As the NDRC Eastern Conference final for the Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship continues at the Gulf Western Oil Winternationals, the top qualifiers for all 12 brackets on-track have been celebrated today at Willowbank Raceway.
The NDRC’s Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship is taking to the track at Willowbank Raceway this weekend for the largest championship drag racing event held outside of the US alongside Top Fuel, XPRO Nitro Funny Cars, Top Doorslammer, Top Fuel Motorcycle, Pro Alcohol, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle and FuelTech Pro Mod, with all of these group one brackets contesting their final round of the NDRC 2023/2024 championship season this weekend. For a wrap-up of the group one running from today, please click here.
At the close of today’s running, the following racers took home the Top Qualifying honours for their respective Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship brackets: Alan Annis Jr (Modified Bike), Paul Neilson (Real Street), Shavaun Harvey (Junior Dragster), Lillian Hagan (Junior Drag Bike), Ray Ross (Super Street), Neil Maxwell (Top Sportsman), Luke Rosadi (Super Sedan), Kellie Kidd (Modified), Nathan Neilson (Extreme Bike), Edge Mallis (Performance Bike), Matthew McKnight (Supercharged Outlaws), and Jai Schulter (SuperComp).
Also taking to the track was qualifying for non-championship bracket Factory Xtreme, with Collin Willshire topping the sheets, as well as rounds one of racing for Junior Dragster and Super Sedan, with racing for all of the sportsman brackets to continue tomorrow and into Sunday.
In Super Street, Ross continued his fine form from Thursday’s opening qualifying rounds, with the Queenslander chuffed to take the Top Qualifier honours in such a highly competitive field at Willowbank Raceway this weekend.
“I couldn’t believe I was the top qualifier with the time we ran, there are a lot of guys that run .02s to .05s so I didn’t think I was in with a chance, but it seems everyone else had troubles. I am very happy with this honour,” Ross said.
“The car is going well now – I had masses of trouble yesterday and I was working heaps in the pits between every time out, but it seems to have all come together nicely.
“I love the Winternationals, and the track is brilliant; absolutely brilliant. It is the best I have ever raced here, and I have to say it has been well worth the wait!
“Thank you to Jodie, my crew chief who does everything for me, I can’t thank her enough. And also to my sponsors, Binstead Engineering and Jason and Kevin Kent.”
Thirteen proved to be a lucky number this weekend for Kidd, with this weekend marking her 13th Winters appearance and first time top qualifying at this event in Modified.
“This is my 13th Winternationals and my very first time top qualifying in Modified at this event,” Kidd explained.
“This is also my final year in Modified as I will be stepping up to Supercharged Outlaws next season, so it is definitely icing on the cake to be the top qualifier in Modified at this event for the first time.
“We are super excited about the racing coming up, the car is super consistent, the track is so smooth, and we are running PBs for the car – it was our first time running 200mph today and also our first time in the six-sixes, so we are super excited for what’s ahead.
“I want to say a huge thank you to my family, I couldn’t do this without them and their constant support as we build the powerhouse together, and also thank you to TBRE Performance.”
The Gulf Western Oil Winternationals continue Saturday with more Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship elimination rounds and Top Fuel, XPRO Nitro Funny Car, Top Doorslammer, Top Fuel Motorcycle, as well as Pro Alcohol, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle and FuelTech Pro Mod qualifying – including the delayed Gulf Western Oil Nitro Champs finals for Pro Stock and FuelTech Pro Mod in Q3 – ahead of the final races for the 2023/2024 NDRC championship season, beginning on Sunday.
For tickets, go to https://bit.ly/WINTERNATIONALS
For event information and to learn more about the NDRC, visit www.ndrc.tv
