CP Aussie – Competition Plus

NEW SPONSOR AND LEADING TEAMS TO MISS OPENING ROUND OF 2026 AUSSIE TOP FUEL CHAMPIONSHIP

John Doig, Australian Correspondent — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 15:00:34 +0000

Round One of the NDRC season for Top Fuel at Sunset Strip, Mildura in rural Victoria on February 26-27 will see BLAHST, a local pressure washing company, unveiled as naming rights sponsor of the category for 2026.

However, the announcement has been overshadowed by the decision of the leading teams, Rapisarda Autosport International and Hydraulink Top Fuel Racing, to skip the event.

Their absence leaves a significant void in the field as the series returns to Victoria for the first time since 2022.

“We have not had time to prep the cars for the event,” said team owner Santo Rapisarda. “The crew has been incredibly busy with work over Christmas and the New Year and we simply ran out of time. It is disappointing but we are focusing on returning for round two at The Bend in late March. Even though we will not be there we wish all the teams good luck and safe racing.”

A similar situation exists with HTFR, which is in recovery mode from a fiery crash at The Bend late last year.

Sources close to the situation but not authorized to speak publicly have dismissed claims the no-shows stem from concerns over the shortened eighth-mile race distance and venue facilities not being up to standard.

According to race organizers, “Hundreds of concrete barriers for the braking area have been installed along with catch nets.”

The event marks a new era for Australian drag racing as the NDRC transitions from a split-year format to a January-November race calendar and has attracted four entries headed by local team Lamattina Top Fuel Racing, which will field two cars for team owner Phil Lamattina and Shane Olive.

Olive, who previously raced two seasons with LTFR, lost his ride when the team reverted to a single entry in 2023.

His most recent outing was with RAI at the final round of last season where he finished runner-up to champion-elect Wayne Newby.

The Olive car will also be decked out in BLAHST livery.

The other two entries are Western Australian Kyle Putland and veteran Queensland racer Steve Read.

AUSSIE NITRO FUNNY CAR SEASON OPENER WASHED OUT

Bobby Bennett — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 21:26:31 +0000

Second-year Nitro Funny Car racer Damon Paton is shaping as an early contender for the unluckiest driver of the 2026 season after a windstorm and torrential rain forced officials to cancel the opening round of the NDRC Nitro Funny Car and Pro Alcohol Championship at Willowbank Raceway on January 25.

Paton, making only his fifth start in the category after graduating from Supercharged Outlaw—had just posted his second win of the day and was in the box seat to take his place in his maiden A-Final when the meeting was called off.

“I was unlucky, but the same goes for the other guys who didn’t get a chance to run the second round and race their way into the finals,” Paton said. “Day one didn’t go to plan, but today went really well. Overall, it was a good weekend. We went within two hundredths of our personal best, and debuting a new car is always a challenge. From here, the rest of the season looks promising.”

Nitro Funny Car.

With just five entries and two qualifying sessions, interest focused on who would top the charts and secure the all-important first-round bye.

Conditions were brutal, with track temperatures peaking at 135°F and humidity hovering near 90 percent, adding another layer of intrigue.

Championship contender Josh Leahy wasted no time asserting himself, opening with a 4.05-second pass at 310 mph despite banging the blower. He backed that up with an impressive 3.98 at 319 mph to claim the top spot.

Second place went to reigning Champion Morice McMillin who came into the season opener with a new tune-up and fuel system and posted a best run of 4.46, 198 mph after dropping a cylinder.

Paton debuted an ex–Del Worsham Toyota Camry wearing a striking black-and-white livery. His weekend began shakily when clutch issues forced him to shut down after the burnout in Q1, but he rebounded in Q2 with a 4.47 at 200 mph, despite dropping a hole and shutting off early to secure third.

Adam Murrihy on the comeback trail after missing last season claimed fourth with a solid 4.49, 233 mph in Q2 after a frustrating start to the weekend that included a Christmas Tree malfunction in round one against McMillin. The Murrihy camp upbeat after forming a ‘strategic alliance’ with John Force Racing, including several visits from crew chief Brett Ehmers to Indianapolis.

Justin Walshe rounded out the field in fifth, entering the season with a singular goal: to score his first sub-four-second run after recording “around a dozen 4.00-flat passes,” according to the owner-driver. A planned early shutoff in Q1 was followed by a close call with the center-line in Q2, prompting the 2024 champion to lift.

Conditions worsened on race day, with track temperatures climbing to 140°F ahead of round one.

Leahy’s solo run came to an early end after the car went up in smoke.

The Paton–Murrihy matchup quickly developed into a pedal-fest as both drivers struggled for traction. Murrihy made a late attempt to get back onto the throttle, but Paton prevailed.

