For decades, Australian drag racing has had a rhythm. You win your titles under cold skies at the Winternationals, and call it a season by June. But not this year.
With the NDRC’s (National Drag Racing Championship) transition to a calendar-year championship in 2026, the Top Doorslammer grand final drifted north—way north—to the edge of the country at Hidden Valley Dragway in Darwin. The Nitro Up North event, presented by LMCT+ would be the decider.
The championship may have been sewn up by Perth’s Russell Taylor at the Winternationals, but don’t let that fool you—this wasn’t a throwaway round. There was pride, position, and legacy on the line. The fight for second, third, and fourth was still alive. And if there’s something iconically Australian about horsepower thundering through the tropics, it’s because this place feels like a proving ground. Remote, raw, and unforgiving.
Eight Top Doorslammers fronted the line for this one. A smaller field, sure—but what they lacked in quantity, they made up for in fight. And at the heart of it all was John Zappia, fresh off the announcement of a landmark co-naming rights deal with Summit Racing Equipment, looking to prove that the legendary name on the door still has plenty left under the right foot.
It couldn’t have started better. John unloaded a weapon from the transporter.
By Q2, he laid down a 5.794 to top the sheets and never looked back. The FUCHS/Summit Monaro was consistent, locked in, and in a league of its own.
This wasn’t just any track. Hidden Valley might be picturesque, but it’s no Sunday drive. It’s slick, unpredictable, and the air is heavy enough to choke horsepower out of the best-tuned combinations. But where others spun, rattled or pedalled, Zappia found his rhythm.
“I think it’s good. It’s a challenge,” said John. “It was more humid than when we’ve raced here in June in the past. But because it was a full drag race meeting, the track was able to be prepared properly. This was the most consistent track that I’ve driven on at Darwin. The car was on rails every pass. Really happy with how this FUCHS/Summit Racing Monaro performed.”
Zappia clocked a 5.820 in Round One to take out newcomer Nasser Matta, and then a brutal 5.760 in Round Two to do it again.
That set up a final against Salim Matta, another from the Matta Motorsports stable.
It was John Zappia’s first A-Final since April of 2024 at Tailem Bend. A long time between ‘big trophies’ for the West Australian.
Both cars left clean and hard, but Zappia never blinked. When Matta’s Mustang broke loose after half track, the Monaro just kept digging—straight and true—stopping the clocks with a hammer-blow 5.740 at 249.12mph. Low ET of the event. Event winner. Second in the championship locked up.
“I just think my car is suited to the looser tracks,” Zappia said. “It has plenty of downforce. The shape of the body lends itself to that. It makes it easier to drive. After that first run, I hardly had to steer it. It was that straight. Everybody goes fast on good tracks, but when it comes to hot, humid air and a tricky surface, that’s when we shine.”
In the other lane of the Zappia Racing operation, 19-year-old Brodie Zappia came into Darwin to finish his rookie season strong. The MAX Plant Monaro has been an instant crowd favourite this year, and Brodie’s earned the respect of the paddock after a year of lighting-fast reaction times and composed driving.
He backed it up in the Top End.
Brodie qualified second with a 5.940 and took out veteran Matt Abel in Round One with a sharp 5.943.
In Round Two, he squared off against Peter Lovering and came within three ten-thousandths of a second at the stripe after pedalling through tyre shake. Brodie’s 6.099 couldn’t close the gap to Lovering. That loss slotted him into the B-Final against Daniel Gregorini, who had lane choice and put Brodie in the treacherous right lane.
Conditions had eaten cars in that lane all weekend, but Brodie delivered his best run of the meet—a 5.899 that kept the pressure on right to the stripe. Gregorini’s 5.842 got the nod, but Brodie finished his first season in style.
“Brodie qualified second, which was great,” said John. “He won the first round. In the second round, it rattled and he pedalled, and just missed out. In the final, they got the car to go down in the right lane with a PB for the meeting. It was probably the only five-second pass in that lane.”
That 5.899 might not have come with a trophy, but it showed just how far the kid has come in one season. And it secured him fourth in the championship standings. Not bad for your first crack in one of the most demanding categories in the sport!
Back in John’s pit, the sense of timing wasn’t lost on anyone. A new deal with Summit Racing. Second place in the points was within reach. An important weekend for the senior Zappia.
“We wanted to do well for FUCHS, Summit Racing, MaxPlant and all our partners,” John said. “Just to cement that they made the right decision. And it all came together. The car ran like clockwork, other than the first qualifier. We rectified that, and we were on our way.”
Zappia Racing now heads to Alice Springs for some match racing at Red CentreNATS against the Gregorini team. One more chance to fire up the Monaros, light up the sky, and give the fans a show.
“Great crowds, great atmosphere. It’s a real Aussie outback feel out there,” John said. “We’ll be firing up the Monaro alongside the Gregorini’s at Lassiter’s Hotel Casino, Alice Springs, on the Friday night (5th September) before we go into race mode on Saturday. So if you’re in the area, don’t miss out!”
Event Results – Nitro Up North (Hidden Valley Dragway, Darwin NT)
Qualifying
1 – John Zappia – 5.794 @ 245.72 mph
2 – Brodie Zappia – 5.940 @ 250.13 mph
Round 1
Brodie Zappia def. Matt Abel – 5.943 @ 243.41 mph
John Zappia def. Nasser Matta – 5.820 @ 246.35 mph
Round 2
Brodie Zappia lost to Peter Lovering – 6.099 @ 248.71 mph
John Zappia def. Nasser Matta – 5.760 @ 247.66 mph
Finals
B Final – Brodie Zappia lost to Daniel Gregorini – 5.899 @ 240.59 mph
A Final – John Zappia def. Salim Matta – 5.740 @ 249.12 mph
Championship Standings (Final – 2025 Top Doorslammer)
1st – Russell Taylor
2nd – John Zappia
3rd – Lisa Gregorini
Stay tuned by heading to www.zappiaracing.com and subscribing to our Newsletter.
