"VAN" (Sports Desk - 06.06.2025) :: More than 350 sportsman racers will tackle Willowbank Raceway for the largest championship drag racing event held outside of North America this weekend, as the 2024/2025 Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship comes to a close at the Gulf Western Oil Winternationals.
The June 5-8 event at Queensland’s Willowbank Raceway will play host to what is the final round of the 2024/2025 Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship, part of the National Drag Racing Championship (NDRC), with 11 champions to be celebrated at the conclusion of the epic four-day event.
In front of tens of thousands of expected fans, these passionate and highly skilled competitors will deliver thrilling performances whether they are in the running for a title or not, as a win at the Winternationals is it own coveted reward.
These racers and their impressive machines will be joined on-track at this event by almost 100 professional level racers, including the 11,000hp/500+kph Top Fuel Dragsters and XPRO Nitro Funny Cars, Top Doorslammers, and Top Fuel Motorcycles plus Pro Alcohol, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle and FuelTech Pro Mod competitors. These brackets will be undertaking the penultimate round of their respective title chases, except for Top Fuel Motorcycle and Pro Alcohol, which like the sportsman racers will be enjoying their season finales at the ‘Winternats.’
“There’s no event quite like the Gulf Western Oil Winternationals,” NDRC Co-Founder, Andy Lopez, said.
“The NDRC has enjoyed a run of fantastic events this season, and we can’t wait to keep that going in Queensland this weekend.
“With predictions of great weather and packed stands, we’re expecting a Winternationals for the record books.
“Add to that the fact that it is the season finale for our sportsman racers, plus Top Fuel Motorcycle and Pro Alcohol, and the penultimate round for our other group one categories, and the intensity ramps up another notch.
“All season long these racers have delivered at tracks all around the country, and I have no doubt that they will continue to do that this weekend. Make sure you head to www.ndrc.tv and grab your tickets for what will be an unmissable show.”
Eleven championships are up for grabs at the Gulf Western Oil Winternationals for the Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship. (All points standings below are correct if the racer in question successfully qualifies for this final event).
In Super Comp, Steve Norman will lead the field into racing on 270 points, but he will have plenty of racers nipping at his heels – including Pat Firriolo (264), Connor McClure (235), Peter Pisalidis (244), Jon Ferguson (230), Warren Allen (227), and Craig Geddes (210).
In Performance Bike, Edge Mallis sits atop the standings so far on 350 points ahead of Cheryl ‘Ms Vrod’ Beddoes (325), Ken Collin (332) and Chris Allen (314); while in Supercharged Outlaws, Mark Hunt will head into eliminations with 302.5 points after qualifying, with Kasey McClure (245) set to be his next closest rival ahead of Shane Baxter (220) and Doina Day (210).
In Top Sportsman, Vlado Turic leads the way in what is his farewell season, sitting on 370 points ahead of David Foster (365), and Leon Davies (352.5).
Cory Dyson has the most points to his name in Modified, sitting on 385 points ahead of Daniel ‘BatDan’ Carranza – who will head into racing on 255 points. The fight for second will be spirited, with Michelle Morrison not far behind Carranza on 235 points.
In Super Sedan, Tony Miskelly has a solid but not insurmountable margin of 322.5 points over Robert Kardum on 265 points, while Sean Maher holds 245 points ahead of the final racing of the season.
In Modified Bike, Dean Jamieson currently holds a significant advantage with 375 points, with Derryn McGregor the next closest on 275 points and in for a fight for second place with Sean Ricketts (260) and Bryan Finn (255) right behind him.
Tex Griffiths has a commanding lead in Super Street on 425 points, but Troy Hutton (290), Katrina Read (260) and Michael Bridges (240) will have plenty to fight about.
Super Gas racer Colin Griffin is another with a lot to celebrate already on 255 points, while his fellow Super Gas racers Rob Bergamin (150), Des Woolstencroft (140), Jason Wilson (140), Warren Bull (140), Adrian McGrotty (130), Graeme Spencer (110) and Roy Romeo (110) are set to put in a tight battle for second place.
In Junior Dragster, which will host an incredible field of more than sixty racers at this event, Zayne Condello has been one to beat all season long and brings a points haul of 450 into the event. Bailey Hawke is next on the totem with 370 points, ahead of Nixon Cannuli (350) and Cooper Plummer (310).
In Junior Drag Bike, Lillian Hagan is already smiling on 440 points ahead of Lawrence Raschella (330), Riley Kilvington (295), Seth Jarvis (265) and Marcus Macdonald (260), with plenty of exciting racing expected from Australian drag racing’s next generation of two-wheeled champions.
The Gulf Western Oil Winternationals will be held at Willowbank Raceway across June 5-8.
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