Five nitro funny cars, 13 Top Doorslammers, nine Top Alcohol funny cars and dragsters, five Pro Stock Motorcycles and 152 sportsman racers will celebrate the beginning of 2009 in high octane style at Willowbank Raceway this Friday and Saturday, January 2 and 3, for round one of the ENZED International Nightfire New Year Series.

USA Nitro Funny Car legend Gary Densham will be on hand alongside the Australian stars of the sport to salute the New Year in their unique way, with Densham and four Aussie Nitro Funny Cars set for a USA vs AUS Showdown over the two days.

The Event will also host ANDRA Championship rounds for the Top Doorslammer, Pro Stock Motorcycle and Top Alcohol categories, with the Top Alcohol racers set for an extra challenge with their last competitive hit-out taking place just two days ago in Sydney – handing them a race against time to be ready for Friday’s qualifying. Five nitro funny cars, 13 Top Doorslammers, nine Top Alcohol funny cars and dragsters, five Pro Stock Motorcycles and 152 sportsman racers will celebrate the beginning of 2009 in high octane style at Willowbank Raceway this Friday and Saturday, January 2 and 3, for round one of the ENZED International Nightfire New Year Series.

USA Nitro Funny Car legend Gary Densham will be on hand alongside the Australian stars of the sport to salute the New Year in their unique way, with Densham and four Aussie Nitro Funny Cars set for a USA vs AUS Showdown over the two days.

The Event will also host ANDRA Championship rounds for the Top Doorslammer, Pro Stock Motorcycle and Top Alcohol categories, with the Top Alcohol racers set for an extra challenge with their last competitive hit-out taking place just two days ago in Sydney – handing them a race against time to be ready for Friday’s qualifying.

Willowbank Raceway Managing Director Steve Bettes said he was looking forward to two days of high speeds and high entertainment come Friday and Saturday.

“The ENZED International Nightfire New Year Series has a bit of everything – from nitro funny cars to Top Doorslammers to Pro Stock Bikes to Top Alcohol funny cars and dragsters and plenty of sportsman racing, and that is just round one!” said Bettes.

“Round two on the 16th and 17th of January will see the nitro funny cars and sportsman brackets back on track alongside the Top Fuel and Top Bike categories.

“With the Top Alcohol and Top Fuel brackets taking to the track at the weekend in Sydney we have already seen some great performances including an all female Group One winners circle – with the USA’s Hillary Will taking the win in Top Fuel and our local Debbie Reed taking the win in Top Alcohol – so I am sure both rounds will have plenty of action for the fans.

“In the USA vs AUS Nitro Funny Car showdown I am sure none of the four Aussie Nitro Funny Car drivers are going to want to see the trophy on a plane to the US, so Gary Densham is sure to have a fight on his hands which is sure to provide some thrilling racing.”

The ENZED International Nightfire New Year Series will hit the track over two massive events with the first featuring International 7000hp Nitro Funny Car Competition and rounds of the ANDRA Championship Drag Racing Series for Top Alcohol, Top Doorslammer and Pro Stock Motorcycle on January 2/3.

The second round of the New Year Series on January 16/17 will see a complete Nitro Invasion when the International 7000hp Nitro Funny Car Competition plus the 7000hp Nitro Top Fuel Dragsters and 1500hp Nitro Top Bikes hit the strip to complete the two-round hit-out and a combination that has not been seen in Australia for years.

There is no doubt there will be a new performance standard set for Nitro Funny Cars in Australia with Densham ready to set the standard and the Australian entrants keen to step up to the mark .

The ENZED International Nightfire New Year Series is one of the jewels in the crown in the recently revamped major Event calendar for Willowbank Raceway – which kicked off with the new-for-2008 Spring Top Fuel Championships in September.