The tough as nails NSW Championship Series has launched for 2024 with a strong roll up of racers for round one. Despite some rain slowing things up, the event was finished on time with racers fighting to take early points to begin their track championship campaigns.
Super Comp had a couple of racers, Anthony Maatouk in his world record holding RB powered GTR Pro Mod slipped in to AA/SC designation and won the final with a 6.15 on a 6.00 index against Peter Mammone’s B/AP Mustang. In Boosted Outlaws Darren Hubbard with his supercharged Holden knocked off Chris Denny’s beautiful blown FED with a 6.55 (6.40DI) to a 7.66(7.51DI), and after three rounds of Chicago Shootout newcomer Mike Lawson took a solo in the Extreme Bike final.
Leo Georgis in his cool looking Escort panel van holeshot Joe Gattellari to the win in Top Sportsman, for Modified the big burnout producing Rocco Romano dragster gapped George Bukureshliev at the tree, and even a 7.898 on a 7.89 could not keep the FED in front at the stripe.
In Super Sedan, Carl ‘Chevy’ Taylor stepped up for the win his big Bubbletop. Taylor combated a .000 thrown from Andrew Little in the semi final with a .004 of his own to move into the final where he defeated David Gruber’s Torana. While in Modified Bike, Sean Ricketts didn’t contest many rounds last season but the former champion looks set to take a crack at this year’s title with a win in round one of the series, opponent Lorenzo Capogna did make it easy for Ricketts in the final with a cherry.
A red light decided the Super Street final as well with David McGlinn on the gas too early in his HQ handing Craig Warren a gift in the final and a early lead in the championship. In Super Gas it was .010 versus .008 at the tree between Nick Polito and Roy Romeo, at the stripe Romeo stopped the clocks first with a 10.38 for the win.
Into the junior classes, Jacob Longo nabbed the winner’s trophy over Georgia Liefting and in the debut of Junior Drag Bike as a championship class, Adam Jordan took the inaugural win over a breaking out Joshua Bertenshaw in an all Kawasaki duel.
Finally the introductory street classes returned, but it was the experienced Bill Hatzi taking the win light in the Street Fighter final against Shaun Dartnell who broke out by a smidge. Regular Sydney Dragway official Angela Hunt cleaned up in Street Bike with a win over Phil Gardner on the back of a wicked quick .001 reaction in the final.
The next round of the NSW Track Championship Series is on Mar 23
NEWS & NOTES
SPEEDSTER – There is a new no-bar bike speed king in Australia. Darren Foley blasted out a 221.23mph run aboard his turbo Hayabusa on the back of a 6.89 ET in Extreme Bike. Ooft! – the fastest pass on a no-bar bike ever in Australia.
THIRD GEN DEBUT – The Polito name is synonymous with drag racing in Australia, now third generation racer Nick Polito recently licensed in dad Tony’s iconic ex Pro Stock Ford Probe for Super Gas duties. Nick in his first competitive meeting in Super Gas was up on the wheel all event with tough reactions and just fell short of the event win. His brother Joe Polito Jr has also begun his licensing procedures in the Probe as well.
GIRL POWER – The girls are taking over Modified, Brooke Rapisarda – wife to Santo Jr – has teamed up with Blake Racing, utilising one of their stunning FEDs to run in the bracket. Brooke licensed at the end of 2023 and this event was her competitive debut, cheekily defeating Jess Turner -partner to Santino Rapisarda – in round one.
