Morice McMillin has bounced back from finishing fifth of six starters at the previous round of the NDRC championship to score the easiest of wins when series leader Justin Walshe was pushed off the startline in the A-Final of the Goldenstates from Perth Motorplex, November 25.

Teammate Brandon Gosbell claimed the win in the B-Final against local star Anthony Begley. Adam Murrihy, on a solo, scrapped the wall and ended in the gravel trap in the C-Final.  

With only five entries, the Top qualifying spot came with the bonus of a bye in round one.

Despite an early shutoff, Gosbell upstaged McMillin to take the number one spot with a new track record of 4.78/304 mph. 

Walshe claimed third ahead of Murrihy and Begley’s weekend got off to a dismal start when he snapped a belt on the hit then followed up with an early shut down to end up fifth. 

On Race Day, McMillin set the pace when he cruised to the A-Final thanks to an easy win over Begley then a bye in round two.

Walshe was handed the win in the first round when Murrihy clipped a timing block. He then outgunned Gosbell to make his second consecutive final this season.

The eagerly awaited A-final was an anti-climax when Walshe was pushed away from the start line allowing McMillen to take the easiest of victories and delighting the crowd with a new track record of 4.73/305 mph.

“I am absolutely gutted for Justin. You always want to win, but it is much better when it is a side-by-side Nitro Funny Car pass,” McMillin said.

 Gosbell led all the way to take a comfortable win in the B-final with a 5.12/238 mph to ‘Beggs’ on a 5.42/248 mph.

Earlier in the day Gosbell’s weekend turned sour after he was pushed off the start line with a fluid leak on his bye run, then, a defeat at the hands of Walshe in round two. Begley’s journey to the final included a split fuel line against McMillin and a win over Murrihy, who could not fire up. 

DOORSLAMMER - There were emotional scenes during the second round of qualifying when rookie Ronnie Palumbo downed Lisa Gregorini in the Doorslammer final held over from the previous round at The Bend. 

Both parties were chasing their maiden win in the category.

Gregorini was first off the line and hung on until being gathered up by Palumbo who took victory by an estimated six inches and .006 sec.

“I don’t have any words,” said Palumbo. “She treed me – well done Lisa. It was an awesome race. I want to thank my team owners Maurice and Mary Fabietti, my sponsors and my family for coming to Perth from Sydney.” 

“Isn’t this just fantastic,” added Maurice Fabietti. “Whether it was Lisa or us who won, we didn’t care, we just wanted a winner and we got that tonight – fortunately it was us.”

Little known local Russell Taylor, in only his second ever ’slammer meeting, caused a massive boil over when he accounted for top qualifier John Zappia on a holeshot in the A-Final. 
“To come up against John and to take home a win and a tree, my first Christmas Tree ever – this is definitely a good moment,” Russell Taylor said.

Despite a stunning reaction time of .006 sec, Palumbo was outpaced by Daniel Gregorini in the B-Final, while rookie Jay Dee Dack took the honors against Lisa Gregorini in the C-Final. 

PRO ALCOHOL -- 71-year-old Russell Mills' country trip to the 'plex paid dividends after he cruised to an easy win in the A-Final against Craig Glassby.

Mills gapped the field with a 5.70 to dominate qualifying ahead of local pair Nigel Johnson on 5.79 and Glassby with a 5.81.

Mills dominated race day with easy wins over locals Paul Carey and Danny Costello on the way to the final against Glassby. Mills was untroubled to score his second win of the season, leading all the way with a 5.58/252 mph.