This weekend’s 51st MacTrack Westernationals at the Perth Motorplex will host intense competition for not one, but two Top Doorslammer championships.
The event will host round four the national-level Australian Drag Racing Championship (ADRC) for Top Doorslammer, and also round four of the Perth Motorplex’s Direct Mining International Summer Slam Series.
In the ADRC, Daniel Gregorini is leading the way over ten-time ANDRA champion John Zappia by just 17 points, while in the Direct Mining International Summer Slam Series, it is Zappia who sits atop the standings, 10 points ahead of second-placed Stuart Moresby, and 40 points up on third-placed Gregorini.
“Last time we raced for the ADRC was at the Goldenstates back in November where we ran exceptionally well. We top qualified and ran the fastest ET and MPH for the event,” Gregorini explained.
“Unfortunately, a crack in the chassis put our tune up in the suspension out and cost us the meeting and a chance to take a stranglehold on the national ADRC championship, so we go into this weekend with high hopes of making that right.
“We are yet to get the car running back to its best since November, but we will do everything we can to keep the lead in the ADRC championship and look to extend that lead ahead of the ANDRA Grand Finals event in April.
“To this end we are undertaking pre-event testing to get on top of the Scratch and Match Motorsports Camaro ahead of the 51st Westernationals. At the same time, my wife Lisa will be continuing her licensing in her own Doorslammer as she works towards joining the ADRC herself in the 2022/2023 season.”
Zappia is no stranger to national and track championships with an exceptionally full trophy cabinet at home, but he isn’t taking anything for granted as the season races towards its conclusion.
“You always try to be confident, but anything can happen at any time,” Zappia said.
“The Dananni Hot Shots/Tony’s Auto Wreckers Monaro has been running well, but at the Goldenstates we rattled the tyres and crossed the centre line in the first round, so anything can happen at any time.
“We just have to make sure we don’t make any mistakes and keep the car in the centre of the lane and keep it away from the centrelines and the walls. And at the same time, make sure we get the reaction times right so we don’t give too much away.
“The approach is the same whether you are talking about the Direct Mining International Summer Slam Series or the national ADRC – you have to keep your eye on the prize and try and make sure you come out in front by the end of the event.
“The titles aren’t over this weekend, we also have the ANDRA Grand Finals in April and it would be nice to be heading in the right direction at the end of this weekend, but it isn’t over until it is over.
“We have 10 great cars taking part this weekend and everyone is trying to knock me off. I am expecting a great event, we have 187 entries overall, 10 Doorslammers, and the weather is looking like it is going to be kind to us so we might even be able to give the national record another nudge!”
The 2022 MacTrack Westernationals will be held at the Perth Motorplex this Saturday and Sunday (March 5 and 6). Racing will be on-track each day from 11.00am to 10.00pm, with the main show taking place from 5.30pm to 10.00pm Saturday and Sunday (all times approximate).
On-track will be not only the Top Doorslammers, but also the ADRC’s Top Fuel Motorcycle racers, the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series, and the BME/SpeedTorque Nitro Max Series racers – guaranteeing an action-packed racing program from start to finish.
For the full event schedule, entry list information and more, go to https://motorplex.com.au/51st-westernationals/
