The 2018 Gulf Western Oil Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway, Queensland, over June 7-10 has confirmed its status as the biggest event on the Oz drag calendar with a massive entry list of 495 spread across 19 categories.

The 51st edition of the largest drag meeting outside North America also incorporates the final round of the 400 Thunder Series with Top Fuel, Pro Slammer, Pro Stock and Pro Alcohol titles on the line.

For the first time this season the Pro series will run the traditional format where the top eight qualifiers advance to race day that features 100 points to the winner, 80 for runner-up, 60 to  semi-finalists and quarter-finalist’s earning 40. Top speed and low ET are worth 5 points.

Despite attracting only six entries, Top Fuel qualifying will play a major role in determining the outcome of the 400T championship. The top two qualifiers will earn a first round bye and consequent direct entry to the semi-finals. 

Local hero, Kelly Bettes, is on track to become the first women in Australia to win a Top Fuel championship and goes into the meet with a narrow 33 points lead over her nearest rival Rapisarda Autosport International ace Damien Harris. 33-year-old Bettes has been in superb form over the back half of the 2017/18 season blitzing her rivals with three consecutive wins. Harris, winner of the inaugural 400T title in 2016 started the season with a superb win at Sydney Dragway has struggled to replicate that form but it would be premature to discount Harris and his tuner Santo Rapisarda Jr from staging a stunning form reversal to snatch the title. RAI duo of reigning champ Wayne Newby and Californian Ashley Sanford are chasing their first wins of the season. Newby has had a wretched run of outs since finishing second to Harris in the opening round at Sydney.   

Sanford, one of the most popular Americans to race in Australia this decade, is making her fifth trip to Australia this season. Her best performance to date was a second place at Willowbank in January.

Victorian Rachelle Splatt, who surprised the pundits with a runner-up finish to Bettes at Sydney last month, will be ready to pounce should her better funded rivals falter.

Western Australian Anthony Begley, best known in recent times for his exploits in the Outlaw Nitro Funny Car series last TF outing, was at his home track - the Perth Motorplex - in January where he match raced fellow sandgroper Mark Sheehan. The popular racer looms as the dark horse in the field but has the talent and experience to go rounds on race day.   

The Pro Slammer title will go down to the wire. John Zappia the most successful racer in the history of the category and rookie sensation Paul Mouhayet have locked horns all season and going into the Winters, Zap, courtesy of a last round win leads by 16 points

With a heavily over subscribed field of 19 entries chasing 8 qualifying spots the first challenge for the two protagonists will be to qualify. Reigning 400T champ Mark Belleri and Texan Frankie Taylor are the two most likely candidates to ambush Mouhayet and Zappia title aspirations. Belleri sitting in third place is well out of contention to win back-to-back titles will be out to claim his first win of the season. Taylor, making his fifth appearance with Team Bray this season, has the talent, experience and racing smarts to add a second win to his scorecard before returning home.  

Queenslander veteran, Steve Reed, holds a comfortable 49 point lead over privateer Russell Mills is poised to win the Top Alcohol championship. Current champ Gary Phillips, the most decorated driver in the history of the category, has logged more laps at Willowbank Raceway than any of his rivals has the experience and track know how to win in front of his home town crowd. Phillips will need to contend with a heavy workload that includes campaigning his ‘53 Studebaker in Pro Slammer.

Pro Stock, with 22 entries, has staged a strong comeback from disappointing single digit car counts earlier this year. Reigning 400T champ Aaron Tremayne, with two wins and two second places, has an insurmountable lead of 91 points over his only rival Jason Hedges. 

The future of the drag racing in Australia is healthy and in good hands if the car count of 54  junior dragsters is any indication.