Dragway at The Bend’s grand opening Spring Nationals will host the opening round of the 2023/2024 NDRC Australian Top Fuel Championship, alongside plenty of other great racing from the NDRC championship openers for Top Doorslammer, Top Fuel Motorcycle, and Pro Stock Motorcycle.
More than 300 racers have entered for the October 21-22 event at Tailem Bend, South Australia, with a full complement of sportsman racers set to race alongside the group one categories over the two days in pursuit of both Eastern and Western conference points in the Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship.
Six Top Fuel racers and their incredible 11,000+hp flame-throwing racing machines will head to Dragway at The Bend set on getting their 2023/2024 season off to the best possible start.
The field is world-class, with reigning champion Damien Harris to line-up for Rapisarda Autosport International against four former champions (Phil Lamattina, Lamattina Top Fuel Racing; Wayne Newby, Rapisarda Autosport International; Phil Read, Jim Read Racing; and Peter Xiberras, PremiAir Racing), as well as impressive series newcomer, Kyle Putland (Hydraulic Technical Solutions).
Xiberras is the most recent of the former Top Fuel champs and was the winner of the 2022/2023 finale in Darwin.
He heads to Dragway at The Bend fresh from the Bathurst 1000 where his Supercars team enjoyed a top ten finish, and has already toured the new facility when he was in town for the Supercars event at The Bend Motorsport Park in August.
“We could not be more excited to get to Dragway at The Bend and get the 2023/2024 Australian Top Fuel Championship underway,” said the two-time champion (2021, 2022).
“Dragway at The Bend has been a long time coming and its opening has been hotly anticipated by drag racers all over this country.
“When I had the chance to tour the facility in August, I was really impressed by the facilities, and it is clear that this is going to be another of Australia’s best drag racing venues.
“From the track itself to the supporting facilities, from what I could see this track has the best of the best and I can’t wait to actually get onto the track surface and really put it to the test. There is nothing quite like Top Fuel to test out a drag strip after all!”
When it comes to the championship, Xiberras – who only just missed out on going three-in-a-row at the grand finale in Darwin in June – is resolute in his focus.
“We went back-to-back for the 2021 and 2022 seasons and came pretty close in 2023, although we did manage to end the season on a high with the Grand Final win in Darwin,” Xiberras said.
“The championship is what we are here for, and we don’t do things by halves at PremiAir Racing.
“We have gone over absolutely everything in the off-season, and we have a very clear plan of how we want to tackle the upcoming title fight.
“We want that third championship, and for that to also be the inaugural NDRC title for Top Fuel would be pretty rewarding as well.
“Every single member of my team, including myself, is laser focused on bringing home the big trophy come the finale next year, and that all starts at the Spring Nationals next weekend.”
The Spring Nationals will be held at Dragway at The Bend across October 21-22, hosing Top Fuel, Top Doorslammer, Top Fuel Motorcycle, Pro Stock Motorcycle, and Australia’s best sportsman racers.
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