The National Drag Racing Championship has unveiled an exciting 11-round national championship calendar for Group One categories today at The Bend Dragway.
The new NDRC was announced on the 10th of May, unifying Australian drag racing under one national championship for both Group One and Sportsman competitors under the guiding principle of ‘One Way, Forward.’
The Group One calendar will commence in action-packed fashion with back-to-back racing weekends at The Bend Dragway on October 21-22 with Burson Top Fuel and Sydney Dragway October 27-28 with Nitro Funny Car.
Rounds three and four will round out 2023 at the Perth Motorplex in November 24-25 with Nitro Funny Car, and Willowbank Raceway in December 1-2 with Burson Top Fuel.
2024 opens with fireworks at the Bend on January 13-14 with Nitro Funny Car. January 26-27 sees round six at Sydney Dragway with Burson Top Fuel before the show travels again to Willowbank Raceway with Nitro Funny Car on February 16-17.
The NDRC heads to Perth Motorplex for the Westernationals on March 2-3 with Burson Top Fuel. Top Fuel returns to The Bend for round nine on April 6-7, with that event to also include the Aeroflow National Sportsman Grand Finals.
The penultimate round of the NDRC Group One championship will be held with Burson Top Fuel at Sydney Dragway with the Nitro Champs on May 3-4.
All Group 1, including the Burson Top Fuel and Nitro Funny Car Championships, head to the all-in mega Grand Final spectacular to be held at Willowbank Raceway’s Winternationals in June.
Race day for all eleven rounds will be broadcast live and free on the Seven Network’s digital streaming platform, 7plus, while 7mate and 7plus will each air post-produced highlight specials.
Andy Lopez, NDRC co-promoter said today, “We’re really proud of this calendar. There are eleven amazing events at Australia’s premier drag racing facilities, headlined by either the Burson Top Fuel Championship or the Nitro Funny Car Championship, with Top Fuel Motorcycle, Top Doorslammer, Pro Alcohol, Pro Stock, Pro Mod, Pro Stock Motorcycle and the country’s best Sportsman racers.
“For competitors, this means a true national championship and a unified sport. For race fans, it means unbeatable shows with the best Australian drag racing has to offer.
“The NDRC’s motto is ‘One Way, Forward.’ We all race in the same direction, for the same reason, and it is our hope that with the NDRC having unified this great sport, we can bring it the attention and respect it deserves.”
“Taking it all up a notch is the fact that these eleven NDRC Group One events will benefit from unprecedented levels of broadcast exposure thanks to the NDRC’s landmark deal with Australia’s home of motorsport, the Seven Network,” Nathan Prendergast, NDRC co-promoter and Head of TV added.
“Never before has Australian drag racing benefited from this kind of coverage – this is truly a new era for the sport.
From a racer perspective, this new calendar will ensure that Group One competitors have the opportunity to not only race for one unified national title, but to do so all over the country at Australia’s best drag strips.”
“Having all of the awesome racers and brackets racing together again all over the country and under the one NDRC banner is incredibly exciting,” said two-time Top Fuel champion, Phil Lamattina.
“This eleven round calendar is something that all at Lamattina Top Fuel Racing are thrilled to be a part of. We can’t wait to light the candles at the first event at The Bend, and at many events after that, as this new era of Australian drag racing bursts into life.”
For venues, the NDRC looks to create a true showcase of Australian drag racing, in a return to the heyday of packed grandstands and sell-out crowds.
NDRC Communications Manager Adrian Hodgson was joined by the Hon. Stephen Mullighan MP and The Bend Motorsport Park CEO Alistair MacDonald at The Bend Dragway today to officially unveil the calendar, with the latter stating, “We cannot put into words how excited we are for the fans and competitors of Drag Racing and the people of South
Australia to have a new home for the sport right here at The Bend.
“To see the $35 million investment by the Shahin family through the Peregrine Corporation rewarded with hosting the opening round of the 23/24 National Drag Racing Championship is a credit to the key stakeholders in Drag Racing and the SA government.
“It’s going to be fantastic for SA and for the region, so we look forward to seeing you all at The Bend in October.”
As part of the announcement of the Group One calendar dates today, a number of dates were also confirmed for the NDRC Sportsman Series.
Adrian Hodgson, NDRC Communications Manager says, “The full Aeroflow Sportsman Championship calendar is well advanced. There is Sportsman Championship racing at most NDRC Group 1 events and we’re in discussions with venues in Victoria and QLD to round out the Eastern Conference.
“I can confirm that the Summit Series already committed to by ANDRA until December 31 will be recognised as part of this year’s Western Conference, and that the series will continue as the Aeroflow Championship Western Conference from January 1, 2024. The complete Aeroflow Sportsman Championship calendar will be announced on
June 14, including how racers qualify for the National Grand Final at The Bend.”
For the full NDRC Group One Championship dates, please see below.
NDRC GROUP ONE CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDAR:
• Round 1 – The Bend Dragway – 21-22 October 2023 – featuring Top Fuel, Top Fuel Motorcycle, Top
Doorslammer, Pro Stock Motorcycle, plus Sportsman Western Conference racing.
• Round 2 – Sydney Dragway – 27-28 October 2023 – featuring Nitro Funny Car, Pro Alcohol, Pro Stock and Pro
Mod, plus Sportsman Eastern Conference racing.
• Round 3 – Perth Motorplex – 24-25 November 2023 (Goldenstates) – featuring Nitro Funny Car, Top Fuel Motorcycle, Top Doorslammer, Pro Alcohol, plus Sportsman Western Conference racing.
• Round 4 – Willowbank Raceway – 1-2 December 2023 – featuring Top Fuel, Pro Alcohol, Pro Mod, plus Sportsman Eastern Conference racing + QDRC Final.
• Round 5 – The Bend Dragway – 13-14 January 2024 – featuring Nitro Funny Car, Top Fuel Motorcycle, Top Doorslammer, Pro Alcohol, plus Sportsman Western Conference racing.
• Round 6 – Sydney Dragway – 26-27 January 2024 – featuring Top Fuel, Top Doorslammer, Pro Alcohol, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, plus Sportsman Eastern Conference racing.
• Round 7 – Willowbank Raceway – 16-17 February 2024 – featuring Nitro Funny Car, Pro Alcohol, Pro Stock, Pro Mod, Pro Stock Motorcycle, plus Sportsman Eastern Conference racing.
• Round 8 – Perth Motorplex – 2-3 March 2024 (Westernationals) – featuring Top Fuel, Top Fuel Motorcycle, Top Doorslammer plus Sportsman Western Conference racing.
• Round 9 – The Bend Dragway – 6-7 April 2024 – featuring Top Fuel, Top Doorslammer and Pro Stock, plus the Sportsman National Grand Final.
• Round 10 – Sydney Dragway – 3-4 May 2024 (Nitro Champs) – featuring Top Fuel, Top Fuel Motorcycle, Top Doorslammer, Pro Stock, Pro Mod, Pro Stock Motorcycle, plus Sportsman Eastern Conference racing.
• Round 11 (Grand Final) – Willowbank Raceway – 6-9 June 2024 (Winternationals) – featuring Top Fuel, Nitro Funny Car, Top Fuel Motorcycle, Top Doorslammer, Pro Alcohol, Pro Stock, Pro Mod, Pro Stock Motorcycle, plus Sportsman Eastern Conference racing.
Sanctioning for each event will follow the in-place agreements held by each venue.
To learn more about the NDRC, visit www.nationaldragracing.com.au
