Stage set for Winternats finale after record-breaking run

A record-breaking day three of NDRC Gulf Western Oil Winternationals action in front of a full house at Willowbank Raceway has set the stage for an epic conclusion today.

Highlighting a long list of incredible performances for the packed crowd today were the world’s quickest (5.470 seconds) and fastest (416.99kph) Pro Alcohol Altered run by Gary Phillips; the quickest and second quickest Nitro Funny Car passes in Australian history, both set by Morice McMillin (3.92 and 3.93); plus the quickest ever Australian field of Pro Stock Motorcycles with a bump spot (qualifying cut-off) of 7.417s.

Combine that with ten three second runs with seven at more than 500kph – including a monster 531.83kph pass from Top Fuel’s Damien Harris – and the calibre of the action delivered today at Queensland’s premier drag racing facility is without question.

n Top Fuel, Damien Harris came within less than three kilometres per hour of resetting his Australian speed record on his way to Top Qualifying ahead of the rest of his 11,000hp/500+kph compatriots, laying down a 3.725 at 530.40kph in Q2 before bettering that further in Q3 to 3.712 seconds at a monster 531.83kph.

Championship leader and Harris’ Atlantic Oils Rapisarda Autosport International team-mate, Wayne Newby, was next quickest thanks to his best run of 3.738 seconds while Phil Lamattina is enjoying a return to his consistency of the past to run multiple three-eights, logging the third quickest time of 3.832 seconds at 514.45kph. Phil Read (3.985/341.48kph), Kyle Putland (3.986/394.36kph) and Steve Read (4.323/325.57kph) round out the six-car field.

“A one-two in qualifying is the perfect result for the team,” Harris said.

“It is a great tribute to all of the crew and their hard efforts.

“The plan now is to prep the cars for tomorrow to achieve the same result – bring on Sunday!”

McMillin’s breakthrough performances were part of qualifying for the XPRO Nitro Funny Cars today during the bracket’s penultimate round of the 2024/2025 NDRC championship chase.

Morice McMillin. Image: Cackling Pipes

The Boosted/Aeroflow Racing pilot was celebrated as not only a record breaker but also the Top Qualifier, thanks to his 3.929/511.19kph effort run in Q2. Next quickest was defending champion Justin Walshe (4.010/523.26kph), ahead of Josh Leahy (4.011/474.25kph) and newcomer Damon Paton (4.103/462.44kph).

“We have been working on this tune up basically all season, and now it is actually showing the potential of what we were trying to achieve – it is not perfect yet, but it is heading in the right direction,” McMillin said.

“Any drag racer is always aiming to go faster, but now our attention turns to trying to win tomorrow.

“All the other cars went in the 4-0s so if there is any small hiccup, we are there for the taking, so we can’t take any of these boys lightly when it comes to race day.”

In Pro Alcohol – running its season finale this weekend – Cheyne Phillips ensured he retained the top spot following his Q1 performance yesterday when an experimental Q3 run resulted in an impressive 5.397 pass at 436.62kph, which had more in it according to the racer who will celebrate his 35th birthday on Sunday.

Cheyne and Gary Phillips. Image: Cackling Pipes

Cheyne is following in the footsteps of his highly-decorated father, Gary Phillips, who not only is also competing this weekend – the first time the family has run both Cheyne and Gary in Pro Alcohol at the same event – but also set new quickest and fastest world records for Pro Alcohol Altered, with the 5.470 second pass at 416.99kph enough for third on the qualifying order overall, behind Daniel Reed (5.454/432.96kph) and ahead of Chris Hargrave (5.571/417.88kph).

Owley. Image: Cackling Pipes Photography

“I am really happy with how the Altered went, being the quickest and fastest Pro Alcohol Altered in the world, period!” Gary Phillips enthused.

“The crowd reaction has been unreal – the world record run was so fast, and I am very proud of Cheyne too for top qualifying and his work on this car.”

“I am really happy with how it went with top qualifying, last night we put a nice run down to get a number on the board and then in the first round today focused on dad’s car. In the final run we tried some stuff and got the ‘39’ even with the chute out before the line – so I robbed myself of potentially a ‘37’ at around 273mph (439.35kph), it was hauling butt!” Cheyne Phillips explains.

