"VAN" (Sports Desk - 23.09.2026) :: Just over three months after the biggest crash of his career, Jeremy Callaghan will be back behind the wheel of his Luci Civil Camaro this weekend, lining up for the Haltech East Coast Nationals at Sydney Dragway (26-27 September) – the penultimate round of the 2026 NDRC Top Doorslammer championship.
Callaghan's Winternationals came to a violent end in the opening qualifying session at Willowbank Raceway in June. Having just laid down a personal best pass (5.602 seconds at 258.07mph), the parachutes detached from the Camaro at the top end, sending the car into the safety nets and all but destroying it. Callaghan walked away, but his weekend was over and, at the time, it looked like his season was too.
What has happened since has been nothing short of remarkable. Moits Motorcars has led what Callaghan describes as a “miracle” rebuild – completing the build almost entirely in-house, with paint and panel by TSR Paint and Panel, to return the car to the start line not only before the end of the season, but without Callaghan missing a single round.
"It has been a monumental effort from all parties to get us back to where we are, and after a successful test day on Sunday, we are really looking forward to this weekend," Callaghan said.
"The Moits Motorcars guys are so professional – other than the new colour scheme, the car is exactly as it was before the accident, to the degree that I was very comfortable hopping back in. It was still a relief to feel the chutes come out on that first run though, that is for sure!" he laughed.
This weekend will not be the first time Callaghan has come back from a heavy accident. In 2025 he rolled the Camaro at the Westernationals at Perth Motorplex, then returned just four weeks later to win the Riverbend Nationals at Dragway at The Bend – his first NDRC round win.
While missing the racing at the Winternationals has all but ended his title hopes, Callaghan says that changes nothing about his plans for the final two events of the season.
"We aren't really in title contention now after missing out on the racing at the Winters, but that won't stop us," he said. "We have got these next two rounds, so we will keep going, try and grab as many points as we can, and see where we end up at the end of the season."
Callaghan is keen to shine a spotlight on all those who played a part in the turnaround, beginning with the crew who put the car back together.
"There are so many people to thank it's hard to know where to start – businesses, sponsors, friends, and of course the Moits Motorcars team, who worked tirelessly to get me back on the race track in record time. Glenn Davies/Skip, Bill 'Perko' Perkovski, Costa Skapetis, Luke Kent, Ben Pappa and Keiron Jackson – amazing work, boys.
“I also want to thank everyone at the track and across the category who looked after me on the day of the crash. This is a community sport, and it shows at times like that.
"Most of all, thank you to my wife and kids for standing by me through all of this. It has been a huge financial cost and a massive effort, and I'm thankful to everyone who stuck with us."
Callaghan Racing also wants to highlight the support of the following companies who all played an important part in the rebuild: Motorsport Connections, Tim McAmis Race Cars, Jerry Bickel Race Cars AUS, Rocket Industries, TSR Paint and Panel, Terry Jackson, Norty Boyz, Frank Marchese, Cruz Lovering, Resolution Racing, Jeff Cutajar, Andrew Poole, Chris Bell at Kinetic Engineering, Auto Artisan and Hi Octane Coatings; as well as team sponsors Luci Civil, TSR Paint and Panel, Discount Towing Canberra, Espresso Room Canberra, Ollies Garage, and Visual Apparel.
Following this weekend's Haltech East Coast Nationals, the 2026 NDRC Top Doorslammer championship concludes at the SPRY Spring Nationals at Dragway at The Bend on 22-25 October.
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