Next weekend’s NDRC season-ending Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway, XPRO Nitro Funny Car will see its championship chase come down to a final battle between defending champ Morice McMillin and title leader, Justin Walshe.
After taking out the last round victory, his third of the season, Walshe tops the points ladder heading to Australia’s largest championship drag racing event – the Gulf Western Oil Winternationals (June 6-9) – on 457 points ahead of McMillin’s 429, with Brandon Gosbell in third place on 359 points.
Walshe might have the form going into the finale, but he is doing all he can to ignore the pressure.
“I am trying not to think about the championship to be honest, but obviously, it is floating around inside my brain,” he said.
“With the way the points work, it is really not that big of a leap for Morice to make, it could all be lost in one round of racing, so I am just focusing on taking each round as it comes and whatever will be, will be.
“Sydney was an excellent round for us, but Morice – even though he didn’t make the A-Final – still had three wins and the low ET bonus points, so he is on my tail and always following me no matter what I do. He is definitely a formidable competitor.
“While I am trying to keep the championship noise quiet as we prepare, we are absolutely pumped as a team to be going to the Winternationals.
“This is our favourite meeting of the year, the one everyone gets butterflies about and where you are so proud to put on a crew shirt and be a part of it all. We can’t wait!” he concluded, while thanking Harts Paint Supplies, Aeroflow, Rocket Industries, Axalta Coating Systems and 3M Australia for their support.
McMillin echoed Walshe’s thoughts on how anything could happen next weekend.
“I think it is very exciting that Justin is ahead in the points, he has come on really strong this whole season, but I can say that we plan to end that run at the Winternationals!” smiled McMillin.
“Last year it came down to the last run of the season to decide the championship, so I know the team knows how to work under pressure.
“This time with Justin’s lead we will also have to make sure we keep him out of the final, so I am going to be relying on others to help me out on that as well.
“We are very excited about the new track and the new surface; it makes for a pretty even playing field. Thanks has to go to the Willowbank Raceway track prep lead by Justin Simpson for all the late nights they are putting in to make the Winters happen,” added McMillin, while also thanking his team, Aeroflow and Rocket Industries.
The NDRC title chase will conclude at Willowbank Raceway across 6 to 9 June for the Gulf Western Oil Winternationals.
With Top Fuel, XPRO Nitro Funny Car, Top Doorslammer, Top Fuel Motorcycle, Pro Alcohol, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle and FuelTech Pro Mod all in the one place for four huge days, plus the Eastern Conference final for the Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship at this event, there will be everything to play for at ‘The Winters’.
For event info and tickets, go to ndrc.tv