The closest race of the weekend saw Walshe jump out to an early lead over McMillin before both cars lost traction. Walshe dropped a cylinder, allowing McMillin to drive around him for the win, posting a 4.30-second pass – the quickest elapsed time of the weekend. Walshe nonetheless claimed top speed honors at 241 mph.

In what was to be the only run in Rd 2 and the last run of the meeting. Paton drove past Leahy around the 330-foot mark and went on to get his second win of the day.

Pro Alcohol

Reigning Pro Alcohol champion Daniel “Boon” Reed claimed top qualifying honors with a stellar 5.44-second pass at 268 mph on his final attempt, narrowly edging out highly fancied Cheyne Phillips, who recorded a 5.48 at 267 mph in Q2.

Ben Bray, son of Australian drag racing legend Victor Bray, returned to the category for the first time in over a decade and qualified seventh, setting up a round-one showdown with Phillips.

On race day, Reed continued his strong form, laying down the quickest and fastest run of the day – a 5.60 at 262 mph to defeat Victorian Wayne Price, who posted a 5.65 at 239 mph.

The Phillips-Bray matchup proved to be one of the highlights of the weekend. Phillips cut a razor-sharp .01 reaction time and ran 5.56 at 265 mph to hold off Bray, who responded with a .02 light and a 5.64 at 249 mph.

Pro Mod 660

John Ricca topped Pro Mod 660 qualifying with a 3.73-second pass at 202 mph.

NITRO FUNNY CAR AND PRO ALCOHOL TAKE CENTRE STAGE AT OPENING ROUND OF 2026 AUSSIE SEASON

John Doig, Australian Correspondent — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 03:00:20 +0000

Willowbank Raceway will host the opening round of the 2026 National Drag Racing Championship season on January 24–25, with Nitro Funny Car and Pro Alcohol headlining the first major meeting of the new campaign.

The event marks a structural shift for Australian drag racing, with the NDRC adopting a calendar-year championship running from January to October, replacing the traditional July–June split season.

Nitro Funny Car has attracted a five-car field, led by reigning champion Morice “Super Mac” McMillin, the Aeroflow Racing team principal who enters 2026 after one of the most dominant seasons in category history.

McMillin’s 2024–25 campaign produced four wins and two third-place finishes from six starts, capped by an Australian record run of 3.92 seconds at 325 mph set at the Winternationals.

His toughest challenge may come from within the same pit area, with teammate Josh Leahy emerging as a genuine title threat after claiming two victories and three runner-up finishes last season.

Local racer Damon Paton looms as the dark horse. The 26-year-old second-generation driver made an immediate impact following his mid-2025 debut, top-qualifying at the Winternationals and narrowly missing victory in the final against Leahy.

The most experienced driver in the field, 2023–24 champion Justin Walshe, returns seeking redemption after a winless season derailed by a prolonged run of mechanical issues.

Completing the Nitro Funny Car lineup is Adam Murrihy, who resumes competition after missing last season while recovering from injuries sustained in a dirt bike accident.

Pro Alcohol will feature two of the category’s brightest talents, with reigning NDRC champion Daniel Reed and 2025 Winternationals winner Cheyne Phillips headlining an eight-car field.

Phillips arrives with international momentum following a strong showing at the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals, where he qualified fourth before exiting in the opening round on a holeshot.

Both drivers carry elite racing pedigrees, with Reed representing a third-generation drag racing family and Phillips the son of 21-time Pro Alcohol winner Gary Phillips, setting the stage for a compelling early-season showdown.

PRO MOD AT CENTER OF AUSSIE SANCTIONING BATTLE

John Doig, Australian Correspondent — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 12:45:54 +0000

Pro Mod has become the latest flashpoint in the ongoing sanctioning battle between IHRA and ANDRA for control of Australian drag racing, with both organisations holding competing events on the Australia Day long weekend, January 24-25.

The inaugural ANDRA Pro Mod Masters will be held at Sydney Dragway on January 24, while Willowbank Raceway will be home to the first-ever IHRA Outlaw Pro Mod 660 meeting over January 24-25.

The Sydney event has attracted four entries and will race over the traditional quarter-mile distance, while Willowbank, with a field of eight, will be an eighth-mile.

Both meetings will pay US$6700 to win.

The Sydney meeting will also include a non-championship round of Doorslammer, also paying US$6700 and Sportsman racing. At the same time, Willowbank will also host the opening round of the 2026 NDRC season and the Aeroflow Sportsman series.

Willowbank is a long-standing IHRA-affiliated track and in mid-2025, Sydney Dragway switched from IHRA to become a dual-ANDRA and IHRA-sanctioned venue.

