The NSW Championship Series rolls on with round two, and while it is still early days in the season some championship contenders are already emerging.
The Sydney weather was all but perfect for the second round of arguably the toughest track championship series in the country, and a healthy number of racers rocked up to compete.
The Super Comp field was boosted by several Pro Stock cars having a competition shake down ahead of their next NDRC round. In the final though it was Pat Firrolo’s very cool D/Gas Camaro holding off Peter Mammone’s B/AP Mustang for the win.
Likewise, Boosted Outlaws featured a sprinkling of Pro Alcohol Funny Cars looking for some track time, in competition third generation racer Kurtis Read took home with winner’s trophy over another young gun in Toby Austin. Read is looking more and more comfortable in his blown dragster with personal bests and consistency in the mid-sixes.
We didn’t see any of the big Extreme Bike ET and speed numbers that were dropped in round one, newcomer to the class Ryan Franks pushed through for the win on his turbo Hayabusa, defeating Brendan Miglionico in the final 7.453 to 7.596. Miglionico tied up the championship lead with Deanne Azzopardi, but the pack is close by.
Joe Gattellari has started the season in Top Sportsman with the consistency need to go all the way. Gattellari with his VL back up a runner up result in round one with a win against Joe Sorbello in the final to close out round two of the championship and lead the series.
Super Sedan is facing up to be one of the hardest fought eliminators again with gun racers everywhere. One of those is Sean Maher who has left himself a challenge this season after missing round one, but Maher had his little HB Torana dialled in to win the final against Carl ‘Chevy’ Taylor with a 9.272 on a 9.27. It won’t be the last time this pair square off this season, Taylor is leading the championship coming off a win at the opening event.
A battle of FEDs came to be in the Modified final, and a pair of .01 reactions meant this race would be decided at the stripe. CJ Davies’s 8.362 (8.34DI) kept the front runners ahead against a fast closing George Bukureshliev – 7.932 (7.89). The pair are tied in the championship, Bukureshliev with back to back runner-up results.
After just some sporadic appearances last season it seems Sean Rickett’s has unleashed on the Modified Bike field winning the first two events of the season. Ricketts took a cruisy final win in a heads up start against Robert Hill courtesy of a gapping holeshot.
In another big Super Street field, Guy Greenland nabbed a win for the wagon fans, his VX Commodore grocery getter did the business all day going rounds before benefitting from a red lighting Adam Bowers in the final.
Into the Junior classes and Alex Rottenbury made the charge to equal championship leader with a win over defending champion Daniella Axiak in the final, while in the fledgling Junior Drag Bike class, Joshua Bertenshaw did one better than his runner up result at the last event in defeating Anastazia Luckie for the event win.
Sydney Dragway official Shaun Dartnell won through to his second straight Street Fighter final in his i30 beast, unfortunately for Dartnell it was another runner-up finish with new comer Steve Hirsler taking out the win on debut in the class. While on two wheels, Greg Horadam rode his Kawasaki to its first win in Street Bike, Horadam held off new championship leader Daniel Bertenshaw in the final.
The next round of the 2024 NSW Championship Series is on April 20.
NEWS & NOTES
FORD LOVERS LOOK AWAY – The event sadly saw the end of Stephen Willies stunning Ford Torino, the car was one of the more unique race vehicles in Australia and was always presented in showroom condition. It appeared and axle broke sending the Torino into both walls heavily, and fortunately missing his competitor who had a timely driveline failure on the start line.
“I crashed the Torino causing extensive damage to the chassis and the body. I wanted to take my time making the decision, but I have come to the realisation that repairing the car again is not viable. It’s a sad end to something which has been a big part of my life for nearly 30 years,” said Willies.
“Fortunately, my fellow competitor, Brett O’Connor in the other lane, had issues of his own otherwise a bad situation could have been so much worse and except for a slight knee injury, I was not hurt.
“To all my friends and family who have given me support and encouragement over the years, I’d like to say thanks. No doubt I’ll be back on the track, probably in the Ranchero, just not as fast.”
MAKING GAINS – Moonlighting in Boosted Outlaws was the Sainty/Holmes Pro Alcohol Funny Car gathering track time to further advance their racing program. Driver Cruz Lovering steered the funny car to a new PB of 5.84 in an awesome effort for the unique Sainty BTV powered team.
WHAT ARE THE ODDS? – Third generation racer Nick Polito was competing in only his second ever event in Super Gas and yet cut the perfect 9.900 ET not once but twice during the day!
Check out the gallery of all the action.
