The NDRC Twilight Nationals at Mildura’s Sunset Strip presents a unique opportunity for young Luca Lamattina to compete in the Aeroflow Junior Dragster ranks at the same event as his father, Phil, and the Lamattina Top Fuel Racing team, in front of family and friends at their home track, while representing a family name iconic to the region.
The Rocky Lamattina & Sons carrot farming operation is based just a short distance from Mildura in Wemen, and the return of the BLAHST Australian Top Fuel Championship and the NDRC Aeroflow Sportsman Series to the regional city has everyone buzzing, not least Luca, the youngest son of Phil and Sarah Lamattina.
“It’s pretty awesome to have Top Fuel back and to be able to race in front of my home crowd, I’m looking forward to it a lot!” beamed Luca.
“With Dad racing too, it brings a lot of people and interest to town. The event involves the whole community, and we also get a chance to run in front of family who don’t usually get to see us race, so it’s all pretty special to us.”
Luca has only been steering a Junior Dragster for two years, starting out to follow in the footsteps of his brothers, Rocky and Ross, who he draws inspiration from. In that short time, he has already tasted success.
“My biggest achievement was making back-to-back finals at the Sunset Nationals and Junior Nationals a week apart here at my home track,” said Luca.
“There were a huge number of competitors, and it was challenging, but rewarding knocking down the large fields to reach the finals. Not getting the wins was a little disappointing, but it was still an amazing feeling to make the finals against some of the best Junior racers in the country.”
After a limited campaign in the NDRC Aeroflow Sportsman Series last season, Luca has his sights firmly set on 2026.
“Last season we didn’t really do a lot of NDRC meetings. It was a highlight racing at the Winternationals and it’s pretty cool getting around to see all the tracks. This season our sights are set on chasing the NDRC championship and trying to win it!” Luca announced.
There are plenty of challenges in Junior Dragster, but with a surname that carries weight in Australian drag racing, and with duties crewing on his family’s Top Fuel operation between rounds, race meetings are anything but quiet.
“On track you really have to work hard to win an NDRC Tree. People see drag racing and think it’s easy because you just go in a straight line, but it’s pretty hard when you’re in the driver’s seat,” Luca explained.
“Racing is in your own hands and one slight mistake can cost you the whole race when you realise it.
“My surname brings expectation and it’s just one of those extra things I have to deal with when racing.”
Phil Lamattina spoke about Luca’s additional role within the LTFR operation.
“On the Junior, Luca does all the servicing on it and Ross makes all the tune up calls, and that’s in addition to Luca washing parts and Ross bolting on cylinder heads for the Top Fuel car during our between-round maintenance.
“For them to be able to do what they do at race meeting I am at, I take my hat off to them. It’s amazing effort and commitment.”
Phil is particularly proud of Luca and his fellow Junior Dragster competitors for how they handle the pressures of racing at a young age.
“One of the toughest things on kids is the enormous amount of pressure they can put on themselves. The parents haul trailers vast distances and spend a lot of time and money for them to race, and this leaves a lot of pressure on the kids to perform, thinking they don’t want to disappoint anyone, even though nobody is. That’s the hardest part for me. It is important not to lose sight of having fun,” said Phil Lamattina.
“I think it’s a great thing that they learn how to win, as well as loose, the sportsmanship involved, and actually understand the level of commitment needed to do what they do. They do appreciate all the work that is put in, and likewise the amount of hard work they put in themselves, because it doesn’t come easy for them and I am very proud of them all.”
While Luca and the team thank their mum and dad for the opportunity, Phil is quick to turn that gratitude back onto his sons.
“Everything they do, they do themselves. There are no handouts. I have to really thank them for being responsible kids. I have no issues sending them anywhere around Australia by themselves, that’s the level of trust I have, so I really want to thank them for stepping up.”
Luca still has several years remaining in Junior Dragster but is already thinking about what lies ahead.
“We’ll see what happens. I’ll continue to work on Dad’s car and maybe get the seat if he retires!” laughed Luca.