In Australia, Pro Mod emerged from a desire for a more budget-friendly alternative to Doorslammer. It was launched in January 2020 and runs to a 5.85 sec. index.

The Australian Pro Mod record is held by John Ricca, who set a time of 5.40, 270 MPH at Dragway at The Bend in 2025.

TEN COMPELLING STORYLINES FROM THE 2024-25 AUSSIE DRAG RACING SEASON , PT. 2

Bobby Bennett — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 12:00:13 +0000

The 2024–25 Australian drag racing season didn’t simply deliver headlines — it delivered turning points. Across Top Fuel, Nitro Funny Car, Pro Alcohol, Doorslammer and beyond, the biggest storylines shaped not only championships but the direction of the sport itself.

In Part 1, veteran Australian correspondent John Doig walked us through moments 10 through 6. Now, we shift into the top tier — the five defining episodes that carried the season’s drama, broke records, tested teams, and pushed Australian drag racing into new territory.

Here are Doig’s final five — the stories that stood above everything else, and the ones that will echo long into 2025 and beyond.

SEE PART 1 – NO. 6 – 10

5. RUSSELL TAYLOR REIGNS SUPREME IN DOORSLAMMER – In arguably the most fiercely contested Pro level category in the country, one-time Sprint Car racer Russell Taylor won the 2024–2025 NDRC Doorslammer championship with three wins and runner-up twice, including the Winternationals, and had sewn up the championship before the final round.

Taylor burst onto the Doorslammer scene in 2023, winning the coveted Australian title in his rookie season.

“Fortunately, I have some of the most talented and experienced crew in Doorslammer, led by tuning wizard ‘Stu’ Rowland and Steve Ham, who has won championships in both Top Alcohol and Doorslammer, in my corner,” said Taylor.
“They do all the hard work and I get to have all the fun. The level of competition this year has gone up a notch. You had the kids, Lisa Gregorini and Brodie Zappia, winning events as well as veteran John Zappia, Jeremy Callaghan, who crashed at the Westernats, then came out and won the next round, plus Rob Harrington, who made one appearance for the year at the Winternationals and won.”

4. NEW ZEALANDER MORICE MCMILLIN DOMINATES NITRO FUNNY CAR – Morice McMillin was the standout performer in Nitro Funny Car with four consecutive wins and a pair of thirds from six starts to claim the 2024–2025 championship.

McMillin is the CEO of Rocket Industries, a major player in the Australian performance car market, and heads the three-car Aeroflow Team on behalf of team owners Graeme and Wendy Cowin.

“At the start of the season, we had a team meeting and decided to concentrate not on winning but on developing a new combination,” said McMillin. “Our priority was to find the best way to go fast at the lowest risk. That experimenting all came together at the Winternationals, where we ran a 3.92 seconds, 317 mph and a 3.93 seconds, 325 mph to set a new Australian Funny Car record. I am so proud of the boys to get the championship. We will come back next year and hopefully get it done again.”

SEE PART 1 – NO. 6 – 10

3. WAYNE NEWBY JOINS TOP FUEL IMMORTALS – Veteran Wayne Newby claimed his third fuel title and the coveted Stan Sainty Cup when he defeated teammate Shane Olive in the Grand Final of the NDRC season at Sydney Dragway, November 8.

Newby also posted the event’s quickest and fastest run at 3.81 seconds, 325 mph.

Victory moved Newby, also a two-time Top Alcohol champion, into equal third place on the all-time winningest Australian Top Fuel racers, alongside teammate Damien Harris and Phil Read.

His season began slowly with a pair of second places, then a fourth, before four consecutive wins to take the championship by 141 points over reigning champion Harris.
“I’m happy for Santo, Santino, all the crew guys and girls,” said Newby. “Everything we came here to do this weekend, we did. Winning the Stan Sainty Cup is what I wanted. I grew up with Stan and the Sainty family; it’s close to my heart. I also want to thank all the spectators. It has been a hot day and you made the event what it was.”

2. LISA GREGORINI BECOMES THE FIRST WOMAN TO WIN IN DOORSLAMMER – Western Australian Lisa Gregorini stepped out of the shadows of her more experienced husband, Daniel, and made history when she became the first woman to win a championship round in Doorslammer after leading her all-female team to victory against Ronnie Palumbo in the final at the opening round of the NDRC season, October 20.

Aussie Doorslammer has had less than a handful of female entrants since the category first appeared in 1996.

“To be honest, I was more nervous during the previous two rounds of racing than I was in the final,” said Gregorini. “I just had to think of it as another race and not put too much pressure on myself. As we went through the finish line side by side, I had no idea I had even won the race because my radio headset wasn’t working. It wasn’t until I got out of the car at the other end and found out Ronnie had red lit that I knew I won.”

