The story of the upcoming Twilight Nationals at Mildura’s Sunset Strip – which will launch the 2026 NDRC Top Fuel Championship and mark the return of 11,000hp Top Fuel racing to the region on February 27-28 – is one of pure community passion.
A late‑2025 conversation between Mildura’s own multi-time Top Fuel champion, Phil Lamattina, and NDRC Co‑Founder Andy Lopez sparked the idea to bring Top Fuel back to the Sunset Strip. With strong local support and a clear desire to race in Victoria, the Sunraysia Drag Racing Association (SDRA) quickly embraced the opportunity. Since then, the club’s volunteers, with help from the local community, has been working feverishly to ensure that the Sunset Strip is ready for Top Fuel racing and the anticipated large crowds.
The Lamattina family has transported hundreds of concrete barriers for the braking area, catch nets are being installed, and these are just some of the venue enhancements.
The Lamattina family has been deeply involved from the outset.
“This is a fantastic moment for racing in Mildura. The club and the community are rolling out the red carpet and putting on that famous country hospitality for racers, locals, and visitors. Everyone is going to have a ball, and if the last time Top Fuel came to town in 2022 is anything to go by, the crowds are going to be huge,” Lamattina said.
“The event is being promoted everywhere and the community is pumped. In 2022, people didn’t quite know what to expect. Now they know exactly what’s coming, and they know they can’t miss it.
“We’ve also got track‑prep extraordinaire Justin Simpson coming in to make sure the surface is absolutely top‑notch. The effort being put in by the Club is unbelievable and I can’t wait to see the fans pack in to the Sunset Strip.
“This is a small country club run by passionate volunteers who consistently put on great events, so to have this come to our local track and community is something special.
“Thanks to Mildura Rural City Council Event and Tourism strategy, this region has a long history with high‑adrenaline sports. Top Fuel fits right in here and unsurprisingly, the vibe around town is electric as everyone gets ready to see 11,000hp Top Fuelers running more than 320kph and throwing flames against the night sky across the eighth‑mile.”
SDRA Club President David Thornton said the response from the community has been heart-warming.
“The club has been doing a lot of improvements over the last 12 months and since Top Fuel was announced as coming to town, that has only ramped up more. Everyone is working extra hard to have the place looking the best we can for this event,” Thornton said.
“People came from everywhere to check out the show in 2022, so we are expecting big crowds over the two days of this event in 2026. This influx will be huge for the area and provide a strong economic boost.
“To have this event come to our club is a real validation of what we do. The whole community has come together – our members, sponsors, and local industry including the Rocky Lamattina & Sons, Forbes-Wilson Group, and B & S Earthmoving – all dropping everything to get the work done.”
Lopez said this reflects the best of Australian drag racing.
“The return of Top Fuel to Mildura is a perfect example of what makes Australian drag racing so special,” Lopez said.
“At the NDRC, we believe the sport thrives when the top tier and the grassroots work hand‑in‑hand, and the Sunset Strip project embodies that perfectly. The SDRA has shown extraordinary commitment, not just in hosting the event, but in the sheer amount of work they’ve undertaken to elevate the venue.
“The idea to return here came from two mates standing at the Sunset Strip during the Drag Challenge in late 2025, talking about how good it felt to race here in 2022. The Top Fuel Championship opening round for 2026 was still uncertain, and we wanted to race in Victoria. We knew the passion was there to make it happen, but we have still been blown away by how everyone has gotten behind this.
“The NDRC and Top Fuel is bringing the show, but the real story is the community. The level of dedication has been amazing.
“This event will not only launch our 2026 Top Fuel Championship but also celebrate a region that lives and breathes motorsport. We are honoured to stand alongside the club and the Lamattina family to bring Top Fuel roaring back to the Sunset Strip. I hope to see you there!”
