The challenge of holding Australia’s answer to America’s Drag Week had the organisation of a Special Forces black ops mission as to avoid any undue attention from the establishment in blue. So with confidentiality agreements and media blackouts the participants were recruited under the cover of darkness for operation VPW Drag Challenge.

Brisbane-based drag racer Gary Phillips has unveiled a striking new look for his Lucas Oil Top Alcohol Funny Car ahead of this weekend’s Australian Nationals, but the goal remains the same in winning another championship.

Cold and wet conditions greeted competitors at the Grand Opening event for Perth Motorplex, with crowds also staying away as the weather threatened to put an early end to proceedings.

Cue the music; it’s the final countdown! In the red corner representing Rapisarda Autosport International, it’s the eccentric, fire fightin’ Allan ‘Dobbo’ Dobson. In the blue corner representing Lamattina Top Fuel Racing, it’s the Carrot King, Phil Lamattina.

Lee Bektash dropped a Mopar bomb on the Pro Stock field in pre-Nationals testing, running a 6.903 at 198mph to earn the title of quickest unofficial Pro Stock pass in Australian history.

Following a successful showing at the Castrol EDGE Gold Coast 600 Friday Night Drags last week, husband and wife racers Grant and Debbie O’Rourke are preparing for the final rounds of their respective ANDRA championships.

The Brothers Tremayne will duke it out for the ANDRA Drag Racing Series Australian Pro Stock Championship in the Grand Final Australian Nationals this weekend at Sydney Dragway.

It is officially being announced that the NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car Team, KonRodz Racing, has reached a two-race deal with veteran ANDRA Top Alcohol Funny Car driver John Cannuli.

A trio of challengers is all-set to make headlines at this weekend’s prestigious Australian Nationals, with Lucas Oil’s Gary Phillips, Matt Forbes and Dylan Leo all gunning for glory at drag racing’s glittering final round.

Willowbank Raceway has crowned its Street Series Track Champions for 2014, with Josh Fletcher (Street Sedan), Ken Rice (Street Bike) and Belinda Brockhurst (Powder Puff) all claiming honours across this week in the Street Series.

The Gold Coast streets felt the brute force of real horsepower on Friday when a posse of drag cars were unleashed on the V8 Supercar crowd as part of the Gold Coast 600 festivities.

This weekend’s season-ending Australian Nationals will see Victor Bray make his comeback to the ANDRA scene after a few months away and he will do so with son Ben Bray by his side.

After nearly nine months out of the seat, Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Locky Ireland is back at the track this weekend for the Australian Nationals. Locky and father Johnny took time out to focus on business, with trips to India for Johnny’s Hog Shop and Vulture Race Engineering even on the agenda. Locky has been able to feed his competitive nature in the meantime by other means, taking to boxing in the Victorian Amateur Boxing Association. “I’ve always done boxing for the fitness so while I had the time off I decided to jump in the ring and have a proper fight, and will I go again, definitely,” he said. Locky hasn’t been the only one going through changes, with the Lucas Oils Pro Stock Motorcycle receiving a brand new Motec data system to help get the most from the bike at the track. “We would come back from a run and dad would ask how it felt and I would give him feedback to say it felt lazy out of the hole or the shift light didn’t come in as I went through the finish,” he said. “Then we would look at the plugs and that was as technical as it got.” A bigger 1640cc two valve motor will be in the frame rails for the event, leading the team to hope for some fast numbers. Locky will be joined on track by his dad, with Johnny teaming up for a partnership ride between Johnny’s Hog Shop Vulture Racing and Niki Z Racing. Johnny will be riding a Screaming Eagle V-Rod in Modified Bike. {fcomment}

Australian Competition Eliminator Championship contenders Craig Geddes and Alistair McClure just can’t be separated ahead of the season finale Australian Nationals at Sydney Dragway October 31 – November 2.

Sydney Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Wayne Newby got his first go in Top Fuel last night courtesy of Rapisarda Autosport International. Here’s a quick video of the pass: Post by Rick Gauci Racing. {fcomment}