Nitro Champs may not have delivered the results Tremaniac Racing was chasing, but if one thing became clear across the Sydney weekend, it was that Aaron and Tyronne Tremayne have the performance to contend with the best in Pro Stock heading into the next round of the NDRC Australian Pro Stock Championship at the Winternationals.
After a productive test session leading into the event, the team arrived confident both cars had the pace to challenge the top of the field, with Tyronne’s combination featuring updated NxtGen engine components that immediately showed strong signs in testing.
“We got a few half-track hits in on Wednesday and everything was looking good,” Aaron Tremayne explained. “We had some new updated NxtGen parts on Tyronne’s engine and the car was showing plenty of promise.”
While early gearing changes appeared manageable, the weekend soon turned into a battle with a front strut issue that repeatedly upset the balance of Tyronne’s car. The problem surfaced during qualifying and ultimately proved costly as the car continued to unload the tyre under power, preventing the team from putting together a clean representative pass despite showing genuine pace every time the car was on track.
“The car would go to full extension, completely throwing the balance out,” Tremayne said. “That ended up knocking the tyre off in Q2.”
Despite several setup changes ahead of race day, the issue carried over into the opening round of eliminations before the team finally uncovered a fix. Once the adjustments took effect, the potential immediately showed itself with Tyronne charging to a 6.910-second pass, the quickest run of eliminations despite a slower than expected 60-foot time. For Aaron, the frustration came from knowing the car had far more in it all weekend.
“In Round 2 we made a huge change and finally got the car down the track with a 6.910, which was the fastest run of eliminations, even with a slower than expected 60-foot,” Tremayne said. “I was disappointed I couldn’t get one clean pass from Tyronne’s car all weekend.”
On the other side of the Tremaniac Racing pit, Aaron’s own entry looked every bit a genuine contender. Consistent qualifying runs of 6.89 and 6.88 seconds positioned the car strongly before mechanical trouble struck in the opening round of racing. A broken retainer in low gear caused engine damage, however the team was relieved to discover the damage was far less severe than first feared and quickly turned its attention towards preparing for Willowbank.
“We broke a retainer in low gear which hurt the engine,” Tremayne explained. “Thankfully the damage wasn’t too bad. We only needed to replace one piston, two valves and new rings, plus a small weld repair to the bore and some fresh coating on the pistons. We also welded the heads up with new inserts and are putting it back together as we speak.”
Even with the setbacks, confidence inside the Tremaniac Racing camp remains high heading into the round 2 of the Ndrc Pro Stock Championship. After showing front-running pace throughout qualifying in Sydney, the team believes the ingredients are there to challenge again at the category’s biggest event.
“Onto the Winters, our big GO for the year,” Tremayne said. “We’re still confident we can get the job done, but we definitely need to qualify strong again and capitalise this time around, aiming for a repeat from 2025.”
For Tremaniac Racing though, the Winternationals represents more than just competition. Beyond the pressure of racing on one of Australian drag racing’s biggest stages, the event continues to hold a special atmosphere for the team. The week-long schedule, life in the pits and hanging out with friends and family remain just as important as what happens on the race track itself.
“We love the Winters,” Tremayne said. “It’s such a cool event. A full week of racing, hanging out with mates, living in the caravan and sitting around the fire at night.”
While the team will once again contest a reduced schedule in 2026, their mindset remains unchanged whenever they roll through the gates. Tremaniac Racing is focused on enjoying the events they attend, while still maintaining the expectation of running at the front whenever the cars hit the track.
“The goal is simple,” Tremayne said. “Come out, run fast and enjoy the races we do this season.”
