Willowbank Raceway will host the opening round of the 2026 National Drag Racing Championship season on January 24–25, with Nitro Funny Car and Pro Alcohol headlining the first major meeting of the new campaign.
The event marks a structural shift for Australian drag racing, with the NDRC adopting a calendar-year championship running from January to October, replacing the traditional July–June split season.
Nitro Funny Car has attracted a five-car field, led by reigning champion Morice “Super Mac” McMillin, the Aeroflow Racing team principal who enters 2026 after one of the most dominant seasons in category history.
McMillin’s 2024–25 campaign produced four wins and two third-place finishes from six starts, capped by an Australian record run of 3.92 seconds at 325 mph set at the Winternationals.
His toughest challenge may come from within the same pit area, with teammate Josh Leahy emerging as a genuine title threat after claiming two victories and three runner-up finishes last season.
Local racer Damon Paton looms as the dark horse. The 26-year-old second-generation driver made an immediate impact following his mid-2025 debut, top-qualifying at the Winternationals and narrowly missing victory in the final against Leahy.
The most experienced driver in the field, 2023–24 champion Justin Walshe, returns seeking redemption after a winless season derailed by a prolonged run of mechanical issues.
Completing the Nitro Funny Car lineup is Adam Murrihy, who resumes competition after missing last season while recovering from injuries sustained in a dirt bike accident.
Pro Alcohol will feature two of the category’s brightest talents, with reigning NDRC champion Daniel Reed and 2025 Winternationals winner Cheyne Phillips headlining an eight-car field.
Phillips arrives with international momentum following a strong showing at the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals, where he qualified fourth before exiting in the opening round on a holeshot.
Both drivers carry elite racing pedigrees, with Reed representing a third-generation drag racing family and Phillips the son of 21-time Pro Alcohol winner Gary Phillips, setting the stage for a compelling early-season showdown.
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