The team would finish the season in third place behind Russell Taylor and legendary John Zappia.

1. DAMIEN HARRIS DEMOLISHES AUSSIE TOP FUEL RECORD – A routine run in round two of qualifying at the Riverbend Nationals on April 5 was transformed into the extraordinary when RAI star Damien Harris shredded the record book with a pass of 3.68 seconds, 331 mph.

The run not only smashed the 3.70 barrier but also eclipsed the previous record of 3.72 set by Phil Read in October 2024.
Harris’ performance came alongside teammate Wayne Newby, who clocked a not-too-shabby 3.73 seconds, 325 mph in what veteran track watchers believe was the best side-by-side pass in the history of Aussie Top Fuel.

The run also cemented Dragway At The Bend’s reputation as Australia’s quickest and fastest track.

“The car left hard and pulled and pulled. It had me pinned and was a wild ride all the way,” said Harris. “I had a good feeling it would run into the sixties and 330s. It felt quick, and when I climbed out of the car and asked an official, he had no clue. I said, ‘Could you please ask someone on your radio?’ I can’t thank the Rapisarda family, Santo Jr., and all my team enough. They’ve worked hard to get the car in this spot and make the most of the conditions.”

THE DAY THAT REDEFINED AUSTRALIAN DRAG RACING

John Doig, Australian Correspondent — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 22:00:46 +0000

December 27, 2005, is long remembered as a watershed date in the history of Australian drag racing when two-time NHRA champion Scott Kalitta partnered with teammate Aussie David Grubnic to record the quickest side-by-side pass ever witnessed in Australia to win the Nitro Thunder USA Top Fuel Invasion meeting at Western Sydney International Dragway.

For ‘Grubby’ as he was affectionately known, the meeting was a triumphant return home after his historic win against Larry Dixon in the final of the NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park, Kansas, to become the first non-North American to win an NHRA Top Fuel event.

Grubnic closed out his NHRA season, finishing fourth in the points behind Doug Kalitta, Larry Dixon and series winner Tony Schumacher, with Kalitta in eighth place.

The WSID event also marked Kalitta’s last race in Top Fuel before moving into Funny Car for the 2006 NHRA season.

Santo Rapisarda and WSID boss Jim Read owned the cars Grubnic and Kalitta drove. Jim Oberhofer tuned the Grubnic entry, and Glenn Mikres, a two-time Australian Top Fuel champion, was in charge of the Kalitta car.

Grubnic stamped his authority on the meet after Top Qualifying with a 4.65, 321 mph, the second quickest pass ever in Australia behind the Team Lamattina entry of Darren Morgan, who a month earlier at Willowbank Raceway ran a 4.61 to head Kalitta and Phil Read, the son of Jim Read.

On race day there was no surprise when Grubnic accounted for fan favorite Bob Shepherd and his nephew Luke Shepherd to advance to the final while Kalitta drove past local Terry Sainty and Morgan.

The final was a thriller. Kalitta led on the green but was swallowed up by Grubnic by half track and looked set for the win until tossing the blower belt.

The 4.78, 298 mph pass from Kalitta, and 4.80, 259 mph for Grubnic, was the quickest quarter-mile side-by-side pass ever recorded in Australia.

“This has been a great event,” said Kalitta. “WSID is a great place to race. I’ve really enjoyed being here. The people in Australia have been so nice and Santo and Jim have looked after us. It’s been a privilege to race in Australia.”

Oberhofer echoed Kalitta’s sentiments. “It was fun. I used my hot weather notes from the NHRA round at St. Louis to cope with the sweltering track temperature, which reached 131°F. We did what we set out to do: Dave and Scott qualified one and two and had both reach the final. I’m glad for Scott that he won.”

“It would have been great to come back and win,” said Grubnic. “Belts break. That’s racing, and there is nothing much you can do about it. It’s disappointing. But Scott’s my teammate in the US, we are good friends and that may be the last time he drives a Top Fuel car now that he’s going to Funny Car.”

TEN COMPELLING STORYLINES FROM THE 2024-25 AUSSIE DRAG RACING SEASON , PT. 1

John Doig, Australian Correspondent — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 21:00:52 +0000

10. TWO-TIME TOP FUEL CHAMPION PETER XIBERRAS QUITS – Sydney team owner-driver Peter Xiberras stunned the tight-knit Aussie drag community when he announced he was stepping away from racing after winning Round Three at the Perth Motorplex in March.

