Rapisarda Autosport International will return for the final round of the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello season to be held at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on November 13-16, 11 days after the final round of the local ANDRA season at Sydney Dragway.

Hidden Valley Drag Racing Association President Jay Jukes will officially step down from his role at the Association’s upcoming AGM on October 21. The ANDRA Board extends its gratitude to Jay and his team for all of their efforts over the years and wishes Jay the best of luck as he enters the next phase of his life and career. Jukes has been a voluntary contributor to HVDRA for 10 years and his efforts will be sorely missed by everyone at ANDRA and Hidden Valley Drag Strip. “Unfortunately I have changed careers and in the last year or two I have had to increase my commitments at work, plus during that time I’ve had a second son which means double the trouble at home,” said Jukes in a statement issued to HVDRA members. “While I’ve tried to keep the same level of commitment to HVDRA it is going to become increasingly difficult for me and it is not fair to the club unless I can offer 110 per cent. “It has been 10 years since I first became involved with the committee and I am left with so many fond memories over that time.” Jukes has been at the head of the Association during a time of growth for the sport in the Northern Territory culminating in the very first ANDRA Drag Racing Series Championship rounds to be held in the Top End. “We have had many changes over the years and I’m proud of the achievements we have been able to make,” he continued. “We have an all-new drag racing surface; finally we have display boards, plus a burnout pad, new spectator mounds and a host of other improvements in machinery and equipment. “We’ve also seen two ANDRA Drag Racing Series rounds hosted in Darwin in recent years. Everyone should be proud to know Hidden Valley Drag Strip is the only track in Australia that has been able to achieve this with no full time staff.” Jukes also paid tribute to the volunteers, racers and members that have assisted HVDRA to grow during his tenure and urged local businesspersons to become involved in order to take Drag Racing in the Top End to new levels. “As a volunteer non-profit organisation we are only as good as our members. It’s our racers who put on the show, it’s also our volunteers who are there every weekend allowing us to race, it’s the sponsors that allow us to pay prize money or buy that next piece of critical machinery, and it’s the spectators and fans who help make the atmosphere on race day. “For events to be able to continue to succeed we need to see increased member involvement in events both before, during and after. “Today sees events taking on a whole new level. It’s not just about the racing, it’s now about providing an overall entertaining show – Motortainment I’ve heard it called. “With events costing over $200,000, high level strategic stakeholders and a considered focus on delivering tangible benefits to those key stakeholders, the game has changed. “If we are going to continue to grow we need to be looking at the bigger long term vision. I would encourage any good business men or women who are passionate about motorsport and want to see the club continue to grow to consider a position on the committee. “Once again thank you for everyone’s support and dedication and I urge all members, racers, volunteers, sponsors and spectators to support the new committee in the coming season as you did for me over many years.” The ANDRA Board look forward to continuing the positive working relationship with HVDRA to build a bright future for Drag Racing in Darwin. {fcomment}

Steve Harker has become the first drag racer from outside North America to win an NHRA season championship, clinching the Top Alcohol Funny Car title in Reading, Pennsylvania. It was a near perfect weekend for the Australian, winning the delayed Carolina Nationals final, the Reading final and the overall series. As the cherry on top, Harker ran a new personal best of 5.429 seconds at 267mph on his last pass of the weekend. Image courtesy Harker Motorsport Facebook. {fcomment}

Phil Lamattina has regained the advantage in Top Fuel, John Zappia won his seventh Top Doorslammer Championship as a runner up to Grant O’Rourke and Luke Crowley virtually assured back-to-back titles in Pro Stock Motorcycle at the Fuchs Spring Nationals on Sunday.

Western Australian drag racer Ryan Learmonth will be making his professional debut this weekend at Adelaide International Raceway, competing in Pro Stock Motorcycle at the Fuchs Springnationals.

Maurice ‘Momo’ Allen comes into the Fuchs Spring Nationals in Adelaide knowing Luke Crowley has a stranglehold on his second ANDRA Drag Racing Series Pro Stock Motorcycle Championship.

Scott Porter will return to the driver’s seat of his Pro Stock Ford GT Mustang when the ANDRA Drag Racing Series visits Benaraby Raceway for the very first time this Friday and Saturday October 3-4.

Gary Phillips is heading to Adelaide this weekend for the ANDRA Fuchs Springnationals in the hope that last-minute lessons learnt in Top Doorslammer can help fuel his run to the Top Alcohol title next month in Sydney.

Racing a damaged Camaro following his touch up with the wall in Sydney at the X-Champs in May, Perth young gun Daniel Gregorini has a new look for his Adelaide International Raceway debut at this weekend’s Fuchs Spring Nationals.

The debut of Pro Stock at Benaraby Raceway sees a small four car field heading to central Queensland in the first time ANDRA has run rounds of its professional series simultaneously across two tracks.