The finals field included the defending champion Darcy Hunter of Rotorua, but there was an ominous look about the strong representation from the Palmerston North track. A major tangle in the first race saw a number of major casualties taken out of contention including Hunter and top South Island contender Dale Ewers. Shane Penn won from the front row.
Four cars were missing from the second heat, which while lacking in big hits, saw plenty of incidents that would effect the final outcome. Englishman Frankie Wainman spun on the opening lap, while Peter Rees and Simon Joblin came from the back quarter of the field to place in the top-7 behind race winner Carey Harwood of Nelson.
Six drivers were in contention going into the final heat. Penn led on 48pts, but was starting from grid 26. Next was Scott Redfern on 46pts and off grid 16. One point back was Joblin who sat on grid 10, then Scott Miers who had amasses 43 pts but was further back on grid 18. Rees and Stan Hickey were tied on 42pts, but had the favourable grids of 4 and 5.
Hickey was the first eliminated in turn one in a mammoth hit from Craig Humphries, while Miers fell to the back of the field. Rees had got to the front, while Joblin escaped a shot from Ewers. Penn wasn't so lucky when he was slowed by Robbie Mabey. Rees continued to lead while Redfern was attacked by Humphries, and Joblin was spun. Wainman soon passed Rees for the lead and this is how it stayed, while Joblin charged back through the pack after his mishap to finish fourth.
That fourth placing gave Joblin the title by 1-point from Rees, while Penn and Wainman were tied for third, with Penn winning the runoff. While the top-3 were from different parts of the country, they all race for Palmerston North, making it an ominous result for the rest of the country to swallow.
Joblins win created the first father-son title holders, following his father Russells' victory in 1986.