by John Doig, Australian Correspondent
Second-generation racer Damon Paton will debut in Nitro Funny Car at Round Three of the 2024-2025 NDRC at The Bend Motorsport Park in rural South Australia on April 5-6.
After an apprenticeship in Supercharged Outlaws, the 28-year-old self-employed diesel engineer landed the prize ride as the third member of the Aeroflow Nitro Funny Car alongside team boss Morice McMillin and series leader Josh Leahy on the recommendation of reigning Funny Car champion Justin Walshe.
Paton licensed at Sydney Dragway in January of this year and will drive the Nitro Funny Car previously raced by American Tommy Johnson Jr.
“On the first launch, the car went .088 to 60 feet, then smoked the tires,” said Paton. “It was the most exhilarating and strange feeling I’ve ever experienced. And then, without warning, you’re throwing forward in the belts. It’s a massive eye opener for how quickly things happen in these cars.”
The fourth entrant for the meeting is current FC champion Walshe.
Missing is NT racer Adam Murrihy, who is recovering from a broken collarbone sustained in a recent dirt bike crash.
Round five of the Doorslammer series will give rookie stand-out Brodie Zappia a chance to prove he is more than a home track specialist when he races for the first time outside the Perth Motorplex. The 19-year-old year Western Australian upstaged the cream of Oz slammer royalty to win the previous championship round.
Reigning champ Russell Taylor holds a massive 129-point advantage over second-placed Lisa Gregorini and the meet has been boosted by the return of young gun Ronnie Palumbo and Sydneysider Jeremy Callahan, who crashed out at the last round.
Top Fuel Motorcycle series leader Damian Muscat, with three wins from three starts, will go into the meeting red hot favorite to continue his winning streak in the absence of his nearest rival, Wayne McGuinness.
