by John Doig, Australian Correspondent
TOP FUEL
A mere 90 points separate series leader Wayne Newby and Rapisarda Autosport International teammate Damien Harris ahead of the penultimate round of the 2024-2025 season Gulf Western Oil Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway on June 5-8.
“Both the RAI cars are evenly matched,” said Newby. “My side of the garage scored the win at the Riverbend Nationals and finished runner-up three times, most recently to Larry Dixon at Sydney in May, while Damo has a win, two seconds, and a third so far. We’ve faced each other twice in finals this year with a win apiece.”
“The ideal scenario at the Winternationals would be for both RAI cars to race off in the final, but in drag racing, there are no certainties. Whatever happens, we are first and foremost a team, and hopefully, at the end of racing, Damien or myself will hand our team owner, Santo Rapisarda, the Gold Christmas Tree.”
Third-place sitter Phil Read, 74 points behind Harris, opened his account this season with a stunning win at the Spring Nationals, which also included a new Australian record of 3.72. However, the three-time champion has slipped down the charts after a third-place finish at the New Year Nitro Champs in January, followed by a pair of fifth-place finishes and a fourth, to sit 74 points behind Harris.
72-year-old ‘Pommie’ Steve Read returns to his home track for the second time this season. The two-time ANDRA champion last raced at the New Year Nitro meeting, where he scored an upset win Round 1 victory over Phil Read but was forced to sit out the rest of the event due to fire damage at the top end.
A dark horse to upstage his better-credentialled rivals is two-time champion Phil Lamattina, who missed the opening two rounds of the season. His best performance on the comeback trail was a third at the Riverbend Nationals in April.
Western Australian Kyle Putland makes the journey to the Eastern seaboard for the first time this season. His best result to date was a third at the Perth Motorplex Westernationals in March. A career first win beckons if his more experienced and better-funded rivals stumble.
FUNNY CAR
Aeroflow team boss Morice McMillin, after a third in the opening round, has been in sizzling form with three consecutive wins to lead teammate Josh Leahy by 110 points going into the penultimate round of the NDRC Nitro Funny Car Championship.
Leahy’s title aspirations suffered a significant blow at the most recent round when he finished third and collected only 45 points, while ‘Supermac’ won the meet and pocketed 116 points.
Reigning champion Justin Walshe will be seeking amends for a disappointing season that included a fourth, a third, and then missing a round due to illness before finishing as a runner-up to McMillin at the previous round.
Returning for the first time since suffering a shoulder injury while dirt biking, Northern Territorian owner-driver Adam Murrihy is chasing his first-ever Nitro Funny Car victory. His best result to date was runner-up to Leahy in the opening round of the season.
Murrihy faces the unique challenge of living in the NT while his car is housed in Brisbane, 2170 miles away.
The team has been on an upward trajectory after establishing a ‘technical alliance’ with John Force Racing, with Crew Chief Brett Ehmer making several trips to JFR headquarters in Indianapolis.
“We are the only team in Australia to be running a Force package, and their assistance has been invaluable,” said Murrihy. “We also source engine parts from JFR. Technically, we are also one of the few teams in Australia that run the five-disk clutch system. We believe it’s our best option at this point in time.”
“Despite being a single-car operation, we have assembled the resources and parts inventory to take the next step up on the podium. Hopefully, that could happen this weekend at Willowbank.”
The fifth entry is rookie Damon Paton, who finished third at the recent Nitro champs meeting.
DOORSLAMMER
DOORSLAMMER
Doorslammer has attracted 18 entries headed by runaway points leader Russell Taylor. The category racing at Willowbank Raceway for the first time since the 2024 Winternationals when Taylor clinched his maiden NDRC title.
Taylor has dominated the 2024-2025 season with four wins from six starts to hold a comfortable buffer of 186 points over first-round winner Lisa Gregorini and veteran John Zappia.
Rookie sensation Brodie Zappia, nephew of John Zappia, is out of contention to win the title in fourth place and will be making his maiden appearance at Willowbank Raceway.
TOP FUEL MOTORCYCLE
Queenslander Damian Muscat, with four consecutive wins this season, has claimed the 2024-2025 championship.
Traditionally, the Winternationals have been the closing round of the Aussie calendar for Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Doorslammer; however, this season, an extra round has been added to the calendar. The Top Fuel and Funny Car Finals will be held as a one-day event at Sydney Dragway on August 23, and the Doorslammer final will take place at Darwin Hidden Valley Raceway, Darwin, on August 29-30.
