It had been a long wait to kick start the 2024 edition of the Queensland Drag Racing Championships following extensive upgrades to Willowbank Raceway, but the short-sharp series ran to completion in December encompassing six rounds all up.
In QDRC Super Comp, Jai Schluter ran away with the track championship in his Cavalier yet again for the third straight season. Appearing in every final round this season, Schluter ran unopposed in the final when Steven Sloan was unable to show in his Gemini to add to his trophy cabinet. QDRC Comp Bike was the opposite with the season point score all tied up at the end of proceedings. Aaveen Autar hauled in Chris Collin by defeating him in the event final, squaring up the points and being awarded the track championship on countback.
For QDRC Outlaws, they did not contest the Grand Final. Team Fletcher dominated the season with the father and son duo finishing on equal points, Josh sneaking home on countback courtesy of a red light win at the previous event.
Matthew Barron in his Beretta managed to stop Paul Doeblien winning another Top Sportsman final with a .008 reacting 8.681 (8.67), but that could not stop Doeblien taking the Falcon ute to the track championship for the second straight season. In Modified Lucas Holz also claimed back-to-back QDRC track championship in his altered, but on this day Brett Farnell had the FED cranking out the event win over Chris Reid.
In Super Sedan, Mitchell Bauer controlled his own destiny in his championship battle with Damien Morris. The pair ended up facing each other in the final with Bauer taking he Fairlane to the stripe first with 9.385 (9.37DI) over Morris’ 9.990 (9.92DI) for the event win and championship. Brian Alvisio had the track championship in his pocket heading into the final round after being undefeated all season. A red light ended his day by his own hand at this event in round two, and Alan Annis Jr came through the pack to defeat Scott Mutch in the final event of the season.
Shawn Taskis piled on the points consistently through out the season in his Capri with three wins and despite dropping out of eliminations in the semi final to John McKnight, the track championship would be his. McKnight continued his winning way’s defeating outgoing Super Street champion Troy Hutton in the final on the back of a great .003 reaction. Real Street racer got together and formed their own three round series midway through the season. Paul Nielsen scooted to the event win over Mat Coates but it was Ian Nielsen driving home with the track championship.
Finally in Junior Dragster, third-generation racer, Nixon Cannuli fought hard to the event win over Karl Schulz with a 7.728 (7.72DI) that would also earn him the track championship.
Photos courtesy of Drag Photos
