Bumper new National Drag Racing Championship calendar unveiled

The new National Drag Racing Championship will be born at The Bend Motorsport Park this October ahead of a huge maiden 2023/24 season.

All up the new era of drag racing will be staged across 11 rounds starting in South Australia on October 21-22 and wrapping up with the Winternationals Grand Final at Willowbank Raceway in June 6-9 2024.

Between times the National Drag Racing Championship will criss cross the country with either the Burson Auto Parts Top Fuel Championship or Nitro Funny Car series in the Group One spotlight alongside four of Top Fuel motorbikes, Top Doorslammer, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Pro Alcohol, Pro Stock, Pro Mod and Western and Eastern Sportsmans as supports.

The Top Fuel championship featuring the likes of Peter Xiberras, Phil Read and Damien Harris will take centre stage at The Bend opener, plus Willowbank (round 4) Sydney (round 6) Perth Westernationals (round 8) The Bend (round 9) and Sydney Nitro Champs (round 10) before the final.

The new The Bend Dragway will host the historic opening round of the National Drag Racing Championship.

The Nitro Funny Cars will open their season on October 27-28 at Sydney Dragway (round 2) before Perth Goldenstates (round 3) The Bend (round 5) Willowbank (round 7) plus the finale.

All 11 rounds will be broadcast live and free on streaming service 7plus, while 7mate will also broadcast highlight packages.

Despite hosting the finale of the 2022/23 Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship alongside Supercars next month, Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway has not been included.

The National Drag Racing Championship announced on May 10 has been created to unify Australian drag racing under the one national championship with the guiding principle of “one way forward”.

National Drag Racing Championship co-promoter Andy Lopez said the 11-round season is the perfect launching pad for the new era with races in South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia.

“We’re really proud of this calendar,” he said.

“There are 11 amazing events at Australia’s premier drag racing facilities, headlined by either the Burson Top Fuel Championship or the Nitro Funny Car Championship, with Top Fuel Motorcycle, Top Doorslammer, Pro Alcohol, Pro Stock, Pro Mod, Pro Stock Motorcycle and the country’s best Sportsman racers.

Peter Xiberras will be one of the leading Top Fuel NDRC contenders.

“For competitors, this means a true national championship and a unified sport. For race fans, it means unbeatable shows with the best Australian drag racing has to offer. 

“The NDRC’s motto is ‘One Way, Forward.’ We all race in the same direction, for the same reason, and it is our hope that with the NDRC having unified this great sport, we can bring it the attention and respect it deserves.” 

Many within the drag racing community have been buoyed by the creation of the NDRC, including Top Fuel competitor Phil Lamattina.

“Having all of the awesome racers and brackets racing together again all over the country and under the one NDRC banner is incredibly exciting,” said two-time Top Fuel champion Lamattina. 

“This 11 round calendar is something that all at Lamattina Top Fuel Racing are thrilled to be a part of. 

“We can’t wait to light the candles at the first event at The Bend, and at many events after that, as this new era of Australian drag racing bursts into life.” 

A major part of the new National Drag Racing Championship will be the Funny Cars.

A major part of the National Drag Racing Championship calendar is the Sportsman’s titles which will be split across Eastern and Western conferences.

Rounds held in SA and WA will stage the Western conference, while NSW and Queensland races will make up the Eastern series. 

National Drag Racing Championship communications manager Adrian Hodgson confirmed the Summit Series will also make up part of the Eastern series with a Victorian round also in the works.

“The full Aeroflow Sportsman Championship calendar is well advanced,” he said 

“There is Sportsman Championship racing at most NDRC Group 1 events and we’re in discussions with venues in Victoria and QLD to round out the Eastern Conference. 

“I can confirm that the Summit Series already committed to by ANDRA until December 31 will be recognised as part of this year’s Western Conference, and that the series will continue as the Aeroflow Championship Western Conference from January 1, 2024. 

“The complete Aeroflow Sportsman Championship calendar will be announced on June 14, including how racers qualify for the National Grand Final at The Bend.”

National Drag Racing Championship co-promotor and head of TV Nathan Prendergast stated the significance of the upcoming season for the sport.

“Taking it all up a notch is the fact that these 11 NDRC Group One events will benefit from unprecedented levels of broadcast exposure thanks to the landmark deal with Australia’s home of motorsport, the Seven Network,” he said.

“Never before has Australian drag racing benefited from this kind of coverage – this is truly a new era for the sport. 

“From a racer perspective, this new calendar will ensure that Group One competitors have the opportunity to not only race for one unified national title, but to do so all over the country at Australia’s best drag strips.” 

Tickets for the season opener will be available HERE 

2023/24 National Drag Racing Championship calendar

Round 1 – The Bend Dragway – 21-22 October 2023 – featuring Top Fuel, Top Fuel Motorcycle, Top Doorslammer, Pro Stock Motorcycle, plus Sportsman Western Conference racing. 

Round 2 – Sydney Dragway – 27-28 October 2023 – featuring Nitro Funny Car, Pro Alcohol, Pro Stock and Pro Mod, plus Sportsman Eastern Conference racing.

Round 3 – Perth Motorplex – 24-25 November 2023 (Goldenstates) – featuring Nitro Funny Car, Top Fuel Motorcycle, Top Doorslammer, Pro Alcohol, plus Sportsman Western Conference racing. 

Round 4 – Willowbank Raceway – 1-2 December 2023 – featuring Top Fuel, Pro Alcohol, Pro Mod, plus Sportsman Eastern Conference racing + QDRC Final. 

Round 5 – The Bend Dragway – 13-14 January 2024 – featuring Nitro Funny Car, Top Fuel Motorcycle, Top Doorslammer, Pro Alcohol, plus Sportsman Western Conference racing.

Round 6 – Sydney Dragway – 26-27 January 2024 – featuring Top Fuel, Top Doorslammer, Pro Alcohol, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, plus Sportsman Eastern Conference racing.

Round 7 – Willowbank Raceway – 16-17 February 2024 – featuring Nitro Funny Car, Pro Alcohol, Pro Stock, Pro Mod, Pro Stock Motorcycle, plus Sportsman Eastern Conference racing.

Round 8 – Perth Motorplex – 2-3 March 2024 (Westernationals) – featuring Top Fuel, Top Fuel Motorcycle, Top Doorslammer plus Sportsman Western Conference racing.

Round 9 – The Bend Dragway – 6-7 April 2024 – featuring Top Fuel, Top Doorslammer and Pro Stock, plus the Sportsman National Grand Final.

Round 10 – Sydney Dragway – 3-4 May 2024 (Nitro Champs) – featuring Top Fuel, Top Fuel Motorcycle, Top Doorslammer, Pro Stock, Pro Mod, Pro Stock Motorcycle, plus Sportsman Eastern Conference racing. 

Round 11 (Grand Final) – Willowbank Raceway – 6-9 June 2024 (Winternationals) – featuring Top Fuel, Nitro Funny Car, Top Fuel Motorcycle, Top Doorslammer, Pro Alcohol, Pro Stock, Pro Mod, Pro Stock Motorcycle, plus Sportsman Eastern Conference racing.

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