• Login
  • Register
Speedcafe.com
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • PODCASTS
  • PHOTOS
  • CALENDAR
  • RESULTS & STANDINGS
  • NETWORK
No Result
View All Result
  • Supercars
  • F1
  • NASCAR
  • INDYCAR
  • SRO GT
  • KARTING
  • RALLY
  • BIKES
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • PODCASTS
  • PHOTOS
  • CALENDAR
  • RESULTS & STANDINGS
  • NETWORK
No Result
View All Result
  • Feed
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Photos
  • Podcasts
  • Shop
Speedcafe.com
  • Supercars
  • F1
  • NASCAR
  • IndyCar
  • SRO GT
  • Karting
  • Rally
  • Bikes
  • FastDeli Club
Home Drags

Newby and McMillen lead Nitro fields at Winternationals

The final round of the NDRC championship got underway in style with the first professional qualifying session at the Gulf Western Oil Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway.

Rusty Gregory
Rusty Gregory
8 Jun 2024
Rusty Gregory
//
8 Jun 2024
// Drags
A A
0
Newby and McMillen lead Nitro fields at Winternationals
Wayne Newby. Image: Grant Stephens/Cackling Pipes

Wayne Newby. Image: Grant Stephens/Cackling Pipes

With all categories except Top Fuel and Nitro Funny Car running under the traditional elimination format for the first time this season, qualifying was crucially important with oversubscribed fields in Pro Alcohol, Pro Mod, and Pro Stock.

Wayne Newby and Morice McMillin led the respective Top Fuel and Funny Car categories respectively, with a 3.82 for Newby the best from the four cars that took to the track for the Top Fuel Test pass on Friday Afternoon, and a good start for the championship hopeful.

Peter Xiberras was second-quickest with an early shut off 4.52, whilst Damian Harris could not drive through tyre shake and was forced to abort his run.

The session saw former Australian and European Champion Steve Read make his return to the Top Fuel category, with his 5.239 enough for the third-quickest time of the session.

Nitro Funny car saw seven cars take to the track for the first qualifying session, with reigning national champion Morice McMillin leading the way with a 4.06 over the 1000ft distance, marginally ahead of teammate Brandon Gosbell.

WA-based Anthony Begley made one of his best runs of the season with a 4.46, while championship leader Justin Walshe sits fourth after a shut off 4.702.

Josh Leahy, Adam Murrihy, and Chris Stipanovich all battled tyre shake and did not post a representative time.

Morice McMillin. Image: Grant Stephens/Cackling Pipes

Top Doorslammer saw the emotional return of the Maurice Fabietti’s ACDelco Doorslammer to Willowbank 18 months after the passing of Sam Fenech at the same venue.

With Ronnie Palumbo now in the seat, the event got off to a nervous start with the throttle sticking open during the burnout and crossing the centre line on two wheels.

Palumbo wrangled the car into his own lane, with the 4000-horsepower car still stuck open and made a glancing blow to the right hand wall.

The team were making repairs overnight and are expected to be ready for Q2 on Saturday afternoon.

John Zappia was the class of the field laying down a 5.70 to take the provisional number one position, whilst Rob Harrington was a surprise number two with his 5.922 ahead of Top Doorslammer newcomer Neil Murphy.

Peter Lovering was the last of the five cars in the five-second zone with a 5.95, with Nasser Matta and Russell Taylor rounding out the field after a broken throttle cable slowed his progress.

Jake Donnelly is returning to Pro Alcohol after a mammoth accident in 2023 ended with his car destroyed, and he started the weekend in style with a 5.49 to lead the field over the Champion elect Russell Mills.

Several cars had issues, including the legendary Gary Phillips returning in a virtually new altered built from the remains of his Funny Car that was destroyed in a fire at Sydney Dragway earlier in the season.

Phillips shook the tyre and will have two more Qualifying Sessions to make a representative run on Saturday.

Jake Donnelly. Image: Grant Stephens/Cackling Pipes

Tyronne Tremayne is the provisional number one in Pro Stock with  a 6.915 ahead of Championship leader Rob Dekert with a  6.93.

Pro Stock was arguably the highlight of the day, with only 0.13s covering the top eight in the qualified field.

With only eight starting positions on offer, four cars will not qualify for race day and after the first session Tony Polito, Bill Perdikaris, Ray Oxley and Wayne Daley are the drivers on the outside looking in.

Zoran Gajic leads Pro Mod with his 5.86 marginally ahead of Frank Tarabay’s 5.88, with Paul Mouhayet and Greg Tsakiridis marginally ahead of championship leader Craig Burns in fifth.

Top Fuel Motorcycle promised plenty with Damian Muscat’s 6.00 in testing so close to the first five-second run at Willowbank Raceway, however his 6.90 early shut off was the only six-second run in the first round.

