The return of Australia’s Drag Racing Nationals to Australia’s biggest city, Sydney, seems to have paid off with a massive entry of 450 cars and bikes for the event at Western Sydney Dragway, September 12-14. Ten spectacular Top Fuel Dragsters head the line up with defending champ and second generation racer Phil Read starting favourite on his home strip. Read leads a strong New South Wales contingent along with veteran Bob Sheperd, Terry Sainty, and Mark Mariani. Despite a lack of facilities in their home state the Victorian’s will be there in force with Phill Lamattina, Darren DeFillipo and Darren Morgan. Steve Read is the lone Queenslander while former Funny Car pilot Alan Dobson will make the long track across the country from Western Australia.
The popular Top Doorslammer category features a who’s who of Aussie Drag Racing superstars. Victor Bray and his Son Ben will both be in action but they’ll be well and truly challenged by the likes of Victoria’s Peter Kaparis, West Aussie Robin Judd, and of course the Queensland pairing of Brett and Kath Stevens. Steven’s team have also entered a third car with a driver To be announced and knowing Brett anyone could end up there.
John Zappia is the current man to beat though, setting new track and national speed records almost everytime he goes out. He’ll have to be on his game though, with twenty one entries all vying for only eight qualifying spots the competition will be cut-throat.
Top Alcohol sees 12 cars fighting out with names like Garry Phillips, Debbie Read, Steven Reed and the omnipresent Brett Stevens fighting it out in the battle of Dragster versus Funny Car.
Stevens will of course be back on board in Top Bke. The two wheeled Top Fuellers are the most unpredictable machines in all motorsport and with a field of 14 including Jay Upton and New Zealander Athol Williams the battle will be the biggest and best bike battle ever seen down under.
The cars they call the factory hot rods Pro Stock has attracted 13 entries with the Tremayne boys Tyrone and Aaron leading the charge.
In addition to the Professional categories, the Fuchs Australian Nationals also serves as the opening round of the Rocket Allstars Drag Racing Series for Sportsman racers.
Highlights come thick and fast, including:
SUPER COMPACT - 13 ENTRIES
This Class Index eliminator looks set to explode into a major fan favourite in it’’s own right.
Tony Wedlock comes into the event with good performances in the Toyota Racing Development (TRD) entry, against a hot field of rivals including George Rehayem and the PAC performance Rotary clan and Joe Signorelli’’s hot Celica beast!
COMPETITION - 14 ENTRIES
Despite the introduction of a dedicated Super Compact Class, Competition Eliminator looks very exciting for the Fuchs Nationals!
Justin Walsh returns ! to burn in his blown altered and fans will be rapt to see the return of West Aussie Wayne Keys in his brilliant AA/AP combination.
SUPERCHARGED OUTLAWS - 33 ENTRIES
The big, bad, blown boys and girls of Supercharged Outlaws are always a bigtime crowd pleaser and this bracket will definitely deliver again at the Fuchs Australian Nationals!
Keep a close eye on Tony Argentino’’s unbelievable ”Hitman” entry - simply stunning and a real head turner, though the HITMAN will have his hands full with the biggest names in the bracket, including Australian Champion John Ward at his home track.
SUPER STOCK- 16 ENTRIES
Raining Rocket Champ Nino Cavallo will have a busy weekend keeping some Australia’’s toughest Drag Racers at bay in this class of racing, that’’s often tight, occasionally unpredictable.
Keep an eye on the beautifully turned out Scott Karandrews machine!
COMPETITION BIKE - 13 ENTRIES
Competition Bike will front up for the Fuchs Australian Nationals with the biggest entry list in the history of Western Sydney Dragway!
SUPER SEDAN - 95 ENTRIES
Sydney is the home of Super Sedan in Australia and with this monster field of almost a hundred entries of this always intense and exciting Drag Racing class - the local charge to retain the Rocket Industries supported National Championship will be on again in full earnest come September 12!
SUPER STREET - 44 ENTRIES
With nearly fifty entries in this entry level Drag Racing category, this would be a new high-level for entries within this bracket at Western Sydney.
Great to see Terri Sander make the tow from Queensland in th! e popular ”Mamas Toy” machine, she is one tough Drag Racing veteran!
JUNIOR DRAGSTER - 44 ENTRIES
Junior Dragster is in full force with a huge entry list for the sport’’s generation NEXT!
MODIFIED - 31 ENTRIES
The mad modified racers are ready to rip at the Fuchs Nationals.
MODIFIED BIKE - 30 ENTRIES
Modified Bike has a stout entry list with close racing assured.
SUPER GAS - 21 ENTRIES
Super Gas always provides tight and tough racing on a heads-up, fixed 9.90 index.
This list does include other late entries - so rest assured this event will truly be the ultimate Clash of the Titans at the 2008 Fuchs Australian Nationals. The 2008 Fuchs Australian Drag Racing Nationals will be held from September 12 -14, 2008 at the Western Sydney International Dragway, Ferrers Road, Eastern Creek, about an hour from the City of Sydney.

:with ANDRA media