A stacked field of more than 50 Aeroflow Junior Dragsters will descend on the 2026 Gulf Western Oil Nitro Champs, all chasing the coveted converted NDRC Gold Christmas Tree and valuable Aeroflow Sportsman Series Championship points—and among the sport’s next wave of talent, rising star Alex Refalo has his sights firmly set on the prize.
At just 16 years old, Junior Dragster racer has already packed plenty into a racing career that began at age eight, inspired by his older brother Zac.
“I started racing when I was 8 years old, following in the footsteps of my older brother Zac,” said Alex. “He always wanted to race Junior Dragsters and after seeing how fun drag racing was I wanted to do the same.”
Now balancing life as an engine reconditioner at Jenkins Performance, Alex spends his days working on high-performance cylinder heads for race boats and drag cars, a perfect counterpart for his weekends of racing on the drag strip.
Alex’s biggest achievement so far has been winning the A-Civil Junior Titles, a result he describes as the toughest meeting he has ever contested.
“It was the hardest race meeting I have ever raced at with very tough competitors,” said Alex.
But what keeps him coming back is the challenge, the intensity, and the close racing that Junior Dragster is known for.
“I love driving fast and the intensity that every round brings,” he said. “I love having close races with other drivers pushing each other’s limits at the finish line. I also love how my cousins Riley, Ben and Alexis are now racing with me at every meeting with all the love and support they bring.”
When asked about what drives him in sportsman racing, the answer is simple: the competition, the pressure, and the thrill of going round after round against tough opponents, and he knows there is no room for complacency.
“I find that every racer has their own different style that puts pressure on you while racing,” he said. “Every person that races in juniors is a tough competitor and anything can happen in a race.”
His biggest inspiration remains his brother Zac, who paved the way for his own racing journey.
“My favourite brother Zac, I have looked up to him ever since I have started racing following his footsteps and hopefully one day get a Gold Christmas tree,” he said. “I am very sad that my brother has aged out because now I feel like I have a winning chance against him and would love to have raced in AA/JD with him.”
When it comes to tackling race craft, it’s a simple piece of advice that sticks with Alex every time he rolls into stage.
“You can always back off but you can’t go faster,” he said. “The most famous and wise words I’ve heard come out of my Dad’s mouth. He tells me every time I put a dial in on my time board.”
One of his most memorable NDRC moments came at last year’s Winter Nationals at Willowbank, where an early mechanical issue nearly derailed the weekend before he fought through to race on Saturday.
“After the drive all the way to Willowbank and setting up for racing everything went smooth,” he said. “Then in the first qualifier I noticed a funny noise as I went over the finish line. After a quick inspection we found we had stripped a cylinder head bolt, but we got that fixed and moved into rounds.”
Making it through round one was a milestone in itself, but round two produced a heartbreaking finish in a razor-thin matchup with Queensland’s Karl Shultz.
“It was the closest race of the whole weekend with it coming down to 0.0004 of a second,” recalled Alex. “Very disappointing but I was happy he went on to win the meeting.”
Looking ahead to the Nitro Champs at Sydney Dragway, he’s eager to get back on the startline and catch up with distance mates, even with the added pressure of getting the car reassembled and race-ready in time for the event.
“I am very excited for Nitro Champs because it’s the time of year when I get to see my friends from Queensland come down,” Alex beamed. “One thing I’m a bit nervous about is putting my car back together after getting it powder-coated. Hopefully by Nitro Champs it’s all back together and my car is running as good as it was last meeting.”
Beyond the track, Alex remains grounded and grateful for his racing opportunities. He credits his parents for their unwavering support—making the time, putting in the work, and giving him every opportunity to chase his racing dreams. A special mention goes to his biggest supporter, his grandfather “Pop” Charlie Refalo, who has been by his side at every race, as well as his nan, who he knows is always watching on. The extended Attard family also plays a huge role, bringing energy, encouragement, and a sense of unity that makes every race meeting feel like more than just competition.
“There are so many people I could thank, I could go on and on,” said Alex. “Everyone plays a big role at the track, and I absolutely love everyone that comes always having good spirit.”
The Gulf Western Oil Nitro Champs will bring together BLAHST Top Fuel and XPRO Nitro Funny Car, alongside Top Doorslammer, Top Fuel Motorcycle, Pro Mod, Pro Alcohol, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Bike and the Aeroflow Sportsman Championship at Sydney Dragway, Eastern Creek, NSW, from 1–3 May 2026.
Kids 13 and under go free, and for more information or to get your tickets, visit nationaldragracing.com.au.
