McMillin wins Perth Nitro Funny Car honours 

After being beaten on Friday, nothing was going to stop Morice McMillin from taking Nitro Funny Car honours at Perth Motorplex.

McMillin was the winner at the end of a big weekend of racing out west at the Goldenstates National Drag Racing Championship event.

After trading new elapsed time track records with his team-mate Brandon Gosbell during qualifying on Friday, McMillin saved his best till last, smashing out an incredible 4.737 second pass at 492.66kph to shave another half a tenth to reset the record for a third time to the delight of the crowd.

McMillin’s solo in the A-Final after Justin Walshe’s Harts Paint Supplies entry was pushed back was the latest in a string of impressive performances and an emotional success for the team.

“I am absolutely gutted for Justin. You always want to win, but it is much better when it is a side-by-side Nitro Funny Car pass,” McMillin said.

“The dad of one of our guys passed away, so Jamie, this is you brother,” he said with high emotion in the bottom end of the track, raising the trophy to the sky for his crewman Jamie’s father, Lep Robertson.

McMillin’s team-mate Brandon Gosbell took the B-Final victory in the Rocket Industries entry over local hero Anthony Begley.

Top Qualifier and Friday record-setter Gosbell had had a difficult start to his race day with a shut down in round one due to fluid under the car. He went on to redeem himself with a side by side victory over Walshe in round two before the win in the B-Final.

In the C Final the NT’s Adam Murrihy enjoyed a stout run to close out his evening at the track, but unfortunately it would end with him in the sand after scraping the right hand wall at the end of an absolutely stomping pass. Murrihy was unhurt from the incident.

Earlier he had run a strong 5.737 in the opening around to finish ahead of a pedalling Walshe. However, Murrihy was disqualified after clipping a timing block and then missed round two when he was unable to fire up.

In Top Doorslammer, following the history-making A-Final on Friday when rookies Lisa Gregorini and Ronnie Palumbo contested their Dragway at The Bend re-run with Palumbo taking the victory, another rookie lifted the NDRC Gold Christmas Tree trophy at the Plex.

Russell Taylor, in only his second competitive event, took the holeshot victory over the veteran, John Zappia, with a 5.81 at 407.33kph to Zappia’s 5.79/398.81kph effort. Zappia as always was a model of consistency, running five-sevens all weekend, but continued to struggle with his reaction times with his new combination.

“To come up against John and to take home a win and a tree, my first Christmas Tree ever – this is definitely a good moment,” Russell Taylor said.

The Top Doorslammer B-Final victory went to Daniel Gregorini (5.831/404.92kph) win over Bend winner Palumbo, who had to get off it after his ACDelco Slammer started to move towards the left hand wall.

On two wheels, the Top Fuel Motorcycle A-Final delivered one of the standout passes of the night. Winner Wayne McGuinness (6.469/333.59kph) and runner-up Benny Stevens (6.626/330.23kph) carried their front wheels with full candles all the way down the track in an impressive display – one of many provided by these two racers across the evening.

“It was an awesome final,” McGuinness said.

“For me and Benny, that is our standard kind of run, we have been doing that for a while. I think people have forgotten how many times we have been up against each other, and how many times he has lost as well.

“It was a fun day; it is always good running with Benny, and I think it is good for the sport. It is always cool having a couple of Harleys wheelstanding all the way to the end.”

The B Final victory was a tale of perseverance with winner Greg Durack fighting ongoing clutch issues while runner-up Jay Upton raced through persistent auto electrical issues to put on a show. In the C Final, Kevin Gummow and Ricky Wood also delivered an entertaining finals pass, side-by-side before Wood rode around Gummow at the last moment.

In Pro Alcohol, New South Welshman Russell Mills took it to the local line up with a strong performance start to finish in his head-turning dragster. The win at the Plex means he has won two from two, after also winning at Sydney season opener.

The National Drag Racing Championship now heads to Sydney Dragway for the Top Fuel Xmas Showdown on Saturday December 2, where Top Fuel, Pro Alcohol and FuelTech Pro Mod, as well as the Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship (Eastern Conference) are on show.

Image: High Octane Photos

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