position to go after the choice pole starting spot in the pole shuffle from heat points he scored.

Jake Hawkins, won the B-main from Sam Mooney, Shannon Blackburn and Kent Shelford – and all  qualified to the rear of the main event field.

Other heat wins went to Harkin, Burrow, Brendan Kennedy, Aidan Raymont and Brett Baxter.

Feature race winners from the other programmed categories were: Matt Hardy (AMCAs), Connor Reeves (RSA Street Stocks), Jeremy Wade (RSA Four Cylinder Sedans) and Brodie Holliman (SSA Junior Sedans).