The South Australian Drag Racers Association Super Sedan championship fight is set for a dramatic conclusion at the ANDRA Grand Finals this Saturday, with points‑cap leader Darren Russell heading into The Bend on 300 points and a group of fierce challengers still within striking distance.
Russell has enjoyed a remarkable season, one that he admits has felt “a bit surreal” as he prepares for the biggest weekend of his racing career.
“I am feeling pretty good actually,” Russell said of his mindset heading into the finale.
“We have crunched the numbers, without getting ahead of ourselves, but at the end of the day we are just going out there and will concentrate on going rounds.”
Russell’s season began without any thought of a title chase.
“When we started our 2025/2026 campaign in Darwin, the points were never even thought of – we were just going out there racing in Darwin and Alice; everyone had said we needed to do the northern swing, so we did it; and came away with the runner-up in Darwin and again in Alice,” he explains.
“Then obviously we backed it up with a win at the Spring Nationals at Dragway at The Bend in October, going through 38 cars. That was completely unexpected, and very special to us.”
Now in only his third competitive season, Russell says the journey has been hard to believe.
“It has probably been a bit surreal so far, this is my third racing season competitively. I only ever did street meets back in the day at AIR. I decided to buy a car as the wife said, ‘You need a race car, you can’t use the street car,’ and everyone said she is a keeper!” he laughed.
“To win the title… I don’t think words could explain what it would mean to me. There are racers who haven’t had a Christmas Tree in 20 years. So, if we could do it in our third season…we are not getting ahead of ourselves, but I am still trying to get my head around it,” he concluded, while thanking Ryan from RT Race Craft, Corey Read, and his family – wife Jodee, and children Mitchell and Hugh – for their support.
Sitting behind Russell is Tony Tedesco on 245 points.
“We are excited to be attending the ANDRA Grand Final to hopefully take home the title of Number One,” Tedesco said.
“It has been a tough competition over the season with amazing racers from across Australia. To make it this far into the points is an amazing feeling.
“I have been racing for nearly 40 years, and I have never been this close to a championship – it feels so surreal, I cannot put it into words.
“I would love to say thank you to Sherry, Peter Furlanetto and PBM Racing, my wife Jodie for letting me go away racing, Brodie – the best crew chief ever and favourite daughter – and all of the Super Sedan competitors who have supported me throughout my journey. I can’t wait to see what the Grand Final has in store.”
Just five points further back is Alex Gkroidis on 240, who is hoping for a turnaround in form at The Bend.
“I am looking forward to the finals — it is going to be tough with some good racers to get through,” Gkroidis said.
“Things need to go my way if I’m going to take out the finals, and the Bend has not been good to me in the past – I haven’t gone past round two – so I hope things go better for me.”
Rounding out the top contenders is Peter Furlanetto on 210 points.
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“I am feeling pretty good coming into the ANDRA Grand Finals this weekend coming off a win in Super Sedan at the NDRC’s Riverbend Nationals (at Dragway at The Bend),” Furlanetto said.
“I have been hard at work prepping the car for this weekend – winning the championship would be very rewarding after all of the time and money I have spent getting to this point.”
To see the current points standings heading into the decider, please click here
For all the details on the ANDRA Grand Final, please click here.
