Behind the butterfly wheel of the Gulf Western Oil Sainty/Holmes Funny Car at just 22 years old, Cruz Lovering will be going head to head with a field of seasoned performers that includes the best there ever has been in Pro Alcohol this weekend (November 15/16) at Sydney Dragway.
As the son of Top Doorslammer racer Peter Lovering, Cruz was born into the high performance life, absorbing every aspect he could growing up. His father’s team gave Cruz an early introduction into drag racing and the ideal opportunity to learn the skills and knowledge needed for what was to come.
“From an early age my passion for high-performance vehicles or bikes was inevitable,” said Cruz Lovering. “My mum’s first car at 18 was a ’57 Chevy, and my dad’s was a ’55 Chevy – so the thrill of speed and precision has always been in my blood. Now, at 22, I’m fully immersed in the world of cars, boats, and motorbikes, where high performance and engineering meet.
“Growing up at the track, I’ve been surrounded by the technicalities of drag racing such as clutches, blowers, turbos, parachute packing, and engine repairs. My dad, Peter, has been a Top Doorslammer racer in a ’55 Chevy since I was born, and he has passed down invaluable knowledge about engines, fostering my hands-on skills and mechanical insight.
“Today, I’m privileged to crew for some of the fastest teams on the track, including those of Jeremy Callaghan, Russell Mills, Tony Grgich, and the Cannulis. Working with these professionals has deepened my understanding of high-performance vehicles, from blown and turbo cars to the finer points of data logging. My trade as a fitter and machinist only reinforces these technical skills.”
Coming of age to be able to drive what Lovering grew up working on, an amazing opportunity presented itself that would see Sydneysider leap straight into the seat of a blown alcohol funny car.
“In late 2022, while my dad was driving for the Gulf Western team, he was preparing to fully commit to the doorslammer rounds. I had been crewing for Gulf Western when Norm (Sainty) offered me a driving seat—a chance I eagerly accepted,” said Lovering.
“To further prepare, I travelled to the U.S. with Stuart Johnson to train at Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School, where I developed my skills on the track, handling oxygen systems, and achieved strong pass times.
All the hard work and knowledge gathering paid off with Lovering becoming a perfect fit for the Pro Alcohol team.
“Since returning to Sydney, I’ve set a clear goal: to be the fastest in the family,” said Lovering. “My transition into the funny car has felt natural, and I’m grateful for the foundational knowledge I’ve gained from crewing with some of the sport’s best. Working alongside a focused team and a crew chief like Mark (Holmes), we prioritize consistency, which is a major strength as we face each new race.”
The Gulf Western Pro Alcohol Funny Car is a unique setup running a Sainty powerplant, all the team’s development has to be done inhouse. The team has been making ground testing looking for that consistency that has seen the car now run into the low 5.80s – and hopefully quicker this weekend. For Lovering, the focus remains the same as it was when he was growing up, with the adage of now wanting to impart it to the next generation.
“As we head into the first round this weekend, I’m driven to lay down some strong passes and to keep building on our successes with Norm and the team” said Lovering. “Looking ahead, my ultimate goal is to eventually be driving nitro. For now, I’m committed to learning as much as I can, aiming to be a positive role model for my younger siblings who share my love for speed and support me at the track.”
Watch Cruz Lovering take on the experience of 9 other Pro Alcohol teams for the opening round of the NDRC Pro Alcohol Championship in conjunction with the PDRC this Friday and Saturday (Nov 15/16) at Sydney Dragway, the epic event also featuring Pro Stock, Pro Mod, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Pro Import and the Grand Finale of the NSW Championship series.
Tickets are available now at prodragracing.com.au or by clicking HERE, with tickets from just $25 and family and 2 day passes available.
For more information, Search PDRC Pro Drag Racing Championship on Socials or visit prodragracing.com.au.
