The Nitro Champs, round two of the 2026 NDRC Pro Mod Championship at Sydney Dragway, delivered everything fans have come to expect from one of the toughest and most unpredictable categories in Australian drag racing.
With 10 world-class entries representing turbocharged, supercharged and nitrous combinations, the depth of the field was on full display from the moment qualifying began. The fight for top spot was incredibly tight, with the top nine cars separated by just 0.19 seconds — from a 5.88 to a 6.07-second pass — all chasing the 5.85 index. It was a clear sign that every hundredth of a second mattered and there was no room for error.
The all-run format produced some of the most exciting racing of the weekend, with match-ups across the field delivering close finishes and intense competition. Seven of the ten cars ran within a tenth of the 5.85 index, meaning driver reaction times and consistency on the tree often proved just as important as outright performance. It created thrilling racing for the fans and highlighted just how competitive the class has become.
Several drivers marked the weekend with career-best performances, with Jeremy Martin, Zack Knezevic and Adam Tassone all recording personal best elapsed times.
Joe Gauci returned to form in impressive fashion, running low ET of the round while staying within the index and ultimately finishing runner-up in a strong performance.
Steven Smith also made major progress with his Corvette, unlocking the car’s potential with plenty still left in reserve heading into the next round.
Joseph Murina showed strong pace in qualifying, placing himself in the top half of the field with an impressive five-second pass. While race day didn’t quite fall his way, it was great to see Murina back on track and showing the kind of performance that makes him a threat when everything comes together.
Veteran racer Robert Campisi top qualified, once again proving why he remains one of the benchmark figures of the Pro Mod class.
While reigning champion Zoran Gajic endured a weekend that wasn’t reflective of the team’s usual standards, their proven ability means they can never be discounted and will no doubt rebound strongly when the championship resumes.
Craig Hewitt also showed impressive consistency, laying down a string of 6.0-second passes and edging ever closer to that elusive five-second run.
Taking out the event, however, was Barry Plumpton, who set the standard all weekend. Plumpton strung together a series of 5.8-second passes — a 5.88 in round one, another 5.88 in round two and a 5.86 in the final — to secure the event victory, delivering the kind of consistency and performance the rest of the field will now be chasing heading into round three.
The 2026 NDRC Pro Mod Championship is shaping up to be one of the closest battles in recent memory, with Adam Tassone emerging as the new championship leader in an impressive campaign so far this season.
Young gun Zack Knezevic currently sits third in points, with reigning champion Zoran Gajic holding position between them in second. With three rounds still remaining and a field packed with racers showing they have both the speed and consistency to contend, the title fight is wide open heading into the back half of the season.
If Sydney was any indication, the championship battle is well and truly on, with all eyes now turning to the 2026 Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway, where the next chapter promises to be even bigger.
-Donato Zottu