Luke Crowley leads Pro Bike after one session with a 7.21 ahead of Daniel Rabnott, with five of the six bikes in attendance in the seven second zone already.

Final qualifying will be held in front of an already virtually sold out crowd at Willowbank Raceway on Saturday, before champions are crowned on Sunday.

Tags: winternationals

Discussion about this post

Latest from Torquecafe

These are the best of Ford Australia

03 April 2025

Two famous brands will now sell you a race car

03 April 2025

Ford Australia turns 100

02 April 2025

No joke: Hyundai teases return of the ‘baby hot hatch’

02 April 2025

Latest Podcasts

PODCAST: Supercars parity changes explained + Doohan exit verdict

09 May 2025

PODCAST: Grassroots Racing with Ben Schoots

08 May 2025

Related Articles

Peter Xiberras is taking a break from drag racing. Image: InSyde Media

Xiberras to step away from racing

Drags
2 months ago
Drags
0
Two worlds will collide in March for the first ever double header for Sydney International Speedway and Sydney Dragway. Image: Grant Stephens / Cackling Pipes Photography

Drag racing and speedway share billing in Sydney-first event

Drags
4 months ago
Drags
0

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Platinum Partner

Latest & Trending News

GALLERY: Around the grounds at the Snowy River Caravans Tasmania Super 440

Photo Galleries
12 May 2025
Photo Galleries
0
A render of the Gen3-spec Toyota GR Supra.

POLL: Will Toyota win a Supercars race in 2026?

Pirtek Poll
12 May 2025
Pirtek Poll
0
Tom Kristensson (right) will join the Australian Rally Championship later this month. Image: Red Bull Content Pool

WRC title winner joins Australian Rally Championship

Rally
12 May 2025
Rally
0
Hitech Grand Prix has appointed a new director after Williams Oakes was arrested earlier this month. Image: Hitech Grand Prix Facebook.

Hitech appoints new director after Oakes arrest

International
12 May 2025
International
0
Ryan Wood – the man once known as jigsaw. Image: InSyde Media

Wood sheds unwanted ‘jigsaw’ nickname

Supercars
12 May 2025
Supercars
0
Matt Boylett (#80) was unbeaten in the series , now under new ownership.

TFH Racing adds Formula RX8 to category portfolio

National
12 May 2025
National
0
Pirtek Poll

POLL: Will Toyota win a Supercars race in 2026?

Vote View Results Past polls
Pirtek Poll
View past polls

Supercars Championship

Pos Driver Points
1 Will Brown 467
2 Cameron Waters 460
3 Broc Feeney 418
4 Chaz Mostert 333

CLICK HERE for full results and standings

Formula 1

1 Lando Norris 62
2 Max Verstappen 61
3 Oscar Piastri 49
4 George Russell 45
5 Kimi Antonelli 30

CLICK HERE for full results and standings

Also, full results and standings for;

TCR Super2 MotoGP IndyCar
[instagram-feed feed=2]
Support the partners that support Speedcafe
Truck Assist R & J Batteries Pirtek Mobil Super Supercheap Auto Michelin Meguiars coates XPEL FORD ACDelco parcelprotect become a partner
AASA PPQ Authentic Collectables bathurst sportsnetholidays nuevasolutions
Speedcafe.com has been established to provide a daily motorsport news service to the industry and fans in Australia and internationally.
Follow Us

Categories

SUPERCARS

F1

NASCAR

INDYCAR

GT

MOTOGP

PHOTOS

TV

PODS

Platinum Partners

TRUCK ASSIST
R&J BATTERIES
PIRTEK
MOBIL1
SUPERCHEAP AUTO

PARCEL PROTECT

MICHELIN
MEGUIARS

COATES
FORD

XPEL

ACDELCO

Newsletter

Subscribe to our daily newsletter, the best way to get your news first, fast and free!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Your daily racing fix - Newsletter

Subscribe to our daily and breaking newsletter for all the latest news delivered direct to your box

SUBSCRIBE
Follow Us

Categories

SUPERCARS

F1

NASCAR

INDYCAR

GT

MOTOGP

PHOTOS

TV

PODS

Platinum Partners

TRUCK ASSIST
R&J BATTERIES
PIRTEK
MOBIL1
SUPERCHEAP AUTO

PARCEL PROTECT

MICHELIN
MEGUIARS

COATES
FORD

XPEL

ACDELCO

Copyright © 2025 Speedcafe.com. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Our Team    /  Advertise with us  /  Privacy Policy

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Event guides
  • Podcasts
  • SHOP
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Speedcafe Network
  • FastDeli Club

Copyright © 2023 Speedcafe.com This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Event guides
  • Podcasts
  • SHOP
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Speedcafe Network
  • FastDeli Club

Copyright © 2023 Speedcafe.com This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.