“The time is right for a break,” Xiberras said. “It is always best to step away on a high. I have been considering taking a break for quite some time. Let me be clear – I’m not using the R-word. You will see me out on the track again, but for now, it is time to enjoy Top Fuel racing from the sidelines.”

Xiberras races under the family business name of PremiAir Hire, one of Australia’s largest equipment hire companies. He is also heavily involved in the Australian Supercar Championship as the owner of the two-car PremiAir Nulon team.
Supercars is Australia’s leading motorsport category, known worldwide as the home of the Bathurst 1000.
“From the highest of highs of back-to-back championships and records to those events that just didn’t go our way, through it all, I have loved going racing and been so lucky to have the support of a lot of amazing people behind me,” said Xiberras, who made his Top Fuel debut in 2004 and won back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022.

At one stage, he simultaneously held the track record at Willowbank Raceway, Perth Motorplex and Sydney Dragway, and, at the 2021 Winternationals became the quickest racer outside the USA with a 3.74-second pass, 325.22 mph.

9. SPORTSMANSHIP IS ALIVE AND WELL IN TOP FUEL – The on-track rivalry between the top three teams, Rapisarda Autosport International, Jim Read Racing and Lamattina Top Fuel Racing, is passionate, intense and sometimes bitter and has been a highlight of the 2024–2025 season.

The Read versus Rapisarda rivalry began in the early 1970s.
It would be a challenge to find three team owners — Santo Rapisarda, Jim Read and Phil Lamattina — more committed to winning.

However, this season, a light was shone on a side of drag racing rarely seen by the public.
At the penultimate round of the season, a qualifying match-up between Phil Read and Wayne Newby ended in disaster for Read, who dropped a cylinder and suffered an oil fire that, he said, “damaged the car from the steering wheel to the back of the car.” The repair bill was estimated to exceed $100,000.

RAI and LTFR immediately offered parts and equipment to help with repairs; however, the car was sidelined for the weekend due to extensive wiring damage and the destruction of safety gear.

“We are all competitors, of course, but when the chips are down, we are all there for each other and this weekend really showed that,” said JRR crew chief Bruce Read. “Santino Rapisarda always says we are all family, and he, Santo Jr., and the entire Rapisarda Autosport International team, as well as Phil Lamattina and the Lamattina Top Fuel Racing Team, really lived up to that premise over the past couple of days.”

“They both opened their transporters to us so we could do all we could to get this car back together in the face of catastrophic damage and I couldn’t be more grateful.”.

8. IHRA TAKES OVER IHRA AUSTRALIA – In September, Darryl Cuttell, owner of IHRA and Cuttell Motorsports, announced the acquisition of IHRA Australia’s operations in Australia and New Zealand.

“Bringing Australia and New Zealand fully into the IHRA family was an obvious move,” said Cuttell. “Our commitment is backed by substantial investment to support clubs, teams, venues and competitors throughout the region. I look forward to visiting soon and sharing our detailed vision for the future of drag racing in the Asia-Pacific.”

The decision is expected to inflame the sanctioning wars that began in 2015 when American-based IHRA burst on the scene in the aftermath of a bitter battle between ANDRA, then the sole governing body in the country, tracks and a cohort of team owners.

The upshot saw the establishment of the 400 Thunder series under the IHRA umbrella, and tracks becoming affiliated with ANDRA or IHRA for sanctioning, licensing and insurance purposes.

In 2023, the 400T series collapsed when the leading Top Fuel teams joined forces with motorsport promoter Andy Lopez to create the NDRC series. The other Group One categories, including Doorslammer, Pro Stock, Top Alcohol, Pro Mod and Pro Stock Bike, quickly fell into line and joined the NDRC series.

The current state of play sees ANDRA as the sanctioning body for Perth Motorplex, Sydney Dragway and several country tracks, while Willowbank Raceway and Calder Park are part of the IHRA stable.

ANDRA and NDRC are heavily involved in their own Sportsman Racing series, while IHRA does not run its own events.
Top Fuel is the main drawcard in Australian drag racing. If the latest version of the IHRA is to make an impact, then it will need to wrestle control of Top Fuel away from the NDRC.

However, the teams that make up Top Fuel — Rapisarda Autosport International, Jim Read Racing and Lamattina Top Fuel Racing — are committed to the NDRC model, and it would require a seismic shift in alliance for them to contemplate moving to an IHRA series.

7. AUSSIE DRAG SEASON ABANDONS OCTOBER–JUNE FORMAT IN FAVOR OF CALENDAR YEAR – Welcome to the 21st Century.
In September, the premier racing series in Australia, the NDRC, announced it was ditching the traditional split-year schedule in favor of a calendar-year format beginning in January and running to October.

