Ex-pat New Zealander Morice McMillin claimed Top Fuel Funny Car honors at the Gulf Western Oil Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway June 8-11.

The premier event on the domestic calendar raced under the traditional eight-car elimination format and quarter-mile race distance, except for TFFC, which ran under the all-in three-round format. 

With several classes not attracting sufficient entries, the top qualifiers were rewarded with a first-round bye on race day and direct entry to the semi-final round.

TOP FUEL FUNNY CAR

The feature category attracted five entries led by McMillin, who top qualified ahead of teammate Brandon Gosbell, Justin Walshe, Adam Murrihy and Western Australian veteran Anthony Begley. 

On race day McMillin stamped his authority over the field when he opened his account with a new Funny Car record of 4.77, 310 mph.

Gosbell led all the way to defeat Begley and, in the process, stopped the timers with a 4.69 at the relatively ‘slow speed’ of 286 mph to reset McMillin’s Australian record.
Walshe, on a holeshot, also set a personal best of 4.97, 286 mph to account for Murrihy.

Round two and McMillin cruised to the A-Final after Walshe cut a red light.

Gosbell joined McMillin in the final after a comfortable holeshot win over Murrihy, while the luckless Begley, on a solo, had clutch issues on the hit.
 
The final, held on a rapidly cooling track, ended quickly when Gosbell spun the tires handing the win to McMillin, who clocked 4.70/322 mph. "I honestly don't know what to say," said McMillin. "What a weekend. The team worked so hard at the track and back at the shop to get these cars ready to go racing; hats off to Brandon, who built the engine for my car." 

PRO ALCOHOL

Pro Alcohol was the standout category. Second-generation racer Sheyne Phillips, the son of 22-time Alcohol champion Gary Phillips, top qualified with an Australian record of 5.39/256 mph driving the same car his father had previously won 11-titles.

Reigning Winters champ Steve Read was a shock loser in round one to veteran Pro Slammer racer Andrew Searle making his debut in Top Alcohol, while number four qualifier Greg Clayton led all the way to down rookie Caan Childs.

Phillips took a holeshot win over highly fancied local John Cannuli in first round but that was the end of his campaign after being outpaced by Clayton in the semi-final.
 
Searle advanced to the final round after a holeshot win over fellow Queenslander Tim Clifton. 

Clayton claimed his first-ever Winternational title after heading Searle off the start line with a .35 to a .85-reaction time followed by a quick pedal.

“This feels good,” said Clayton. “In the semi-final, we had a fuel line come loose, torched a piston and a whole lot of teams came over to help us get on track for the final. Even 'Searly' leaned us some parts." 

PRO SLAMMER

A lowly car count of five was boosted by the return of one of the biggest names in the category and four-time Winters champ, Ben Bray. 

Local racer Paul Cannuli chasing back-to-back Winternationals top qualified and with a solo and comfortable win over little known Peter Lovering, made it to the trophy round. Bray qualified in the number two spot, then advanced to the final after a solo and driving around local racer Russell Pavey in the semi-final.

The eagerly anticipated final between two of the top East coast teams in Australia ended abruptly when Bray went into a tire shake just beyond the Christmas tree.

PRO STOCK

There was no surprise when Aaron and Tyrone Tremayne dominated Pro Stock. Aaron top qualified ahead of Tyrone chasing his third Winternational title. Honors in the final going to Tyrone on a holeshot.

“We struggled a little bit over the weekend with my car,” said Tremayne. “I finally, finally, beat my brother at the Winters. I got one back on him. He has been so damn good over the years; any time you can beat him, you know you've done your job."

PRO MOD

Zoran Gajic, the dominant force in Pro Mod in recent years top qualified and defeated New Zealander Rod Harvey in the final. Harvey walked away uninjured after crashing heavily near quarter-track.

"Obviously, you never want to see what happened to Rod," said Gajic. "It’s good to see he's going to be alright and will be back again and ready to go. We also had an issue when only one of the chutes came out. Sometimes that happens and you can’t really prepare for it. Fortunately, there was a bit of extra road at the end and I was able to pull up in time.”

Victor Bray, one of the all-time greats of Australian drag racing and recently inducted into the Motorsport Australian Hall of Fame, was honored as Grand Marshall for the event.