This weekend’s final stand for the ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship at Dragway at The Bend is shaping up to be THE sportsman event of the year.
Gold ANDRA Christmas Tree trophies will be on offer at the April 25/26 event for both championship wins and event victories across 11 brackets, including Huntsman Racing Supercharged Outlaws.
In what is going to be a tight race to the big trophy, Doina Day leads the way on 290 points while Mark Hunt and Tim Stewart are the next ‘championship eligible’ racers on the standings, each on 240 points. Shane Baxter is also in the mix on 260 points – while not currently technically eligible due to not having competed outside of his home state, he has entered the ANDRA Grand Final which will see him fulfil that requirement once he qualifies for the event.
2014 ANDRA Supercharged Outlaws Champion Doina Day is hoping she can put her best foot forward at Dragway at The Bend.
“We are going to treat the ANDRA Grand Final like any other race meeting, with an aim to just have fun,” Day said.
“To be able to take out the ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship would be a fantastic achievement.
“We were fortunate enough to win a title and grand final trophy at the one event back in 2014 and I would love to do that again.
“Anyone can win, so all I can do is my best.
“As we get ready, I want to thank John Drysdale from Drysdale Chaff Mill for supporting us since 2006, Peter for giving me a great car, and the Swarfking family business.”
Mark Hunt’s passion for the Supercharged Outlaws is undeniable, with the 2022 Champion sponsoring the bracket through Huntsman Racing.
“We are extremely happy to be going into the Grand Final with our team in a great position,” Hunt said.
“There are some other strong competitors as well, but I am confident we have a good package with our Customline and also the team and the desire to win. The rest will be in the hands of the gods on the day.
“To win the Sportsman Championship would be fantastic – it has been a few years since I won an ANDRA Championship.
“The racers wanted a Sportsman Series and ANDRA delivered, and I am very happy to be the sponsor of the Supercharged Outlaws bracket.
“A double Gold victory would be overwhelming for myself, my crew, and my sponsors. And two more Gold Trees would look spectacular in my cabinet!
“To receive a tree at the Grand Final event would top the season of Sportsman Racing for us – anything can happen on the day, but we sure hope it goes our way.
“The old faithful Customline is loaded and ready to go, including a cut and polish for the first time in ten years!
“I would like to thank my crew for the work, time, and effort spent on preparing the Customline for the Grand Final: Mark Hugo, Maxi Oppes, Corey Hauschild, and Kelvin Hugo.
“A big thanks must also go out to Dave and Carol Baines for my reliable 378ci Ford Windsor Motor, and to my major sponsor, Summit Racing Equipment and Jim Greenleaf, and also ULX110 Custom Oils.
“While we are excited about the Grand Final, we are also so excited about the upcoming new ANDRA Sportsman Series season which will commence in August in Darwin with Nitro Up North. I have been working nonstop to encourage other Sportsman racers from QLD, WA, NSW and SA to join this wonderful journey to the top end to Darwin and then to Alce Springs and I am pleased to report we already have racers from all these states committed to coming.
Tim Stewart has been a consistent force in the 2024/2025 ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship and is hopeful that things might break his way this weekend.
“Being competitive in Supercharged Outlaws is always rewarding as it is a tough class and to win the championship is such an achievement,” Stewart said.
“An ANDRA Christmas tree is the best, so to win an ANDRA gold Christmas tree is the ultimate; winning two at the one event would be incredible.
“There’s a number of points to make up to the front, and realistically I would need a bit of luck, but our focus will be to go rounds.
“The car has been very consistent, so if we go rounds, the event win is possible and we’ll see where we end up – we are crossing our fingers!”
“It is great to have an ANDRA championship to compete in firstly and to be in with a slim chance is rewarding,” Stewart added,
“The efforts the ANDRA Board and the CEO have put into making ANDRA overall and this Championship successful has been tremendous. They listened to the racers and the racers have responded by supporting the tracks and the championship in great numbers.
“All the best to all in contention for the championship in all classes and to all competitors with the chance to win the event Gold Christmas’s tree,” he concluded, while thanking Sue for all of her support that she gives to Tim’s racing, as well as everyone else who has crewed and assisted his racing this season.
The ANDRA Grand Final for the 2024/2025 ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship at Dragway at The Bend will be held across April 25 and 26. For event information, visit www.thebend.com.au/dragway
The ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship is proud to have the support of series bracket sponsors Gallagher (Modified), the South Australian Drag Racers Association (Super Gas), Top Sportsman Competitors Group (Top Sportsman), the Super Sedan Competitors Group (Super Sedan), Lectron Australia (Competition Bike), Goodyear Racing (Super Street), Langtree’s Machinery Services (Junior Dragster), Huntsman Racing (Supercharged Outlaws); Ballistic Performance Parts (Modified Bike), and Jackie Watt Consultancy / Fardella and Watt Racing (Super Stock); as well as Top Qualifier Medallion sponsor, New Gen Business Park. If you are looking for business opportunities within the ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship, please email info@andra.com.au
For more from ANDRA, visit www.andra.com.au
