Season 3 of NDRC Top Doorslammer has arrived, and the category continues to surge from strength to strength. Fourteen cars are locked and loaded for an all-out doorslammer war at the Riverbend Nationals, the Dragway At The Bend season opener this weekend—and the big question remains: can anyone stop Russell Taylor?
Since bursting onto the scene as a rookie in Season 1, Taylor and his West Australian team—led by Stuart Rowland and Steve Ham—have been nothing short of dominant. Back-to-back Australian Top Doorslammer Championships have established them as the benchmark of the category. Taylor reached five A-Finals from seven events last season, converting three into wins, while no other driver managed more than a single victory. Aside from a rare stumble in round one, his campaign was near flawless. Expect the Black Beauty Camaro to fire early, despite rivals hoping lightning strikes twice.
A third straight title would cement Taylor’s name among the Top Doorslammer elite—a feat achieved by only two drivers in history.
One of those is 11-time champion John Zappia. While now in the twilight of his career and signalling that his time in the bracket is nearing its end, “Zap’s Rat” remains a constant threat. By his own lofty standards, last season was inconsistent—but he still laid down the quickest pass of the year, a 5.591 at the Nitro Champs, and finished strong with an A-Final win at the final event.
The Gregorini camp experienced contrasting fortunes. Lisa once again got the upper hand on her more experienced husband Daniel, finishing third in the championship after a fierce battle with Zappia. Her season was highlighted by a breakthrough win at the Spring Nationals—her first at this level—and a string of personal best performances. For Daniel, it was a frustrating campaign plagued by persistent mechanical and electrical issues in the Scratch & Match Camaro. However, when everything clicked, his 5.601 PB proved he has the pace to challenge the front-runners.
The rookie wave continues to make an impact. Brodie Zappia, nephew of John, made an immediate impression last season—winning the Westernationals and finishing fourth overall despite missing the opening round. Now, he returns with a fresh look, taking the wheel of the AC Delco Monaro under Maurice Fabietti.
Another emerging force is Salim Matta. Joining the expanding A-Civil operation, Matta debuted at the Winternationals before storming to an A-Final appearance against John Zappia in Darwin. In just two events, he established himself as a serious contender, adding further depth to an already stacked field.
With Salim’s father Nasser sidelined due to work commitments, the A-Civil ’37 Chev will now be driven by Ronnie Palumbo. Returning to a full-season campaign after time away, Palumbo has strong ties to Dragway At The Bend—it’s where his Top Doorslammer journey began in the chaotic inaugural NDRC event, where he eventually claimed victory at the following round.
Jeremy Callaghan also shares a special connection with the venue. The Canberran produced one of the great comeback stories last season, returning to competition just weeks after flipping his Camaro at the Westernationals—and promptly winning the Riverbend Nationals. With a recent 5.66 PB in testing, the team enters the weekend full of confidence.
The blue-collar Shoebox Motorsport team returns continuing to chase consistency in their iconic ’55 Chev. A new carbon-fibre body introduced last season has helped level the playing field, and steady testing at Sydney Dragway has the team edging closer to a competitive tune-up.
Emilio Spinozzi and the Terra Civil team will be looking to make a statement in their first appearance at Dragway At The Bend. Guided by tuning guru Michael Marriot, the team recently recorded a 5.73 PB and are aiming to break into the 5.60s this weekend.
Jack Danaher also makes his debut at the venue with a striking ’57 Corvette. For the budget-conscious team, the goal is simple: improve on their 5.95 PB and and be part of the show as many times as possible this season.
With Perth Motorplex currently closed for renovations, a pair of West Aussies have headed east in search of track time. Shane Catalano returns to eastern competition for the first time in over a decade – since running the ‘Rude Stude’ at Adelaide – bringing the unmistakable strike me pink VH Charger back into the spotlight. Alongside him, Frank Taylor’s equally eye-catching Chevelle adds further flair to the field—both teams eager to capitalise on Dragway At The Bend’s renowned racing surface and atmospheric conditions to chop down their personal bests.
Local hopes rest with Scott Ferguson, the sole South Australian representative at the Riverbend Nationals. Driving the Hillbilly Express ’55 Chev for Roger Size, Ferguson and the team are focused on putting on a show for the home crowd and logging valuable laps.
With several regular contenders still to join the championship in later rounds, the season opener is just the beginning. If this field is anything to go by, the 2026 NDRC Top Doorslammer Championship could be one of the most competitive and entertaining yet.
