The Red CentreNATS brought the biggest drag racing show ever to Alice Springs Inland Dragway across September 2-4, hosting the Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship, the ADRC Top Doorslammers and over 100 Heavy Hitter racers, as well as grudge runs and competition for the RCN Grand Champion.
While unseasonably cold conditions late on Friday evening saw the finals for the ATFC and ADRC postponed to future events, the Heavy Hitters raced through to glory with the following racers celebrated on Friday evening:
Rapisarda Autosport International’s Damien Harris had the hot rod to beat in Top Fuel, running low ET of the event with a 4.00 and would be in the final against Phil Read who battled through two timing malfunctions to put the Hydraulink dragster through.
In Top Doorslammer, John Zappia was on his own level of performance, running into the 5.80s in the tricky conditions. He will race in the delayed final at his hometrack in Perth against fellow West Coast local Kelvin Lyle.
Full wrap up of professional results here: https://dragnews.com.au/alice-springs-action-to-extend-to-november/
Friday night eliminations for the sportsman categories saw the following winners:
Heavy Hitters Street Bike – Winner: Dean Gunson; Runner-up: John Brooks
Heavy Hitters 12+ – Winner: Dallas Reid; Runner-up: bye
Heavy Hitters 11 – Winner: Ben Phillips; Runner-up: Stephen Greenfield
Heavy Hitters 10 – Winner: Greg Hack; Runner-up: Luke Matthews
Heavy Hitters 9 – Winner: David Todd; Runner-up: Rick Shelton
Heavy Hitters 8 – Winner: Phil Gardiner (pictured); Runner-up: Allan Morrison
On Saturday, grudge runs delighted the spectators – including performances by ADRC Top Doorslammer racers John Zappia and Matt Abel.
Come Sunday, it was time for the Street Class and Pro Class racers to do battle, with Dierdree Viero and Jamey Maslennikoff awarded the wins in Street and Pro respectively, while Jamie Glass and Greg Bourke were the runners-up in these classes.
Also crowned on Sunday was the Red CentreNATS Grand Champion – as well as completing the RCN Street Parade, Grand Champ contenders have to compete at the drags, in a motorkhana and on the grass. When all was said and done at the drag strip on Sunday, it was Nigel Warr’s HQ Holden ute which was announced as the Red CentreNATS Grand Champ for 2022.
“The place was packed, and it was awesome to have the Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship and the ADRC Top Doorslammers racing alongside over a hundred sportsman racers in the Heavy Hitter program,” Red CentreNATS promoter, Andy Lopez, said.
“We’re grateful to the fantastic crowd and our RCN track officials, racers and crews. We put on the best show we could in pretty trying circumstances given the extremely cold weather and persistent technical issues at the start line.
“Congratulations to all of our racers on a great event, and especially to those who took out the wins, and thank you once again to Alice Springs Inland Dragway and its staff and volunteers.
“We always have a great time at ASID, and we can’t wait to bring the show back again in 2023!”
The dates for the 2023 Red CentreNATS will be announced in the near future. For further info, visit www.redcentrenats.com.au
