Drag racing fans were treated to a mix of quick times and mechanical gremlins as Top End drivers continued their shakedown to the 2017 Top End season.

Kelly Bettes started her licensing procedure in the Lamattina Top Fuel Racing dragster last weekend at Sydney Dragway ambitiously hoping to make the Winternationals. Unfortunately mechanical gremilins have hindered that plan, but Bettes proved a natural behind the wheel.

The Atura Blacktown NSW Championship Series at Sydney Dragway has reached its fourth round before going into a Winter break. Despite the ultimate in weather conditions, racing was adversely effected due to a high number of oil downs.

Only weeks remain until the biggest show in Australian drag racing and with the event held on their home turf and with the backing of their own naming rights partner, it is no surprise that the Gulf Western Oil-supported Team Bray Racing is pulling out all the stops in their preparation.

As the second season of the 400 Thunder Drag Racing Series draws closer to its conclusion at the Gulf Western Oil 50th Winternationals, it has achieved yet another considerable milestone to add to its already successful tally.

The Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Car Series has added its latest car to the fleet and if its menacing looks are anything to go by, The Terminator Camaro will be a force to be reckoned with on and off the track.

The upcoming 50th Gulf Western Oil Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway is shaping up to be the biggest drag race for many years.

The USA’s Glenn Mikres will return to the Australian Top Fuel scene at the Gulf Western Oil Winternationals when he calls the shots as crew chief on Rachelle Splatt’s dragster.

Three time NHRA Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon will race alongside Rapisarda Autosport International team-mates Damien Harris and Wayne Newby at the 50th Gulf Western Oil Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway.

Less than two weeks out from the Gulf Western Oil Winternationals, 19 times Australian champion Gary Phillips is preparing both of his 3500+ horsepower Lucas Oils vehicles to tackle oversubscribed fields in both Pro Alcohol and Pro Slammer.

Leading turbo and electronic injection tuner Terry Seng is teaming up with Wild Bunch and Top Doorslammer legend Les Winter to put a new spin on an old classic.

On the eve of round 4 of the Atura NSW Championship Series at Sydney Dragway, Madman Productions has put together a killer video clip from an earlier round of the Sydney Dragway series.

Three months is a long time in drag racing and for MacLean Motorsports it is time to play catch up with the fields of Pro Slammer and Pro Alcohol.

Australian nitro Harley rider Benny Stevens is set to compete in the NHRA at Bristol’s Thunder Valley Raceway in June.

Designing and manufacturing jewellery by day and tinkering with his supercharged V8 Pro Slammer at night, life is a balancing act for Wallace Bishop Jewellers CEO Stuart Bishop as he prepares for this year’s 50th Gulf Western Oil Winternationals.

Four-time Australian Top Fuel Champion Darren Morgan couldn’t wipe the smile from his face at Gulf Western Oil Nitro Thunder when he broke his PB, running a 4.56 at 329mph.

Drag News Magazine #25 is now available, with the theme for this month’s issue being ‘unique’. The team have brought together some of the strangest drag racing vehicles from around the country and takes an up close look at the passion of the owners and what has sent them in these weird and wonderful directions. The cover is taken by the Sciacca family’s Supercharged Outlaws Lamborghini, a vehicle that generates comments like no other. Some love it, some hate it, but in reality it is just one badass hot rod with a family who love to race. Drag News Magazine editor Luke Nieuwhof said it was a close choice between the Sciaccas and and Phil Penny’s genre-bending Honda S600 for the cover. “With a turbocharger that is almost as big as the car itself, Phil Penny’s 2JZ-powered classic is all about having fun,” he said. “And that is really the common theme here. All these owners love their vehicles and standing out from the crowd.” Norbert Claite’s Jaguar is as sleek as you will see a drag car and combined with gorgeous paint it makes for one of the neatest cars on track in the west. Speaking of the west, the Drag News team also ventured out to the Bindoon Dirt Drags to see one of the craziest eighth mile stretches in Australia. “We haven’t covered any dirt drags before but when the hard top season gets quiet in WA that is when the dirt season takes off and there is a dedicated group of racers who follow the events around the State.” Meeting reports feature from Gulf Western Oil Nitro Thunder and the ANDRA Grand Finals at Adelaide, along with plenty more from Willowbank, Perth and Mildura, while historian Lex Swayn looks back on the original Winternationals ahead of the 50th running of the great event. “Everyone is looking forward to the 50th running of the Gulf Western Oil Winternationals and we will be there to cover the event as it deserves to be covered,” Nieuwhof said. “We’re really looking forward to catching up with everyone there and if you think you have an interesting story that needs telling, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.” To order Drag News Magazine, use the buttons below or visit our ordering page.  Single Issue  Subscription

Gulf Western Oil Nitro Thunder proved to be a Mega event for Tremaniac Racing with the team signing a two year sponsorship with Mega Racing Australia, as well as both cars being in the final – with Aaron taking the win.

The triple-trubo Thomas4parts dragster had quite the moment last night at Willowbank Raceway.

Competition Bike racer Will Davey tumbled off his Harley-Davidson Destroyer in the braking area at the Gulf Western Oil Nitro Thunder event last weekend.

Former Sydney Dragway CEO and still current Modified racer Graham Elliot had a wilder than expected ride when he took the wheel of an iconic Super Sedan.

It has been a harsh year for Steel City Dragway with their five round track championship effectively reduced to a single round thanks to Mother Nature.

Drag News Magazine sharp shooter Joe Maday has delivered his best shots from the recent Gulf Western Oil Nitro Thunder event at Sydney Dragway.

Rod Oberg got to see his dream realised at Willowbank Raceway on Saturday when he took to the track in his new Supercharged Outlaws Funny Car. But the debut almost turned to disaster.

    With the difficulties of distance for Queensland racers to run the ANDRA Summit Sportsman Series, ANDRA has developed the 2017 Queensland Drag Racing Championship Series.

There’s an early leader in the race for entries at Nitro Up North on July 21 and 22 – and it’s the crowd pleasing Top Doorslammers!

Gulf Western Oil Nitro Thunder was a performance powerhouse, with an amazing amount of record times. There were some gun photographers on the scene and we’d like to present their best work from the event.

On a record breaking weekend for Pro Slammers in Australia, John Zappia has shown he is still the king of performance in the Fuchs Monaro.

Chris Matheson and his Nitro Voodoo Top Fuel Motorcycle team have continued to dominate the 400 Thunder Championship, racking up yet another race final appearance last weekend at Sydney Dragway.