The 2024 NSW Track Championship Series creeps closer to its crescendo with just two more rounds left for competitors to make their championship moves. Round 6 of the series ran smoothly and racers made the most of the ideal September conditions that bathed Sydney Dragway.
Boosted Outlaws was an all blown field for this event, and it was a case of rinse and repeat for Anthony Bool with his blown BA Falcon who backed up his event win in round five with another here. Final opponent Kurtis Read suffered tough luck breaking out by just 6-thou at the stripe, Bool who has only contested the last two rounds of the series ultimately remains undefeated, but it’s Britany Olive who still sits comfortable in the championship lead.
Alex Borg showed up Extreme Bike with his new turbo Hayabusa two-wheel bullet and reeled off a win in the final on the back of a 7.02 at a stomping 212mph against Brendan Miglionico.
An all Joe final in Top Sportsman pitted championship leader Joe Gattellari against Sydney Dragway staple racer Joe Sorbello. Gattellari had luck on his side with a substantial holeshot going to Sorbello, but a safe 8.529 (8.52 DI) at the stripe brought on the win light after Sorbello went to quick.
The rear-engine dragster women fought back at this round against the FED attack in Modified. The all-lady final saw Chelsea Smith steer her dragster to its second event win of the season defeating Jess Turner in her dragster. The FEDs of George Bukureshliev and CJ Davies still it atop the championship table and look to be the pair who will fight it out for the championship with just two rounds left.
In Super Sedan, Rex Webster recorded his first win with his Austin A40 after 14 years of racing it. Carl ‘Chevy’ Taylor looked to have the final in the bag early with the holeshot, but gave up the win after hitting the stripe just 3 thou too quick!
It has taken six event, but Sean Ricketts has finally been beaten this season in Modified Bike with Matthew Hunt proving it is possible in round two of eliminations. Hunt carried the winning form into the final where he unfortunately red lit against Geoff Veigel.
Brayden Stewartson upped his game after a runner-up finish in Super Street with his Audi RS3 last event to win status at this event. Sportsman stalwart Luke ‘Tex’ Griffiths was too eager to start his chase in the final by a mere one-hundredth of a second, picking a cherry off the tree.
In Super Gas, Vince Panetta chalked up his first event win of the season in his Torana. In a double-breakout final, Panetta’s 9.895 trumped Joe Catanzariti’s 9.886.
Into the Junior classes and Savanna Condello came home with the Junior Dragster trophy after defeating Jake McNamara in the final. In Junior Bike Lincon Delios earnt his first ever win in the class, outriding class gun and championship leader Joshua Bertenshaw in the final.
Street Fighter was won by Danny Stadelmaier and for Ford in another double-breakout dual over his Holden driving opponent Michael Zahra. While in Street Bike, Angela Phipps achieved what her husband (Matthew Hunt) didn’t earlier in Modified Bike, winning the event after she rode around Andrew Riches in the final.
The next round of the NSW Championship Series in on Oct 19.
NEWS & NOTES
Patience pays off: It’s been a long time coming for Rex Webster after winning his first event with his big block Austin A40 ute. Rex has been racing the Austin for around 14 years which has had a long history in the sport. Starting out as Swamp Rat with the late Mal Gower, the car’s chassis was lengthened when Gower went Supercharged Outlaws racing in it, before spending a short time in the hands of Chad Taylor prior to Rex owning it. Who remembers Rex’s legendary FJ Holden from that dominated the Street Machine show car scene during the 80s?
Heavyweight hauler: All steel Devil’s Taxi Valiant weighing in at a meaty 3100lbs romped to another PB – 6.121 at 232.95MPH. With Grudge kings rapidly approaching Danny Makdessi is ready to rumble in Pro Street.
Pro Stock legacy: A reunion 30 years in the making happened at the event with Joe Polito reunited with his 80s Pro Stock Cortina.
Owen James had returned the Cortina to the track earlier this year after it had been mothballed for decades, and last weekend the Polito team took the opportunity to pair the car up with the car Polito replaced the Cortina with – his Ford Probe now raced by his grandsons in Super Gas.
King Kong smash: A touch of nitro was on show with Graeme Frawley continuing to impress as he comes to grips with the ‘King Kong’ Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Car, stomping out a 5.49 and 5.43 at over 270mph in further testing during the event.
Event gallery by Cackling Pipes.
