WITH last year’s five-day Street Machine Drag Challenge kyboshed by COVID, the last time we had a chance to test Australia’s fastest street cars was the three-day Drag Challenge Weekend 2020, held in between lockdowns up in Queensland. On that occasion, Ben Vlekken’s VH Commodore wagon nabbed first place outright. We haven’t had the full event since 2019, when Harry Haig’s ‘Shonky’ HQ took the gold.

Now we’re back, and set to run the three-day event in Victoria for the first time. With Warwick Dragway currently undergoing a massive birthday, we couldn’t get our usual Queensland program done in the early part of the year, so we figured the best course of action was to take it south.

We’ll kick off on Friday, 25 March at Heathcote Park Raceway, then head to Mildura’s Sunset Strip on Saturday, 26 March. The event will conclude with the final day of racing back at Heathcote on Sunday, 27 March.

It won’t be easy, but for anyone wanting a little taste of Drag Challenge before committing to the big one, DCW is a great opportunity. The event is capped at 200 cars.

The Haltech Radial Blown class will be tough as always, with proven seven-second runners like Adam Rogash, Brandon Zito, Chris Kaarsberg, Luke Foley and Kai McPhee already lined up for a shot at glory. While in the big-tyre Turbosmart Outlaw Blown class, we have Paul Hamilton’s twin-turbo XA taking on Mark Whitla’s blown Capri, Joe Ordon’s Patrol and Joe Camilleri’s Territory.

The Speed Pro Six-Cylinder class has a heap of fast entries, including eight-second turbo Barra-powered weapons like Sean Anthony’s XD, Josh Tuskin’s XW, and Ben Neal’s Cresta, along with Josh Grant’s turbo mang-powered VB.

Tuff Mounts 235 Blown will be a cracker as usual, with Jason Kenny’s seven-second VN topping the entry list. Other cool cars in the class include Dom Luppino’s 1JZ-powered LC Torana, and class sponsor Jason Waye’s Barra-powered Fox-body Mustang.

The aspirated classes are also full of quality rides. The undefeated combination of Alon Vella and his Capri sit at the top of Pacemaker Radial Aspirated, with Keith Hard’s brutal ’69 Camaro sure to keep him honest.

Mark Clifford is back in his monster, Kasse-powered ’69 Mustang for a shot at GJ Drivelines Outlaw Aspirated. But he’ll have to compete with Dan Cassar’s ’32 Ford and Andrew Natoli’s plastic-powered VK, amongst others.

Nathan Ghosn will be back in his nine-second Capri to defend his Kool Wrap 235 Aspirated title. Donnie Zircas will be nipping at his heels in another Capri, and a bloke by the name of Harry Haig will be hoping to do a Bradbury and pick up the win in his HG Holden wagon. When asked about his intentions, Harry would only say: “We’re going to be the life of the party; believe that.”

Vibrant Performance Dial-Your-Own has a killer field, full of variety. This includes Adrian Abela’s Fox-body Mustang, Robert Bertram’s ’57 Chev, and young gun Chevy Barnes Libro in his newly-finished XB ute.

We’ll have coverage online each day, but if you’d like to watch the action in person, we’d love that! Tickets will be available on the gate at both tracks: $25 for adults, free for kids 13 and under. Racing is from 9am to 3pm each day.

Drag Challenge Weekend 2022 schedule:

THURSDAY, HPR

• Gates open: 12pm
• Registration: 12pm to 5pm

FRIDAY, HPR

• Gates open: 7am
• Registration: 7am to 10am
• Racing: 9am to 3pm

SATURDAY, MILDURA

• Gates open: 7am
• Racing: 9am to 3pm

SUNDAY, HPR

• Gates open: 7am
• Racing: 10am to 4pm