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.

19 Times Australian Champion, Gary Phillips has continued to celebrate an outstanding 20 years of partnership with Lucas Oil, by claiming victory in his Lucas Oil 1953 Studebaker Pro Slammer at last weekend’s Gulf Western Oil Nitro Thunder event at Sydney Dragway.

Lamattina Top Fuel Racing, had a night to remember at Sydney Dragway on 5 – 7 May taking the Fuchs dragster to a final round appearance in the hands of returning US-based Australian star, Richie Crampton.

As repairs continue on the racing surface at Swan Hill Dragway, the vene has announced on social media a new addition to the landscape and partnership to the complex.

On behalf of the South Australian Drag Racers Association Members and Committee, we are honoured to present in the memory of Drag Racer, SADRA President and long-standing ANDRA South Australian Division Director, the Harry White Memorial Perpetual Trophy. The inaugural recipient for 2017 went to Modified Bike racer Bryan Finn (middle).

An Australian set a world record on the weekend – but it hasn’t had anywhere near the attention it deserves.

The Gulf Western Oil-supported Team Bray Racing was sure to put on a show for the fans at Sydney Dragway’s Gulf Western Oil Nitro Thunder event this weekend – with Victor Bray going all the way to the finals while Ben entertained in the semi-finals as part of Australia’s fastest side-by-side ‘Slammer pass.

The Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Car Series has a new superstar and supercar! The Donnelly family has today revealed the new addition to the team’s fleet, The Avenger, a new ride for former wheelstander pilot, Dan Donnelly.

In his second race of 2017, Australian Pro Stock racer Shane Tucker came into raceday No. 13 at the 37th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Southern Nationals. Although that No. 13 seed was his best qualifying position of his season, Tucker fell in the first round of eliminations.

For 50 years, the Winternationals have been the definitive Australian Drag Racing event – the largest of its type anywhere in the world outside of North America, to give you an idea of the scale – and for 30 of those years, the Winternationals have called Willowbank Raceway home.

Shane Tucker qualified his season best No. 13 this weekend at the 37th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway despite Mother Nature’s best effort to wash away qualifying on Friday.

Rapisarda Autosport International star Wayne Newby has taken a stranglehold on his maiden 400 Thunder Championship after scoring a holeshot win over NHRA star Richie Crampton in the final of Nitro Thunder at Sydney Dragway.

One of the most historic days of Australian Drag Racing is in the record books – now overflowing with new standards from the 2017 Gulf Western Oil Nitro Thunder. 

The Gulf Western Oil Nitro Thunder delivered a spectacular opening day, providing some of the most memorable runs in Sydney Dragway history.

           Welcome to the Drag News Magazine live blog for the 2017 Gulf Western Oil Nitro Thunder at Sydney Dragway. Stay tuned across the weekend as we bring you updates from around the venue.