Drama, excitement and new records seem to be a common occurrence in the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series as Round 3 came to a close at the VPW Pro Series 1000 in Adelaide. Featuring virtually a full complement of ANDRA Sportsman brackets, racers pushed limits, reaction times, dial ins and indexes in the quest for vital points and an ANDRA Silver Christmas tree. Steve Norman was perhaps the most relieved man in the pits after claiming an all South Australian Super Comp final against Jim Ioannidis in what was also an all Super Stock battle. Neither racer disappointed as Norman cruised to a 6.568 elapsed time on a 6.81 index, a new national record up from the minimum 6.66 seconds at 151.68 mph to set the 1000-foot C/APA elapsed time national record. After many close calls and a lot of hard work, Norman finally hoisted the long awaited trophy above his head paying tribute to his crew. “It’s been a really, really long time coming with the boys,” said Norman. “That’s what you do most of it for. I was as happy for them as I am for me. “Everything went really good this weekend and it was good because it was two door cars in the final. It’s just been a really good weekend. “A big thanks to Rino (D’Alfonso) for continuing to pursue this out here (Adelaide International Raceway). It’s just been a really good weekend.” In his runner up effort, Jim Ioannidis reset the 1000 feet B/MSA national records for both elapsed time and speed with his 7.692 on a 7.92 index at 133.14 mph. The previous mark was set at a 7.72 minimum and 132.10 mph set by Ioannidis himself. Craig Geddes set new 1000 feet elapsed time and speed national records for B/D with a scintillating 5.999 and 170.00 mph to best the minimum 6.10 ET and 166 mph. Veteran Wayne Cartledge also claimed the B/DA mile per hour record reaching 172.96 mph and surpassing his previous record of 170.32 mph. Supercharged Outlaws unfortunately ended in an anti-climax after persistent timing issues earlier in the day scuppered several attempts at a Paul Stephen v Drago Nikodijevic match up. Nikodijevic eventually claimed the win to advance but time ran out to be able to turn the cars around with the semi finals run at the completion of the event. Officials decided that finalists, Donald Friend and defending champion Doina Day, would each receive runner up points. Stuart McBain doubled up for his second Top Sportsman victory of the season with a win over Sydneysider Steve Fowler. McBain won at the tree when Fowler red lit by just .003 seconds. The Victorian etched it in stone with a 6.628 on a 6.65 dial. Modified Westernationals winner Michelle Osborn raced an impressive program all weekend but she met her match in the final when local product Simon Barlow grabbed the win in a very close final. Barlow almost hit his 7.25 dial in with a 7.262 second pass from a 7.265 on a 7.20. Defending Modified champion Shane Wynd found some consolation for his round 3 exit as his team was awarded the YBi Creative Best Appearing Team for the entire weekend. George Tikpouikidis triumphed in Super Sedan when Danny Bucella saw red by an agonising .001 second. Tippouikidis completed a cruisey 10.023 on a 9.98 dial in take the honours. The red light trend continued in Modified Bike as Joe Khoury secured the win with a 9.445 on a 9.40 dial in after Shane Walker red lit by .044 seconds. That result catapults Khoury to the 160-point minimum in this shortened season as his title bid takes shape. Two-time ANDRA Super Sedan champion John Kapiris didn’t get the result he craved in his first class, but pulling double duty in his hometown, the nephew of Peter Kapiris managed to score the Super Street victory over Chris Dimech in the final. A 12.683 on a 12.62 dial in from a 12.509 second pass on a 12.52 was enough thanks to a holeshot victory. ANDRA Junior Dragster champion Toby Austin continued his dominance winning the final over local South Aussie and top qualifier Kelly Donnelly. Austin laid down an 8.131 on an 8.05 to defeat Donnelly’s 8.167 on an 8.08. And finally hometown hero Bruno Romeo, doubling up in Modified and Super Gas this weekend, took the Super Gas final in dramatic circumstances. His opponent Warren Smith ran a perfect 9.90 on the fixed 9.90 index but Romeo stole the win on a .026 holeshot with a 9.911 second pass. The Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series moves onto Willowbank Raceway for a one day event on Saturday April 11 before heading to Sydney for the Nitro Champs May 2-3. {fcomment}

Qualifying is run and done in the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series in for the VPW Pro Series 1000 at Adelaide International Raceway.

When Grant and Debbie O’Rourke head to South Australia this week for the Adelaide International Raceway’s Pro Series 1000, it will signal a return to a happy hunting ground for the husband and wife team.