A major consequence of the decision, which breaks with decades of tradition, has been warmly welcomed by racers and sponsors and will see the Willowbank Winternationals in June — traditionally the final round of the season — become the second-last event, with the prized Grand Final status passing to Dragway at The Bend in rural South Australia.

“Season Three of the National Drag Racing Championship in 2026 is shaping up as our strongest yet,” said series promoter Andy Lopez. “We’ve worked closely with tracks, sponsors, promoters and racer groups to put together a calendar that is sustainable, competitive, and inclusive.

“There are so many highlights to look forward to, including the Grand Final at The Bend, six double headers with Top Fuel and Nitro Funny Cars and if the Aeroflow Sportsman racing next season is as awesome as it was this year, watch out.”

The PDRC series, launched last season as a standalone series for Pro Alcohol, Pro Mod, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Bike, has been shelved, with the categories returning as part of the NDRC program in 2026.

6. YOUNG TALENT MAKE THEIR MARK – The 2024–2025 season also saw the emergence of an exciting, young crop of talent, including Nitro Funny Car duo Josh Leahy and Damon Paton, Cheyne Phillips in Top Alcohol and 19-year-old Brodie Zappia in Doorslammer.

Third-generation racer Leahy, 32, scored a pair of wins, three seconds and a fourth to finish runner-up to team boss Morice McMillin.
Virtually unknown 28-year-old Paton made his debut mid-season and stunned his rivals when he Top qualified at the Winternationals and closed out his rookie season going down to Leahy in the final.

Cheyne Phillips, 35, the son of 21-time Alcohol champion Gary Phillips, is the current Australian Alcohol Funny Car speed record holder and the 2025 Winternationals winner.

Phillips ventured to the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals and surprised his more seasoned rivals after qualifying fourth before losing on a holeshot in round one. A second outing at the final round of the year at Pomona Dragstrip was foiled when the event was washed out.

Brodie Zappia, the nephew of John Zappia, scored his first NDRC win at his home track, the Perth Motorplex, and finished the season fourth in the points.

“I’ve been around the sport all my life,” said Zappia. “I was racing in Outlaws last year and began to dream that I could get into a Doorslammer. It wasn’t meant to happen so quickly, but it did. This year has been a steep learning curve. We had some teething issues and I had to get my head around when to pedal, when to drive through shake and how close you can get to the wall before you need to back off.

The competition is amazing. Russell Taylor, Uncle John, Daniel and Lisa Gregorini have all run 60s, and I’m just trying to keep up. My saving grace has been my reaction times, and it has won me a few races. I’m having a great time out there.”

CHANGES COMING TO 2026 AUSSIE TOP FUEL AND NITRO FUNNY CAR CALENDAR

CompetitionPlus Staff — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 10:31:55 +0000

by John Doig, Australian Correspondent

Top Fuel and Nitro Funny Car will add an extra round to their 2026 NDRC season as the series shifts from its traditional October–June format to a January–October calendar year layout.

Both nitro categories will appear together at five events: twice at Sydney Dragway, twice at The Bend, and once at Willowbank Raceway.

Nitro Funny Car has also been added to the 2026 season-opening event at Willowbank Raceway on January 24-25. That round was originally planned as a standalone Top Alcohol show. With the change, the Nitro Funny Car championship expands to six rounds, concluding at the Spring Nationals Grand Final on October 22-25.

“I’m pumped to be heading to Willowbank Raceway for our opening round,” reigning champion Morice McMillin said. “The last time we raced there, we set the Australian record at 3.92 ET, 325 MPH, and won by just .0005 of a second over teammate Josh Leahy, which is less than two inches. I’m fired up to bring that same intensity to Willowbank in January.”

Top Fuel, originally scheduled to open its year at the Riverbend Nationals in late March, will now begin its seven-round series at the Twilight Nationals at Sunset Strip, Mildura — 630 miles west of Sydney — on February 27-28. The season will conclude at the Spring Nationals Grand Final in October.

Top Fuel last raced at Sunset Strip in 2022 over the eighth-mile, when Phil Lamattina defeated Wayne Newby in the final.

“As a proud Mildura local, it means a lot to be bringing Top Fuel championship racing back to my home track,” Lamattina said. “It’s something special for the whole community. The last time we were here, things went pretty well for me. I’ll be turning it on for the home crowd, that’s for sure.”

PHILLIPS CALLS AMERICAN DRAG RACING EXPERIENCE A DREAM COME TRUE

Bobby Bennett — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 06:59:38 +0000

Traveling from Australia to the United States just to race a drag car might seem extreme, but for second-generation racer Cheyne Phillips, the journey is a lifelong dream realized. The price of distance is small compared to the chance to compete on U.S. tracks.

