Walshe wins first Funny Car battle at The Bend

Justin Walshe is the first ever to win a Nitro Funny Cars National Drag Racing Championship title at the new Dragway at The Bend.

On Sunday Walshe took a hole-shot win over championship leader Morice McMillin with a 5.012 second pass.

With a top speed of 494.78kph he trumped McMillin’s 4.989/478.87kph effort in a side by side battle that will have an impact on the championship at the halfway mark.

It was their second matchup of the day after they faced off in the first round when McMillin got up. But Walshe said he gave it everything.

“I had a real crack at the tree,” he said.

“I knew that Morice was having problems, and we knew we had the quicker car, but we have also had some tricky conditions across the class today. 

“I kind of flirted with it (a red light) a bit but we got it done and that is what matters,” said Walshe, who had a brilliant 0.002 reaction time.

“This is all about the team, this isn’t me, this is the team, I can’t do this without every single person on our crew.”

Justin Walshe and Morice McMillin line up for the Funny Cars final. Image: Cackling Pipes Photography

In the B Final Brandon Gosbell took third place honours with a solo 5.269 second pass at 387.7kph.

Earlier in the day the “One Bad Kiwi” mistakenly celebrated a world record time in round 2 before it was discovered the time was incorrect due to a fault in the timing system’s guard beam.

Anthony Begley also had issues, hitting the sand at the end of his round 2 run when the throttle stuck open, which meant he could not participate in the B Final.

Benny Stevens overcame a problematic Saturday to secure another Top Fuel Motorcycle victory.

Stevens built his championship lead by beating Greg Durack having been too good for Corey Buttigieg in the opening round prior to a round 2 solo.

The victor was pleased to be on top after a frustrating campaign.

“It was a bit of a difficult weekend for us tuning wise,” Stevens explained.

“We tried a few different things in the Harley and just couldn’t get away from running six-sixties. 

Benny Stevens speeding his way to another NDRC win. Image: Cackling Pipes Photography

“We were putting power in, we were taking it out, playing with the clutch – we just couldn’t seem to come to terms with the conditions. 

“On a lot of laps the bike was moving around over the track and more or less hazing the tyre.

“When we went out for the final we took a heap of power out of it and a heap of clutch out to make sure we could get from A to B. 

“We dropped cylinders at the 1000ft, but we still came away with the win against Greg Durack and have another trophy on the shelf, so it is a happy day.”

Defending champion Rob Cassar had to settle for B Final honours after edging out top qualifier Damian Muscat with a better reaction time.

At the time of writing the Top Doorslammer result is still up in the air.

After recording a 5.763 second pass at 400.52kph, John Zappia was tearfully presented with the Gold Christmas Tree after beating Russell Taylor.

However, in the aftermath an official reported a disqualifiable offence and an investigation will take place on Monday.

Earlier Zappia took a round 1 solo win before getting the better of Adam Tassone in a side by side round 2 battle.

John Zappia’s win is currently under a cloud.

However, Taylor was the top qualifier after beating Ronnie Palumbo and Matt Abel who both red lit.

The B Final saw husband and wife fight head to head with Lisa and Daniel Gregorini squaring off.

Lisa won the bragging rights with a 5.932 ET to his 5.97.

Tassone and Palumbo battled in the C Final which went to the ACDelco Monaro after Tassone got out of shape off the line.

The Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship was also on hand, with the victories going to Sean Maher (Super Sedan), Cory Dyson (Modified), Lachlan Walker (Junior Dragster), Bob Sherry (Supercharged Outlaws), Briane Keane (Super Street), Lucas Neagoe (Modified Bike), Chris Allen (Competition Bike), Steve Norman (Super Stock), Glenn Henley (Top Sportsman), and Matt Forbes (Competition). 

The biggest cheers were saved for Forbes, who became the first Australian national championship competitor to win national events in five different championship brackets – Super Gas, Modified, Top Sportsman, Super Stock, and now Competition Eliminator.

“To get the fifth win is huge. It is not a relief; it is more a celebration,” he said.

“We have been trying to do it for a while and we have worked really hard. We didn’t know if it would happen this weekend or in a month’s time or never – Competition Eliminator is a super tough class as they all are.”

The NDRC action continues thick and fast from here, with the Australia Day Nationals at Sydney Dragway on January 26 and 27 to be followed by the South Coast Rumble at South Coast Raceway on February 3 and 4.

Images: Cackling Pipes Photography

NEW MAGAZINE

The first AUTO ACTION magazine of 2024 is on sale at your news agents Thursday or available in digital form right here, continuing on as Australia’s most trusted independent voice in motorsport. If you can’t get a copy locally, you can also subscribe to the latest issue of Auto Action print or digital edition of the magazine here.

Head here for more of the latest motorsport news.

Latest podcast: The RevLimiter welcomes you to the New Year … let’s rev into 2024, and other cliches.

The Auto Action RevLimiter is back for 2024, warts and all! Andrew, Bruce and PG get stuck into all the topics that matter – brought to you by AC Delco and Gilligans – Route 66 Tours who can get you to the Chicago Street Race.