At 58 years of age, Dimos Stefanopoulos isn’t just chasing win lights, he’s building a drag racing legacy powered by family, and a lifelong love of the sport.
The South Australian business owner, who runs Moss Refrigerated Transport with operations in Wingfield, Mildura and Mount Gambier, will roll into the upcoming Riverbend Nationals for the next round of the NDRC Aeroflow Sportsman Series with more than just a competitive Super Sedan entry. He’ll be joined by his daughter Jorja, marking another chapter in what has become a true family racing operation under the 5758 Racing banner.
Stefanopoulos’ journey in drag racing stretches back to the 1980s, where weekends at Adelaide International Dragway sparked a passion that would shape decades to come. What began as helping friend Bruno Romeo crew on his blue MK1 Cortina soon evolved into car ownership, competition, and eventually a long involvement to the sport.
“I’ve been around it most of my life,” Stefanopoulos said. “From crewing to racing myself, it’s always been about being part of it, and now doing it with my family makes it even more special.”
His early racing days included a successful stint in a Fiat 124 Sports running Super Gas alongside Danny Bucella, before moving into a Pontiac Trans Am Super Stock car. But a tragic turning point came with the loss of close friend and crew chief Chris Stewart in a drag racing accident, which saw Stefanopoulos step away from racing for seven years.
The closure or Adelaide International Raceway saw Stefanopoulos’s drag racing interests wane but still kept in touch attending major events in Sydney and Willowbank with friends. The opening of racing facilities at Tailem Bend reignited the spark, and a chance purchase of a 1973 TC Cortina from Darwin proved to be the perfect re-entry point. Running a Cleveland 383ci on methanol, the Cortina quickly established itself as a consistent bracket performer.
“The Cortina has been a great car for me, really consistent, and we’ve had some wins at Whyalla, The Bend and Portland,” he said. “It’s given me a lot of confidence again.”
After initial frustrating period of trying to race in Super Street with the Cortina being just too fast, Stefanopoulos is now firmly entrenched in Super Sedan competition and is chasing one major milestone, the elusive Gold Christmas Tree.
“That’s the ultimate goal,” he said. “We’ve had wins, but that’s the one everyone wants.”
While his own racing ambitions remain strong, it’s the next generation that is increasingly taking centre stage. Daughters Andrea and Jorja are both actively racing turbocharged Ford XR6 machines, producing 1100hp and 600hp respectively, while Zoe and Eva are also stepping into motorsport through high-powered builds and future plans.
“For my daughter Zoe I’ve built a 2015 VF Malloo by CK Racing Developments to go Roll Racing to start her racing career with a mild all-aluminium 434ci which makes an easy 1100 – 1200hp to the wheels,” said Stefanopoulos.
“Eva, my youngest daughter, I’ve got another 2005 BA XR6 Turbo Ute with a new engine to be built by Horner Performance which is striving for around 1500hp.
“It’s a very proud moment when we’re all involved. The girls are competitive, and they love it. That’s what it’s all about.”
The Riverbend Nationals will see Stefanopoulos begin the new NDRC Aeroflow Sportsman Series season with renewed optimism, following the trials and tribulations of dialling in a new engine combination last year, along with the disappointment of a rain-affected final round where he was also the Super Sedan bracket sponsor.
While daughter Jorja suffered a recent mechanical setback with an engine failure just weeks ago, the team remains confident of being race-ready, thanks to the support of engine builder Graeme Horner and long-time friend and fellow competitor Rick Pfitzner.
“We’ve had a few challenges, but that’s racing,” he said. “Hopefully we do well, but most importantly, we’re out there having fun.”
That philosophy underpins everything Stefanopoulos and his family bring to the track.
Stefanopoulos plans to continue his championship campaign at the Nitro Champs alongside daughters Jorja and Andrea. To support the growing operation, he is currently building a custom transporter aimed at reducing the logistical challenges and rising costs of moving multiple race cars across the country, while also establishing a dedicated team base in Tailem Bend.
Looking ahead, Stefanopoulos has one vision firmly in mind.
“To have all five of us racing together, pitted side by side, that would be one of the proudest moments of my life,” he said.
“My race team gets lots of attention when we’re racing as the young generation can relate with the turbo cars, I just get the older generation most of the time.”
The Riverbend Nationals at South Australia’s Dragway at The Bend will mark round two of the 2026 title chases for both BLAHST Top Fuel and the XPRO Nitro Funny Cars, as well as NDRC championship racing for Pro Alcohol, Pro Mod, Top Doorslammer, and Top Fuel Motorcycle, and the Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship.
Spectator tickets are open now – go to thebend.com.au/riverbend-nationals-2026 for all of the info you need.
To learn more about the NDRC, go to nationaldragracing.com.au
