The Aeroflow Sportsman Championship is set to come to a dramatic head later this month at the SPRY Spring Nationals – the 2026 NDRC season grand finale.
With the grand final points loading seeing a maximum of 125 points for each of the 10 championship brackets on the table, it is a case of ‘nobody is safe’ heading into the series decider across October 22-25.
Each of the expected 150+ sportsman racers to line-up for this event will carry the points of their best four rounds into Dragway at The Bend, with the margins critically tight across the board and only the bikes having one more chance to improve their standing before the decider at this weekend’s All Bike Nationals (October 10).
And championships won’t be the only thing to play for either, with prestigious event wins and the Dennis Syrmis Trophy also up for grabs.
In the race for the Dennis Syrmis Trophy, awarded to the single highest sportsman points scorer across all of the rounds of the season (excluding the All Bike Nationals), Ken Collin leads the way on 450 points, narrowly ahead of fellow Performance Bike rider, Edge Mallis (440). Kobe Ashelford (Junior Drag Bike – 420), while Modified’s Adriana Cartledge and Daniel Carranza as well as Junior Drag Bike racer Lawrence Raschella – all on 360 – also remain well in the frame for this prestigious accolade, as does Dean Jamieson (Modified Bike) and Nevaeh McDougall (340), both on 340.
The fight between Collin and Mallis isn’t just for the Dennis Syrmis Trophy either, with two-time champ Collin leading Mallis by 15 points (320 to 305) in the Performance Bike standings. Joe Khoury (260), Samuel Fry (250), and Cheryl ‘MsVrod’ Beddoes (200) also are in the mix. Adding to the picture is the fact that these racers will be on-deck at the All Bike Nationals this weekend – alongside Modified Bike and Junior Drag Bike – plus there is an additional 5 points up for grabs for setting an Elapsed Time record for Performance Bike.
If Collin can clinch the Dennis Syrmis Trophy and the Performance Bike championship, it would be a very special achievement indeed.
“I am pretty excited about leading both of the awards, the championship and the Dennis Syrmis Trophy, but particularly the Dennis Syrmis award as I knew Dennis back when I first started in 1980 and he was always good to me, so it would be a tremendous privilege to win that award, that is for sure,” Collin said.
“As for the championship, I would love to do three in a row! I am not getting any younger, I turned 67 last week, so I figure my time is coming to an end so it would be really nice to win that for the third time.
“I appreciate what NDRC have tried to do for us over the season, and I want to say thank you to Ken Peatey, Blaze Hansen of Blazecraft, my crew Trent and Dave, and of course my wife of over 40 years, Mary.”
In Super Comp, Warren Allen carries 260 points into the Grand Final, but after taking the win at the Haltech East Coast Nationals last weekend, Luke Cartledge has closed the margin to just 20 points. Also still well in the mix is John Parisi on 210, while Peter Pisalidis and Adrian Vella cannot be discounted on 185 each, and like for Performance Bike, five points are also available for those that set an ET record at the event.
“We were hoping to have a good round at Sydney Dragway to get back near the top in the points, and thankfully taking the win has allowed us to now only be 20 points behind the leader, which gives us great confidence heading into the Grand Final!” Cartledge said.
“With 125 points on the line at this event, 20 points is definitely not unbeatable, and we have every intention of doing everything we can to make sure we can hoist the big trophy come October 25th,” he added, while thanking his crew, family, and everyone who has helped along the way.
Speaking of Cartledge’s family, his wife Adriana is also in the frame to challenge for a championship – leading the Modified standings heading into the SPRY Spring Nationals by 20 points ahead of Daniel ‘BatDan’ Carranza (280 to 260), who took out the top qualifying honours at the Haltech East Coast Nationals. Matt Forbes (200) and Brett Farnell (180) are also still in the frame.
“Heading into the Grand Final leading the points by 20, we are feeling confident, but definitely a little nervous knowing it’s going to be a tough field!” said Adriana, while thanking her family, crew, and sponsors.
“We’re hoping to put together a strong weekend and turn on win lights to help secure the National Championship. It’s been a hell of a season with plenty thrown at us – electrical issues early on, some massive wheel stands, broken tail shafts and everything in between. But we’ve worked through it all, got the car sorted and it’s running consistently again. Now it’s time to put it all on the line and see what we can do!”
With just 20 points between them, Carranza enters the SPRY Spring Nationals with his eyes firmly on the prize.
“With 125 points on the line, it really is anyone’s game,” Carranza said.
“It is going to be a very competitive end to our season, the points are so close, and the pressure is high, but we will see how we go. No matter what, we are going to have fun, and hopefully we can try and go all the way. It would mean a lot if we could, for me and for my supporters: Penrite Oil, TileCo-The Shower People, Killer Cars, JTR Fabrications, Ambruosi Fabrications and Stef from SR Engines, as well as mum, dad, and all my family and friends who have all backed me for so long.”
In Supercharged Outlaws, East Coast Nationals winner Bruno Matijasevic’s 260 leads Simon Madigan on 190, a 70-point gap, which may sound comfortable until you place it against the 125 possible points on offer at Dragway at The Bend. Toby Austin (160) and Josh Fletcher (150) are all mathematically in with a shot also.
In Top Sportsman Vlado Turic and Matthew Barron head to the decider level on 240 points, with Tony Whyatt just 20 behind on 220, making for an incredibly tight top three, while Simon Isherwood (190), Michael Obst (160) and David Foster (140) also should not be discounted.
In Super Sedan Sean Maher leads on 280, but Michael Vlasakakis, Peter Furlanetto, and Jack Moreau are locked on 240 apiece behind him.
In Super Street Mark Rossow (220) narrowly leads Corey Stutchbury (210), with Andrew Waight on 170 and Sammy-Jo Johnson on 160. Tex Griffiths and Dave Morton sit level on 160 as well for another extremely tight race in the final.
In Junior Dragster, the inaugural and reigning winner of the Dennis Syrmis Trophy, Zayne Condello, carries 300 points ahead of Karl Schulz’s 260, with Bailey Hawke, Luca Lamattina, and Taylor Horton all on 220 apiece.
Like for Performance Bike, Modified Bike and Junior Drag Bike have one more chance to improve their standings before the grand finale at this weekend’s All Bike Nationals.
In Modified Bike Dean Jamieson’s 340 is the (current) largest best-4 total in the series, seeing him sitting 80 clear of Sean Ricketts (260), while Brian Alvisio (240) and Mathew Jones (220) are not far behind.
In Junior Drag Bike, East Coast Nationals winner Kobe Ashelford current best-4 total is 360, 60 clear of Bailey Paul on 300, with Nevaeh McDougall and Lawrence Raschella are both on 280. Aliza Harris and Cooper Plummer complete a top six covered by 120 points – but all that could change this weekend.
To view the full points standings, ahead of the SPRY Spring Nationals, visit https://nationaldragracing.com.au/results/
The SPRY Spring Nationals at Dragway at The Bend across October 22-25 will host the NDRC season finale for not only the Aeroflow Sportsman Championship but also BLAHST Top Fuel, XPRO Nitro Funny Car, Top Doorslammer, Top Fuel Motorcycle, Pro Alcohol, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Pro Mod. For event information, visit https://nationaldragracing.com.au/calendar/
To learn more about the NDRC, visit www.ndrc.tv