Phillips is the son of Pro Alcohol standout Gary Phillips, whose success shaped an expectation of excellence. Shayne has built his own résumé at home and now is testing himself stateside.

He debuted in America with Randy Meyer Racing and backing from Gunk, running Las Vegas with Pomona on deck. The chance checked a box he had carried since childhood.

“Yeah, it’s a pretty exciting thing, major life bucket list item that I got to tick off, all thanks to Randy Meyer and Gunk for making it all happen,” Phillips said. “We were able to put together a deal and… well, I got to do Vegas last weekend and get to do Pomona next weekend. So it’s a pretty exciting deal.”

Australia has produced a steady stream of racers who study NHRA tape and dream of lining up on American soil. Phillips said the move connects his family’s story to a bigger stage.

“Oh, ultimate goal would be to race over here all the time,” he said. “But no, this is just a short-term thing at this stage, just these two events, so nothing planned past that. We’ll just see what happens.”

At home, Phillips often served as the right-hand man in his father’s pit area. In the United States, he is the one strapping in while others turn the wrenches.

“It’s pretty cool. I wouldn’t say I got detail people, but it’s pretty awesome to be able to be in the driver’s seat and be able to do what I’m up to now,” he said. “Obviously, I’ve been running the Alcohol cars back home and doing fairly well at that as well. So to be able to come over here and race and live out a dream is pretty surreal.”

Some assume the next step is replacing his father in the cockpit. Phillips brushed that aside with a grin.

“I don’t need to,” he said. “We’ve both got our own cars.”

Shayne runs a Funny Car while Gary campaigns an altered. Their paths crossed at the Winternationals in a family showdown.

“We ran against each other at the Winter Nationals, qualified number one and three from memory at that race,” Shayne said. “I won the race. Dad got to the semi-finals. So yeah, we have both cars, so he doesn’t have to get out of the seat.”

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Gary Phillips remains as sharp as ever even as the years roll by. Cheyne said the competitive fire is unchanged.

“He’s getting older, but he’s still as competitive as he ever was and he still loves it,” Shayne said. “Yeah, I can’t see any reason why he wouldn’t be. We’re having fun doing what we’re doing and we’ll just see what happens.”

One thing missing from Shayne’s U.S. debut was his parents on the starting line. They stayed in Australia and built their weekend around his qualifying times.

“He was getting up at like 2:00 or 3:00 AM in the morning to watch my qualifying runs that were in the morning at Vegas,” Shayne said. “Then he’d be messaging me straight after the run. So that was pretty cool. It’d be nice if him and Mum were here, but it just didn’t work out that way.”

The distance did not dull the connection. Shayne said the calls and messages kept him grounded through the new routine.

“Yes, it is,” he said when asked if it felt odd to live the dream without them present. “It’s the first time I’ve ever run any sort of car without one of them on the start line with me, so that was difficult. But obviously Randy and Mary and the whole team that were over here made that transition pretty smooth. I know that they were watching and keeping on top of everything, so no, it was good.”

Results in Las Vegas offered validation. Phillips set personal bests of 5.22 seconds at 274 mph, qualified fourth in a deep 23-car Top Alcohol field, and showed consistency on the tree.

“I know we didn’t get past first round or anything like that,” he said. “Just lost a very tight race.”

He also adapted quickly to an A/Fuel car he had never driven before. His reaction times ranged between .028 and .036 on every pass.

“This weekend was pretty good for me,” he said. “But hey, we get to race in America, tick that off the list.”

Looking ahead, Phillips is keeping plans modest. The mission is to finish strong at Pomona and see what opportunities follow.

“No,” he said when asked about a 2026 schedule. “Right now, there’s no plans past Pomona. That’s about as much as we’ve got planned at the moment.”

He would welcome a longer stay in the States if the right deal appears. Until then, the lesson is to savor the miles and the moments.

“I’d like to do more racing over here if I can,” he said. “But in the meantime, I’ll just enjoy the two that I’m getting to do and hopefully have some good results down in Pomona next week.”

IT’S OFFICIAL — MODIFIED PRODUCTION IS COMING BACK!
After more than four decades, NHRA is reviving one of drag racing’s most iconic eliminators — Modified Production — bringing it back home to Competition Eliminator where many believe it always belonged.
Stick-shift… pic.twitter.com/b0HLkApmJu
— Competition Plus (@competitionplus) November 5, 2025

NEWBY AND MCMILLIN SEAL AUSSIE TITLES AS NEW NITRO HEROES RISE

CompetitionPlus Staff — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 21:00:37 +0000

by John Doig, Australian Correspondent

Rapisarda Autosport International’s Wayne Newby captured his third Australian Top Fuel championship at the final round of the 2024-2025 NDRC season at Sydney Dragway on November 8.

