SOME of Australia's best drivers battled it out during the NSW fender bender and junior sedan championships in Gunnedah recently.
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New champions such as Jaiden Santin and Josh Boyd were crowned during the event, but it was a spectacle of a different kind that stole the show.
A high-speed rollover of Trent Keeler's Mustang RSA Outlaw Sedan left the packed crowed in stunned silence midway through the event.
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Fortunately Keeler escaped the crash unscathed, able to walk away from his damaged vehicle.
"It was a bit of a wild ride," Keeler told the Leader.
"To be honest, I didn't really know what was happening because it hasn't really happened to me before.
"One minute I was coming around the bend and the next I was looking at dirt out of the window."
The incident saw Keeler bow out of the competition during the third lap of the night's second heat.
"I have been driving now for about 10 years and this is the first time this has ever happened to me," Keeler said.
"When it happens, you just close your eyes and hope the safety gear does its thing - which luckily it did for me in this case."
Keeler said his next goal would be to repair his damaged pride and joy.
"I'm lucky I have really good sponsors in Blackshaw Smash Repairs, Arc Mining Services and Barron's Tyre and Mechanical," he said.
"Surprisingly, the only thing that was really damaged was the body.
"It will take a bit of time in the shed to fix the tin work and the fiddly stuff, but I was pretty lucky nothing happened to the important stuff such as the engine or the gearbox.
"One of the truly special things about speedway is everyone is always quick to make sure you're alright and offer you a hand to help fix the damage."
In the night's other events, Gunnedah's Jamie Landrigan claimed the NSW fender bender title, fellow locals Matt Cobb and Keith Urquhart taking out second and third respectively.
Tamworth's Paul Macari also had a successful night, finishing third in the street stocker feature.