“It is a bit of a full circle moment for me as two years ago I ran the dragster here and top qualified with a run in the thirties and then today we have done it again with the exact same ET in the Funny Car – in about only my 15th run in it.

“It was a really cool moment with the Altered too – that is a bucket list item we have ticked off and now I am looking forward to us hopefully racing together. With where we are seeded following qualifying, if we are both able to go the rounds, it will be in the finals!”

Pro Stock Motorcycle was another bracket turning heads at Willowbank Raceway today, with a bump spot (the slowest time to qualify in the field) of 7.417 (held by Tony Frost) making it the quickest Australian eight-bike field for Pro Stock Motorcycle ever seen.

Luke Crowley was the top qualifier with a 7.009/311.21kph effort, topping the sheets over Scott White (7.105/305.10kph), Callam Godeassi (7.225/292.59kph) and Daniel Rabnott (7.320/293.62kph).

Connor McClure. Image: Cackling Pipes

Drag racing fans are being treated to a 16-car Top Doorslammer field this weekend, which meant that following the conclusion of their qualifying this morning – with John Zappia taking the honours there with a 5.674 second pass at 405.02kph ahead of defending champion and current leader, Russell Taylor’s 5.703/409.69kph effort – their first round of eliminations racing was undertaken this afternoon.

Three more rounds of knock-out racing await this bracket on Sunday, with Zappia feeling strong as he looks ahead to an intense day tomorrow.

“The Dananni Hot Shots Fuchs Monaro is running on-song and everything is going well,” Zappia said.

“The car is going nice and straight and we have managed to keep it at the pointy end and staying in front of the field at the moment, and so far we have hung on to the low ET of the round – we have two more rounds where we have to stay the quickest to get the extra five points for low ET which is important for the title chase.

“Lisa has gone out now so we need to go rounds and hopefully close the gap on her for second place – if we can’t do it this weekend we have Darwin as well to hopefully get it back.

“The car is quick and reliable and I am getting more comparable on the start line – I just ran a .022 light for instance, quicker than Brodie’s .024.”

In Top Fuel Motorcycle, champion elect Damian Muscat continued his dominating form to claim another Top Qualifying award for his NDRC tally to lead the field into racing for what is their 2024/2025 NDRC championship finale.

Muscat smokes it up. Image: Cackling Pipes

Muscat’s best result of 6.345 at 288.33kph bettered that of Benny Stevens (6.958/330.27kph), Michael Beland (7.134/326.31), Damian Martini (7.274/273.14kph) and Ian Ashelford (7.448/251.83kph). Rounding out the eight-bike field were John Zahra (8.303/170.86kph),  Greg Durack (9.636/218.18kph) and Corey Buttigieg (11.223/136.39kph).

In Pro Stock, Aaron Tremayne lead the way throughout the qualifiers to take the top spot with his 6.879/319.68kph effort over next quickest and championship leader, Robert Dekert (6.903/318.89kph), who is racing in memory of the late Hayley Turns this weekend.

In FuelTech Pro Mod, Neil Murphy leads the way into Sunday’s racing thanks to his 5.859 second run to the 5.85 index at 348.00kph, over next quickest Nasser Matta (5.906/362.22kph). Zoran Gajic (5.917/255.24) and Barry Plumpton (5.950/238.38) round out the top half of the eight-car field, ahead of Steven Smith (5.964/410.77kph), Mark Harris (6.211/363.55kph), Stew Walsh (6.348/345.12kph) and Daniel Camilleri (6.457/131.31kph). With nine cars attempting to qualify for an eight-car field, Peter Gratz was left on the outer, with his best of 7.337/357.27kph not enough to make it to race day.

On track action has already begun at Willowbank Raceway.

Buy the new issue of Auto Action Premium HERE

Read the new issue of Auto Action Digital HERE

Don’t forget the print edition of Auto Action available via subscription here or you can purchase a copy of the latest issue from one of our outlets here. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine