The 2026 Gulf Western Oil Nitro Champs opened the Pro Stock season with fast racing, major upsets and a championship picture that looks vastly different to what people would think after round one at Sydney Dragway.
Sixteen cars were originally entered for the event, although four teams withdrew prior to racing after difficult pre-event testing programs, Engine, electrical and setup issues affected several teams in the lead-up.
Qualifying one immediately showed the pace at the front of the field. Tyronne Tremayne unloaded with a 6.91-second pass straight off the trailer before Aaron Tremayne answered with a 6.89 to move to the top of the sheets. Rob Dekert and Rick Chilton both followed closely with matching 6.96-second runs as the top half of the field tightened quickly.
Saturday afternoon saw Pro Stock’s Race in Pink initiative roll into qualifying two in support of the McGrath Foundation. Teams carried pink decals and wore pink shirts throughout the session, helping raise funds for the McGrath Foundation and the work it does providing McGrath Nurses to Australians and families experiencing cancer.
Track conditions improved as the sun began dropping over Sydney Dragway, with Aaron Tremayne improving again to a 6.88-second pass. Nino Cavallo also impressed in his new combination, running a strong 6.97-second effort to close out qualifying.
Race day quickly turned the form guide upside down.
Darryl Stephen defeated Aaron Tremayne in one of the biggest upsets of the opening round, before Ray Oxley followed by taking down Tyronne Tremayne. It marked the first time since the early 2000s that both Tremaynes had been eliminated from A Final contention in round one at the same event.
Mechanical attrition continued throughout Sunday, with several teams managing issues as the rounds progressed. Clint George capitalised with a bye run deeper into the program, while Rob Dekert steadily built momentum across the day, highlighted by a 6.92-second pass at 199.55mph.
The D, C and B Finals rounded out the afternoon before attention turned to the A Final, where Rob Dekert and Omar Sedmak were left fighting for the biggest trophy of the weekend.
The final ended dramatically when Sedmak left before the Christmas Tree was activated, handing Dekert the Gulf Western Oil Nitro Champs victory after one of the most unpredictable Pro Stock weekends in recent memory.
Away from the racing, APSOA and NDRC’s partnership with the McGrath Foundation proved another strong success, with more than $5,000 raised throughout the weekend through merchandise sales, donations and fundraising initiatives.
Support also came from Dialled In Racing and the Junior Dragster community, who contributed to the fundraising efforts across the weekend.
APSOA would also like to thank every team, crew member, supporter and fan who participated in the Pink Stock initiative throughout the Nitro Champs weekend.
Competition winners from the fundraising initiatives will be contacted shortly regarding prize collection.
After one round, the 2026 Pro Stock championship is already wide open, and the Winternationals will be anyone’s game.
