by Jon Doig, Australian Correspondent
Age is really a number as 71-year-old Russell Mills, the oldest racer in the field and reigning champ, reaffirmed his status as the driver to beat this season when he claimed victory over Chris Hargrave in the first round of the 2024-2025 Australian Professional Drag Racing Championship [PDRC] season at Sydney Dragway, November 15-16.
Joining Mills in the winners’ circle were Pro Mod standout Zoran Gajic, who accounted for popular veteran Peter Gratz, and long-time racer John Barbagallo, who upstaged reigning champ Rob Dekert in Pro Stock. 1999 ANDRA champ Jason Lee caused a major stir when he defeated reigning champ Luke Crowley in Pro Stock Bike.
The meeting started rocky when PDRC canceled day one due to persistent showers and a cold track.
The all-run format meeting was held under IHRA Australia sanctioning. Due to the weather, race day pairings in Rd 1 were decided on the finishing order of last season – those without points were subject to a random draw.
The two-day meeting almost became a three-day marathon when the finals were held just before midnight.
PRO ALCOHOL – Mills opened his account with a solo and led all the way against second-generation racer Cruz Lovering to make the final. Hargraves’ passage included a come-from-behind win over rookie Cheyne Phillips, son of legendary Gary Phillips, and a solo run that featured a mind-boggling reaction time of .000. In the final, Mills drove around Hargraves and stopped the timers with a 5.53/266 mph to Hargraves’ 5.60/260 mph.
PRO MOD – The category emerged as the surprise of the meeting, with a strong entry list of 15 and some outstanding racing.
Zoran Gajic, runner-up to Craig Burns last season, cruised to the final with an easy win over little-known local Danny Makdessi, who shut off near half-track and then led all the way against local Joe Gauci. Gratz took his first win when his rival, the highly rated Neil Murphy, cut a red light, then was handed a place in the final when Rob Campisi crossed the center line.
The final was a thriller. Gajic first out of the blocks with a .039 to Gratz on a .042 and held on to take the win with a 5.89/254 mph to Gratz on 5.94/245 mph.
PRO STOCK – Veteran Barbagallo was in ominous form from the opening round when he scored a holeshot win over Aussie record holder Chris Soldatos, then backed it up with victory over local Clint George.
In a quirk of the all-run seedings format, reigning champ Rob Dekert, the hot favorite going into the meeting, drove around rookie Thomas Leake in both rounds one and two to make the final.
Underdog Barbagallo jumped to an early lead in the final and was never headed to take the win at 6.99/196 mph, with Dekert at 6.95/198 mph.
PRO STOCK BIKE – The field was reduced to six entries when several competitors failed to license.
Lee won in round one when his opponent Scott White red-lit and then outpaced fellow veteran Paul Andrews.
Crowley, the hottest of favorites across the pro classes, carved up Andrews in round one and was handed the win when luckless White crossed the center line.
The final ended on the green. Crowley was never a chance after a .278 light to Lee’s slick .037.
Round two of the series is at The Bend South Australia, in February.
