South Australian Drag Racers Association Super Gas racer Adrian McGrotty is heading to the upcoming ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship Grand Finals with three straight wins behind him, following his success at the recent Twilight Nationals at the Atlantic Oils Sunset Strip.
Not only has McGrotty scored an incredible hat-trick of ANDRA Christmas Tree trophies heading to the final stand for the 2024/2025 championship chase; he also has reached the 300 points cap ahead of the April 25/26 event at Dragway at The Bend.
“It was a little unreal to get three in a row,” McGrotty said.
“It was a long time between Christmas trees for us, it had been a couple of seasons, so to come out and win three in one season, and three in a row at that, is definitely not bad!” he grinned.
McGrotty’s hugely successful current season follows a long period grappling with engine issues.
“We had a couple of seasons of engine trouble, but it certainly appears like that is behind us now,” McGrotty said.
“Everything seems to be running just as it should, and we also now have a bit of good data to go with it so we are able to be more consistent and I think that is what our recent success is coming down too.
“The engine is happy and everyone else is happy!
“Having said that, we are certainly feeling plenty of pressure heading into the Grand Final – I have already been told I have a target on my back!” he laughed.
“The Super Gas guys are a pretty good bunch to run with and everyone gets along, we have plenty of friendly banter.
“We will go and give it our best shot. It would be unreal to win the title. Everybody gets out there and chases the points, and at the moment I am sitting in a pretty good position.
“I just hope we can keep the momentum running and get there and do it – we are trying to keep a lid on it as you can be humbled very quickly in drag racing; you can go from hero to zero just like that.
“We just have to try and stick to what we have been doing and let the momentum take us where it is going to take us.”
While the Victorian was able to secure the hat trick at the Twilight Nationals, it wasn’t a smooth road to the event winning Christmas Tree.
“Qualifying Friday night was a bit tricky and I had some driver error in the second qualifier as well – I am not sure if maybe we were starting to feel the pressure of two in a row – and we finished Friday up in 8th position,” McGrotty said.
“We had one more qualifier on Saturday afternoon before racing, and we managed to get into second spot and felt a lot better, knowing where we were at again.
“Saturday was looking good and then all hell broke loose with a tornado that came through the pits wreaking plenty of havoc for everyone – it flattened our gazebo and lifted Stan who was trying to hold it down off the ground, and the back of the car got dinted as well. But thankfully we were all okay and everyone regathered and we got into racing, where we managed to get through the rounds not too badly.
“As we get ready for the Grand Finals, I want to thank my wife, Nicole for all of her support – her birthday was during the Dragway at The Bend event in February and she let me go racing, so I am pretty lucky!” he smiled.
“I also want to thank my crew Zac and Stan, my family, mum and dad, my sponsors Metro Pipe Services and The Logo Lady. And also Paul Turner of PTHP who built the engine, Matt Czerny at Vinyl Wraps and Graphics for last minute decals, and everyone else who helps out along the way.”
The 2024/2025 ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship Grand Final will be held at Dragway at The Bend on April 25 and 26, 2025. For more information, visit www.andra.com.au
