by John Doig, Australian Correspondent
Rapisarda Autosport International Top Fuel star Wayne Newby and Aeroflow Nitro Funny Car team boss Morice McMillin are on the cusp of winning Australian championships in their respective categories at the final round of the 2024-2025 NDRC season to be held at Sydney Dragway on November 8.
Newby is chasing his third fuel title and holds a comfortable 90-point lead over teammate Damien Harris, while McMillin is on target to claim his second Funny Car championship thanks to an unassailable 140 points advantage over his nearest rival and teammate Josh Leahy.
Victory would move Newby into equal third place on the all-time winningest Australian Top Fuel racers, alongside teammate Harris and Phil Read.
Newby has been a model of consistency this season with two wins, three seconds and a third from six starts.
Harris has clawed his way back from a disastrous round one performance, where he scored a paltry 16 points, to charge up the charts with a win, three seconds, and a third, as well as posting a new Australian record of 3.68 ET, 331 MPH in round three.
“The Grand Final was originally scheduled for August but was canceled due to the weather,” said Newby. “Since then, we have raced a non-championship round at The Bend, where we set a PB of 332 MPH and Damien ran an Australian record 333 MPH.
“The last time we raced at Sydney was the Nitro Champs in May, where we finished runner-up to our American teammate Larry Dixon and ‘Damo’ finished third.”
“This time around, it’s a one-day-only affair with a single qualifying run and then straight into three rounds of racing. How that will play out will be the challenge for all the teams. There is a very strong chance that the championship will go down to the wire and be decided on the last run.”
“To seal the championship with a win at our home track, Sydney Dragway, and hand our team owner, Santo Rapisarda, the Stan Sainty trophy for winning the championship would be an awesome way to finish the season.”
Third-placed Phil Read began the season in spectacular fashion, taking a win and setting a new Australian record of 3.72 ET. However, since then, a string of mechanical setbacks has foiled his chances of becoming a four-time champion. The lowest point came at their last event at The Bend in October, when the car was engulfed in flames and all but destroyed from the cockpit back. “There’s no arguing the fact that it has been a disappointing season and we are fired up to make up for that at the final round,” said Read.
Two-time champion and team owner-driver Phil Lamattina, who sat out the first two rounds, is chasing his first win of the season.
“We need to execute better,” said Lamattina, reflecting on the team’s performance this year. “This weekend, we are hoping to put an exclamation mark on the year and set the team up and running for next season. We’ve nailed turning the car around at the workshop and getting our parts inventory sorted. What we haven’t nailed is our performance on the racetrack, but that will come. We are focusing on the decision-making process around getting the car tuned up correctly. The benchmark for the category is the Rapisarda’s, and that is the level we are aiming for.”
The oldest competitor in the field, 72-year-old British-born Steve Read, ventures from his home track, Willowbank Raceway, for the first time this season. While unlikely to be a contender for outright honors, the self-funded racer is capable of causing an upset if his better-credentialed rivals should stumble.
Adding spice to the Top Fuel title battle is the decision of team owner Santo Rapisarda to run a third car for second-generation racer Shane Olive.
After an illustrious career in Doorslammer, Fuel Altered and Nitro Funny Cars, Olive then raced two seasons with Lamattina Top Fuel Racing before the team cut back to a single entry. Olive made his debut with RAI at the Christmas Showdown meeting in December 2023. In recent times, he has focused on guiding his daughter, Brittany’s, burgeoning career in Pro Alcohol.
“I’m thrilled to be given the opportunity by Santo and the Rapisarda family to go racing for the team this weekend,” said Olive. “It is a real honor to be asked to drive one of their cars. Even though the championship is between Wayne and Damien, I’m out there to win. One thing is certain when you race for Santo, there are no favorites or team orders.”
In Nitro Funny Car, McMillin has dominated this season with four consecutive wins after finishing third in round one. “This is a special meeting for the team,” said McMillin.
“We are unveiling a new livery honoring our team owners Graeme and Wendy Cowin’s Nitro Funny Car ‘Aussie Raider’ that was runner-up at the 1987 NHRA Winternationals — the first, and still only, Australian car to make the final of an NHRA Funny Car event.”
“Carrying these colors isn’t just about looking good on the track,” says McMillin. “It is about celebrating the man who built this team and the legacy he created half a world away. The car inspired a generation of racers and now we get to bring it back and hopefully inspire the next one.”
Third-generation racer Josh Leahy, in his sophomore season, has been the only driver to challenge the all-conquering ‘Supermac’ this season. His scorecard reads ‘victory’ in the opening round and ‘finishing runner-up’ on three occasions. A personal best of 3.93 ET at his last outing augurs well for his chances this weekend to claim his second win of the year.
Reigning champion Justin Walshe will be seeking amends for a disappointing season that includes a best of runner-up to McMillin at the Nitro Champs in May.
Rookie Damon Paton, who debuted at round three, has made his mark on the category with a pair of third places and has emerged as a rising star; with a modicum of luck, he could very easily upstage his more experienced rivals.
Second-generation Top Fuel racer Luke Shepherd, who has raced with RAI and PremiAir Hire, is making his debut in Nitro Funny Car with team owner Tim McCarthy.