Newby outpaced teammate Shane Olive in the A-Final, delivering the event’s quickest and fastest run at 3.81 seconds, 325 mph.

“I’m happy for Santo, Santino, all the crew guys and girls,” said Newby. “I’m just the lucky guy who gets to drive it. Winning the Stan Sainty Cup is what I wanted. I grew up with Stan as a kid and the Sainty family; it’s close to my heart. I also want to thank all the spectators. It has been a hot day and you made the event what it was.”

While Newby secured his crown in Top Fuel, Aeroflow Funny Car driver Morice McMillin had already clinched his second championship at the previous round. He may have finished winless in Sydney, but his protégés — Josh Leahy and Damon Paton — emerged as the new stars of Australian Nitro competition.

Leahy, 32, scored his second win of the season by defeating Paton in the A-Final. The 28-year-old self-employed diesel engineer had shocked the paddock earlier in the day by qualifying No. 1 in only his fourth start in the elite class.

“I’m so proud of my team to get the championship and super proud of Damon and Josh,” said McMillin. “They both deserved to be in that final. Where Josh has grown from the start of the season to the way he is driving now is great, and the advances Damon has made with his few meetings are great too.”

TOP FUEL QUALIFYING

With track temperatures near 125°F, the championship battle came down to one qualifying session and three rounds of racing. Series leader Newby and reigning champion Damien Harris met in the opening pairing, both smoking the tires — but Newby earned the advantage.

Veteran Phil Read returned after a $120,000 rebuild from his previous crash, shutting off early against Steve “The Pom” Read, who made his first appearance since 2015.

“Making it to this weekend was a mammoth job,” said tuner Bruce Read. “We had to replace the driver’s seat and belts, all the electronics and computer systems, belly pans, and rear tires — just to name a few parts. A total rebuild.”

Shane Olive, making his first start of the season for RAI, got out of shape early, while Phil Lamattina spun the tires on his run.

In Round 1, Olive led from the green to outpace Steve Read with the quickest pass of the round at 3.90, 312 mph. Lamattina’s .046 holeshot wasn’t enough to hold off Newby, who recovered from a dropped cylinder to take the win. Harris smoked the tires but limped to a 5.51, 143 mph against Phil Read’s aborted run.

Round 2 saw Harris keep his slim title hopes alive with a comeback win over Lamattina, who left first with a .058 reaction time. Olive advanced to the A-Final by defeating Phil Read from start to finish.

All eyes were on the pivotal clash between Newby and Steve Read, with Newby needing the win to clinch his third title. The underdog Brit held strong until a burst panel failed, handing Newby the round with a 3.82, 324 mph.

The A-Final showdown between Newby and Olive produced the best side-by-side race of the day. Newby launched hard and never trailed, taking the victory with 3.81, 325 mph to Olive’s 3.88, 276 mph.

The B-Final turned into one of the weekend’s most entertaining duels. Steve Read overcame a .233 light to defeat Harris as both cars fought for traction.

Phil Read earned his first win of the day in the C-Final by outrunning Lamattina, who once again proved his lightning reflexes with a .016 start.

NITRO FUNNY CAR QUALIFYING

Damon Paton delivered one of the day’s biggest surprises, upstaging McMillin to qualify No. 1 with a 4.34, 228 mph even after lifting past half track. Leahy followed closely with a 5.25, 141 mph, edging reigning champion Justin Walshe by inches to the 60-foot mark.

Leahy carried his momentum into Round 1, flirting with the centerline to defeat Walshe, who smoked the tires at 330 feet. Paton maintained his perfect day by converting a .061 holeshot into a convincing win over McMillin.

In Round 2, McMillin’s struggles continued as Leahy cut a stellar .007 light and never looked back, advancing to the A-Final. Walshe led Paton early but dropped a cylinder and threw a belt, allowing Paton to sneak by despite a close call with the wall at the finish.

The B-Final brought McMillin and Walshe together again, ending in anticlimax when Walshe brushed the wall and was disqualified.

The A-Final between Leahy and Paton was all Leahy from start to finish. He jumped to an early lead and never trailed as Paton lost traction.

“This is just unreal,” said Leahy. “It doesn’t get any better. It hasn’t been an easy day, but the win is icing on the cake. Thanks to all the fans who stayed out to watch us tonight. You’re what keep us coming back. We really appreciate it.”

“I know my grandfather Roly Leahy is always with me,” he added. “I have his race number on the side of the car and it’s special that the whole deal is about family.”