Pro Stock will not contest a championship round at Adelaide International Raceway’s VPW Racer Payouts Pro Series 1000 this weekend with entries falling below the minimum required.

There has been a lot of talk about running a competition for bodied cars that pits blown v turbo v nitrous v aspirated racers against each other in a battle for not only bragging rights, but also a substantial prize purse.

One of Australia’s longest running motorsport partnerships has strengthened with Rare Spares increasing its presence on Australian drag racing legend Graeme Cooper’s iconic ‘Bricklayer’ Holden EH Premier Station Wagon. 

The 2015 Sydney Jamboree could be best summed up as an event of attrition, the car casualty rate was high and props must go to the Sydney Dragway officials who pushed on through what seemed like endless breakages. That said, the Jamboree still produced its usual fair share of wheelstands, wild passes and two step flame throwing action.

Lee Docherty went on a wild ride in the braking area in his Pac Performance Mazda MX5 at the weekend’s Sydney Jamboree.

Local Adelaide Top Alcohol Funny Car team A1 Drag Racing and their pilot Gary Busch will welcome the ANDRA Drag Racing Series big guns from interstate with open arms at the VPW Racer Payouts Pro Series 1000 on March 14-15 – then try to beat them.

Western Australian Russell Ladbrook is on the path to recovery after his scary run into the sand trap at Washpod Nitro Max last weekend at Perth Motorplex.

Maurice Fabietti heads to Adelaide International Raceway for the VPW Pro Series 1000 March 14-15 in the groove following a solid start to the 2015 ANDRA Drag Racing Series Top Doorslammer championship.

Australia’s Richie Crampton has claimed yet another award, this time the prestigious RACER Magazine 2014 Rookie of the Year award.

Glenn Moore is one of the true ‘wild men’ of the Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Car tour and the northern Queenslander will be racing the Fast Company Plymouth at the Adelaide International Raceway event to be held on Saturday, April 4 2015.

When New Zealand’s Rod Harvey hits the track at Willowbank Raceway on April 4 for the Santo’s Super 3 Extreme Drag Race Event presented by Uplift Cranes and Titan Cranes, he will be doing so with the aim of taking on the world.

Bob Godfrey Racing and Steve Easton have once again teamed up to lay down some winning numbers on the Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, California at the Good Vibrations Motorsports March Meet. This Trans-Pacific partnership is built on horsepower, with Bob behind the butterflies and Australian born Easton in the hot seat of Godfrey’s ‘72 Cuda Nitro Fuel Coupe.

Overnight the Bahrain based EKanoo Racing team has smashed the fabled five second zone with their six cylinder 2JZ powered Supra driven by American Gary White.

One of the wildest blown race cars around will be returning to the track at Sydney Dragway’s Day Of The Drags on the 29th of March.

Reigning ANDRA Top Fuel Champion, Phil Lamattina has launched his season with a pair of second places at the Perth Motorplex, whilst brother John has secured fourth place in the championship standings following some consistent performances in the second Fuchs Top Fuel dragster at the Nitro Max event.

The second round of the 2015 Street Series was held at the weekend, with Ken Rice (Street Bike), Jody Wentworth (Powder Puff), Mark Allan (Street Eliminator), Ray Ross (Hot Street) and Paul Doeblien (Quick Eliminator) taking victory.

The 2015 APSA Pro Street season launched on the short track at Portland’s South Coast Raceway last week with a increased number of competitors attending the first round over last year’s corresponding event.

Damien Harris made it two championship round wins from as many nights at Perth Motorplex, backing up for a second victory at Washpod Nitro Max.

Damien Harris has made good progress on his promise of making this his championship season with a win in a spectacular opening round of the ANDRA Top Fuel Championship at Perth Motorplex.

Drag News Australia, in partnership with ANDRA, will be providing live updates from racing this Saturday and Sunday at Perth Motorplex as part of Washpod Nitro Max, featuring ANDRA championship rounds of Top Fuel and Top Fuel Motorcycle.

A Top Fuel dragster, two nostalgia Nitro Funny Cars and two Top Fuel Motorcycles were among the vehicles greeting those few who made their way to the mid week test and tune at Perth Motorplex ahead of Washpod Nitro Max this weekend.

The Australian Top Fuel Championship gets underway at Perth Motorplex this weekend when the ANDRA Drag Racing Series returns for Washpod Nitro Max February 28 – March 2.

After a landmark year ending in championship success in 2014, Lamattina Top Fuel Racing will tackle the 2015 season with a bigger raceshop, updated equipment, two full-time drivers and a promise to ‘go all out for another championship.’