Almost 200 Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship competitors took to the track for qualifying at Sydney Dragway today as they chase valuable Eastern Conference points at the Saltwood @ Rosedale Australia Day Nationals.
The Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship shared the stage with NDRC championship racing for Top Fuel, Pro Alcohol, FuelTech Pro Mod and Pro Stock Motorcycle – all of which are enjoying two rounds of their championships this weekend – as well as qualifying for Top Doorlammer and Pro Stock today. For a report on the group one action from day one of the Saltwood @ Rosedale Australia Day Nationals, please click here.
Top qualifying in their respective brackets Friday ahead of Saturday’s racing were Brett O’Connor (Top Sportsman), Daniel ‘BatDan’ Carranza (Modified), Leonard Azzopardi (Extreme Bike), Nathan McKenna (Super Street), Joshua Bertenshaw (Junior Drag Bike), Liam O’Neill (Junior Dragster), Joe Gattellari (Super Sedan), Peter Strudwick (Modified Bike), Darren Hubbard (Supercharged Outlaws), Steve Sloan (SuperComp) and Luke Romeo (Super Gas).
O’Connor was very pleased with the result given he is racing a brand-new Chevrolet Camaro this weekend.
“I fell great about top qualifying, brand new car, it is the fastest it has ever gone today,” O’Connor said.
“It was a good day today, the last pass we lost traction a bit and had to pedal a bit and back off but hopefully tomorrow will be a better day and we can go some rounds,” thanks to crew chief Jaye O’Connor and Adam Baxter.
For Carranza (pictured at top thanks to Cackling Pipes), who is enjoying his first season in Modified, the top qualifier result was a pleasant surprise.
“The day went pretty well for us, considering the hot conditions, the car is running really consistent, slowly consistent, and we just hope to go a few rounds tomorrow,” Carranza said.
“This is our first top qualifier in NDRC, and I didn’t expect to do it with that number, but I will take it and I am feeling pretty happy. We weren’t really pushing for top qualifier, but we will use that for tomorrow and see how we go,” he added, while thanking his mum, dad and family, Rob and Ann Camilleri, and his sponsors Penrite Oil, DraftMode Designs, Lee Meehan Roofing and Tile.co The Shower People.
The Saltwood @ Rosedale Australia Day Nationals will return to Sydney Dragway on Saturday January 27 for racing for all brackets, headlined by the 11,000hp/500kph Top Fuel dragsters, with racing on-track from 9.30am. For tickets, go to ndrc.tv.
