Gavin Spann could be the spanner in the works for reigning champion Chris Matheson this weekend at Sydney Dragway with a duel of nitro motorcycles in the works.

It’s been like a Pro Stock boot camp this week for Sydney racer Jason Grima with a week of testing and focused checks of his PC Group Ford Mustang.

On the eve of the Nitro Champs there has been a flurry of testing at Sydney Dragway, here is a wrap from recent test sessions.

Five years of international co-operation will culminate this weekend when American Brandon Huhtala takes to the wheel of Victorian racer James Xuereb’s Don Ness built Cutlass at the Nitro Champs in Sydney.

Following a crash in the final of the Pro Series 1000 at Adelaide just over two weeks ago in his JBS Tools dragster, Wayne Newby made the decision to bring a new car into action much earlier than planned.  

  For Steven Ham and the East Coast Lubes/Mobil 1 funny car, the Adelaide Pro Series 1000 proved to be an extremely successful event.

Daniel Schultz will make his debut in competition at this weekend’s Nitro Champs at Sydney Dragway, hoping to steer the potent Santo Rapisarda-owned Titan Cranes Top Fuel dragster to some round wins.

The Australian multiple championship winning Top Bike Team heads to Sydney on 4-6 May 2012, to chase more points in their quest to become three time National Champion.

ANDRA Pro Series Top Fuel points leader Darren Morgan is hoping a slow start to his season has now evaporated with a strong mid-season charge positioning the Mildura driver for a run at his third championship.

Nitro crew chief Bruce Read’s experience in the USA could be the advantage his brother Phil Read needs when he competes at the Nitro Champs on May 4-6 at Sydney Dragway.

With the completion of the WA season, Competition racer Al McClure is heading to the Nitro Champs with his BB/FCA.  The trip will include the Winternationals and has been made possible through a deal with Top Doorslammer racer Dan Gregorini and McClure’s generous sponsors.

Round 1 of the series was held at Willowbank on Saturday April 21 where a cool morning soon gave way to a scorching hot day under beautiful blue skies (A nice change in Qld).  The pre entry list of 77 competitors blew out over 120 on the day to create a great days racing for all.

Records may be on the line this Saturday night at the 2012 Season Opener at Hidden Valley Drag Strip. Reigning Outlaw champion Craig Davis has registered his 600ci Ford Mustang and he has his sights firmly on the first 6 second pass for a SS/AA class vehicle at Hidden Valley.

USA gun takes aim at Australia’s Top Fuel field.

Seattle-based drag racer Brandon Huhtala will be adding an international flavour to Sydney Dragway next weekend when he competes in the Super Stock division of the Rocket Allstars Racing Series. The Series brings together the best Australian talent in sportsman drag racing, but it is rare to see overseas drivers take part.

The Nitro Voodoo Team, as first timers to Adelaide International Raceway, were eager to test the traction and braking zone at the Adelaide Track and had four Qualifiers to do so. Crew Chief, Roger Bloor said “the 1000 ft format was exciting along with the all asphalt track, ensuring the Team needed to be on their game quickly to ensure the machine would hook up on the relatively fresh track.

The nominations for the recipients for this years Australian Nostalgia Fuel Association ‘Pioneer Awards’ are being thrown open to the public.

Final preparations are in full swing for the 2012 Nitro Champs and behind the scenes Sydney Dragway management has been striving to create a “show environment” that will enhance its core product, Drag Racing.

The Australian National Drag Racing Association is sad to report it has accepted the resignation of CEO Greg Humphreys due to health issues.

Following an ANDRA Board meeting on the weekend, Liam Waldron has been officially appointed as chairman of the Board with Greg Griffiths the deputy chairman.

Sydney Top Fuel drag racer Terry Sainty hopes a focus on keeping all eight cylinders lit and full of nitro will pay dividends next weekend at Sydney Dragway when he competes in round five of the ANDRA Pro Series – the Nitro Champs.

Australian Modified Bike Champion Daniel Sekli is quietly confident as he prepares to race in Modified Bike as part of the Rocket Allstars Racing Series at the Nitro Champs at Sydney Dragway.

A current Super Street racer will be stepping up big time real soon from his streeter to a low seven second  weapon.

Phil Read will make a welcome return driving the Jim Read Racing Top Fuel dragster at the Nitro Champs to be held at Sydney Dragway commencing May 4th.

Wayne Newby elevated himself in the championship rankings for the Top Alcohol division of the ANDRA Pro Series over the weekend in Adelaide, but it came at a price with a crash in the final badly damaging his JBS Tools dragster.

The Phil Lamattina-driven LTFR Fuchs Top Fuel dragster had an almost perfect 1000-feet debut at Adelaide International Raceway, but a mechanical gremlin in the final handed the win to ANDRA championship rival Darren Morgan.

It was an emotional victory for Darren Morgan on the weekend in Adelaide, who was commemorating the life of Mick Atholwood, who recently passed away and was instrumental in the early part of his Top Fuel career, particularly during the formation of the DMR team.

The return of ANDRA championship drag racing to Melbourne has been set with a number of dates for next season’s calendar at Calder Park.