This Australia Day weekend (24-25 January 2026), the National Drag Racing Championship (NDRC) is bringing flame-throwing action to Willowbank Raceway for the season-opening Pro Alcohol Nationals.
Five fire-breathing XPRO Nitro Funny Cars will join with eight incredible Pro Alcohol machines to headline the two-day spectacular, joined by more than 100 of the country’s best sportsman racers competing for the NDRC Aeroflow Sportsman Championship.
Leading the way for the 11,000hp Nitro Funny Cars will be NT racer Adam Murrihy, who will be making his comeback to the track after being sidelined since February 2025 when he was second in the points, due to an injury sustained away from the track.
“It has been almost 12 months now out of the seats, it was February last year when I did myself some mischief testing the suspension on a motorcross bike; breaking my right hand, my left collarbone, a series of ribs, and three vertebrae in my neck.
“We were gutted of course, we had just had some great testing, and we were second in the points – we had some good wind in the sails and were looking forward to the rest of the season.
“Hopefully on Friday (23 January) we will do a test pass and get my feet back on the pedals. It will be like riding a bike!
“The boys have had plenty of time to get the car sorted!” he laughs, “and everyone is pretty keen for the new season.
“My crew chief Brett has even done a couple of trips over to the States with John Force Racing while we were quiet, so we have some new stuff to test out there too; JFR have been pretty good to us.”
This weekend’s event at Willowbank marks the start of a full-season campaign for Murrihy, during which he will be supported by sponsors The Bolt King, Morgan’s Cranes, Styromax, and Cometic Gaskets.
“We definitely have our sights set on the full season,” he said.
“We started last season fairly well and were second in the points after the first round, but then never got to do another round.
“Ending up in an A-Final at round one is what we are aiming for, we want to get those early points and get a good start to the year.
“With the way the crew has been putting in a lot of hours over the last couple of months getting ready, if we can be standing on the top step at the end of the weekend, we will be rapt.
“I have to say a big thank you to the crew – even having all of 2025 off, the crew are still dedicated to the cause and have still been having car nights every week and helping Brett out with it all, so a massive shout out to all of the guys and girls there.
“We are definitely keen to get back in the seat and get amongst it, and hopefully we can give those Rocket boys a touch up!” he grinned. “And hopefully all the fans come out for the Australia Day long weekend and check out the show; it should be a blast!”
The Pro Alcohol Nationals will be held at Willowbank Raceway on January 24-25, featuring XPRO Nitro Funny Car, Pro Alcohol, and the Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship.
For more information, visit www.ndrc.tv and www.willowbankraceway.com.au/event/pro-alcohol-nationals/
